Our attitudes control our lives. Attitudes are a secret power working 24 hours a day, for good or bad. It is of paramount importance that we know how to harness and control this great force. « Irving Berlin, composer and lyricist (1888 – 1989)
Brace yourselves. It is going to happen. Things are going to get better. While I am well aware of the doom and gloom constantly being
reported on both network and cable news—that 2009 is just going to continue the economic slide—I have decided to toss the fear aside and take a different approach to the new year. This is why, in the last few weeks, I organized a boycott. It is a small but effective one, which includes my household only. I realized that listening to how bad things were going to get day after day only increased my blood pressure and anxiety level and moved my focus away from the present to matters that are completely out of my control.
As it turns out, this is exactly what the news stations thrive on—a fearful viewer base who need that daily dose of adrenaline pumping through their collective veins. And while you may believe me to be naive, fair reader, here is a quick look at my 2009 approach: First, I will get the news, because information is power, but I will get it from my old friends, The New York Times and NPR. Yes, print and public radio. Rather than those deliciously quick and cheesy morsels television news offers up in a 60-second segment, I will take my time and gather the facts. Second, I will not let fear get the best of me because everything changes (my mother taught me this one, hi Mom!). This may be a time of transition for the industry, but with smart navigation, it can also be a time of growth. And lastly, I will look enthusiastically to the future, because when things get tough, at some point it is inevitable that the tough get going.
Happy New Year!
Nichole Stella
Editorial Director
