Lighten Up!

After a somewhat strength-sapping week, I decided to put away the laptop and the work and concentrate on.. well, not concentrating! In fact, I decided to take my own advice, and as the weekend approaches.. to lighten up! I re-read that advice in the following entry in the video devotional, Anchored, which I recorded a few years ago. All of the entries in the devotional are based on my life and times in TV news. I thought that perhaps you've had a stressful week, too, and might enjoy reading this entry that I called:

The Fluff Piece

It isn’t always easy maintaining a smile and an optimistic attitude when working in a newsroom. Journalists are bombarded every hour of every day with bad news. Stories of car crashes, train wrecks, corrupt politicians, criminal behavior, abuse, a faltering economy and death-- both accidental and intentional-- come flying through the newsroom one right after another.

 It can become overwhelming and takes a toll on your outlook and mood.

That’s why I was always the newsroom champion of the ‘feel good story.’ The story of the good neighbor, the faithful pet, the child who volunteers, the skydiving grandma-- you get the idea. Other journalists might scoff, and indeed run from, the so called “fluff piece.” To the contrary,  I volunteered for that “beat,” believing these stories provide substance and balance to the daily blues...mmmm,  I mean the daily news.

We all need some “fluff” in our day.

We need a smile, a heart-lightening “moment” that brings balance. Don’t become so consumed by the “important” tasks that you miss the opportunity for the “fluff.” Take time to feed the ducks at the park, turn your face to the sun and feel its warmth, grab a lonely neighbor by the hand and take a walk through a garden or on the beach, or sneak away with your best friend to an afternoon movie. It may not be the most “important” thing you do in your day. Then again, perhaps it will. Because, maybe it will bring you that balance you need after battling your way through the “hard news” of the day.

“This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.”
Psalm 118:24 KJV