Are you afraid?

photo by greenhem

Picture this: a still, snowy evening lit by a full moon. A teenage girl leaves her family’s home, bundled and unaware of any danger. Her breath makes swirling clouds that hang in the air, following her movements. Crunch, crunch, crunch…. The sound of snow beneath her boots, the only sound breaking the icy night. Or was it?

Actually yes, it was. That girl was me, a dreamy soul that loved a dark, wintry stroll. I didn’t worry about wild animals, though I’m sure they were lurking on my family’s country property. I didn’t worry about a rogue gunman plotting to kill me from the bushes. My walks alone were some of the loveliest, pure moments of my childhood.

It’s easy to let the world’s worst human beings control our life. Stories of insanity are coming at us nonstop – through our computers, TV’s, radios and mobile devices. But maybe we should start to take a stand. Rather than letting the news control our fear, maybe we should start to take more control of news. Here’s how:

Set your internet home page to something inspiring. For instance, this blog.

Decide when to consume news. Media learned long ago that sex and scandal sells. Reading about the deranged mother that bit off her toddler’s toes will not add anything of value to your life. Try a stronger filter for stories and choose to avoid certain atrocities.

Strangers can be friends. Assume the people you meet are good people that want the best for you and themselves. Most of them are.

Say hello with a smile. This is even a good idea when someone appears intimidating. Studies have shown the bad guys are thrown off guard when a potential victim does not show fear, for instance, by offering a friendly greeting.

Get to know your neighbors. I used to have the most amazing neighbor. She was the mom that every kid within a mile’s radius loved – she was always kind, welcoming and baking something delicious. Now picture receiving her fresh carrot cake delivered by a smiling neighbor boy. It was a tasty reminder that a little kindness makes the world a much better place.

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