Why is the News always Bad?

I had the radio on this morning when my 9-year-old walked into the kitchen. "Why is the news always about bad stuff?" he lamented (repeatedly). "We all know Coronavirus is taking over the world, and we're doing what we're supposed to do. Why do they have to make us think about it all the time? Why can't they talk about the good things that are happening?"

"It's an age-old question," I said. "It can be much more important to know if something bad is going to happen to you than if something good is going to happen to you. It could save your life, you know?"

I could tell by his face that this didn't satisfy him.

"Because Negative trumps Positive," I said. "It's a fact." I reminded him of the Ted talk we'd recently listened to about a statistical study in this regard.

"Which is why we have to actually practice being positive every day, just like practicing the Cello," I said. "People aren't positive by nature."

While he started his school work, I picked up my phone to check for messages but, on instinct, hit Facebook instead. As if by Fate (yeah, right!), at the top of my newsfeed was this video, entitled "Some Good News", by John Krasinski and friends. I texted the link to my teenagers, but I don't expect them to watch it. No matter. I know someone who will appreciate it, and he'll even watch it with me :-).