Worth Repeating!

One of my favorite writers and speakers, Andy Andrews, sent the following as a part of his monthly e-news letter. Take extra note of the third paragraph:
“I am currently on my third month of a total “news fast”. No news. None. No newspapers. No FoxNews or CNN. No talk radio. Why? For the simple reason that reading or listening to the news makes me mad. When I disagree with what I am hearing, I get mad. And when I agree with what I am hearing because I can’t do anything about it, I get mad.

Here is my problem: I am a husband, a dad, and a businessperson and I have found that I don’t do my best parenting or my best writing when I am mad. I am not the best husband I know how to be when I am mad. Or when I am scared. Thus, the “news fast”.

Last week in his blog, my publisher and friend, Mike Hyatt, the CEO of Thomas Nelson, wrote that bad news can perpetuate itself. He pointed out, rightly, that the news media exacerbates our economic woes with their reporting. “They are systematically undermining consumer confidence,” he stated. “This is a case where reporting the news is actually causing the news.”

Occasionally, when I mention my “news fast” to others, someone’s comments are along the line of, “Are you asking us to be ignorant?” So first … noI haven’t asked you to do anything. I am just telling you what I am doing. And second, if you do decide to focus on something besides the news, I promise you won’t miss anything important. If it gets bad enough, someone will call and tell us!!”

And, from Mick Fleming, Executive Director, American Chamber of Commerce Executives, comes his letter to Santa:
“Dear Santa, please bring me:
1. An invitation to bid on a US Senate seat
2. A surprise call from the Gates Foundation requesting an appointment to discuss our “mutual interests.”
3. One millionth of 1% of the Wall Street rescue package (get out your calculator!).
4. Half the courage of chamber leaders like Carroll, Wendy, Jerry, Tim and Mike — all of whom successfully battled cancer as well as the economy this year.
5. Clones of Chris Mead and Tamara Philbin.
6. A parking space in DC to rent out for January 20 festivities
7. A plastic surgery package covering brow lift, nose job, hair plugs, liposuction, skin laser, chin tuck and ear lobe electrolysis (or a “better” bathroom mirror).
8. A voice at the other end of any phone call that sounds unrestrainedly cheerful.
9. A chance to watch my beloved Bills make the post-season once more before I die.
10. People at the table for Christmas dinner who truly care about each other and me.
Hey — I’ve got one out of ten already sewed up!”

Merry Christmas to you and Best Wishes for a Great 2009!