The Sanford Berenberg Experience: Message of the Day - Blinded By Outrage or the Outrageous

Good Morning,

Have you ever noticed how the news and media tend make a big deal out of almost everything. Some agencies are certainly worse than others, but I know I have gotten to the point even these outrages are becoming less outrageous with the constant media bombardment. You know it’s the case when stuff you saw a decade ago which made you cringe, now merely makes you shrug.

This has been the norm for so long that it has rubbed off on us common folk who may also tend to make mountains out of molehills because it is such the common thing to do. And it’s not so much the news anymore, but everyday items as well.

Just look at:

…the number of frivolous lawsuits being waged around our nation

…digitally enhanced images of models making boys and girls trying to aspire to match looks

…crusades made over worthy, yet not earth shaking causes, spawning cascading crusades over other causes

…news media pounding us with current events over and over again like nothing else is going on (it is almost humorous on slow news days, gotta get those ratings!)

All of this has the ability to dull our senses and blind us from the reality that is in front of us. It also has the ability to make us see the outrageous in the commonplace (how dare that parent not allow that sweet child eat a few pounds of chocolate whenever they want, etc.).

I was at a friend’s house for Easter and watched the kids get ready for the egg hunt and their manic running around pre-hunt, during the hunt and post-hunt was tiring (and I just sat in once place for the 15 minute affair), and when it ended, it ended. For the kids that was a fun time, one they really looked forward to and will cherish. What didn’t happen was a follow up drama of who got what egg and who was denied, or who stole what. That behavior has almost become the norm.

It’s when the events never end, when the mania is forced to continue, we get sucked into the drama, the outrage, and it is tiring.

In some cases simple things in live just become ludicrous and form of distorted reality to make them more sensationalized.

Using a Freud quote: “Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar.” Sometimes there really isn’t anything sensational in our day or what happens within it. Sometimes there is nothing outrageous, and honestly, that is good.

Sometimes life is boring and there isn’t anything going on. I actually have come to love boring days.

Sometimes we need to turn off the TV, turn off the monitor, and just sit back and enjoy the weather, read a book, take a hike, and get back to a calm normal reality (I know, what is normal these days).

We need to remember to turn off the outrageous from time to time, and focus on the real, lest we lose touch with reality.

I am not sure if the media hype is trying to sell us something or control our lives, but I know I can turn it off, and often, I do.

Let’s not be blinded by all the constant outrage and the outrageous in the world, but keep our feet firmly planted on the ground and balance some calm within the latest crusade (and there will always be a crusade for something waiting for our enlistment).

Take a deep breath and smell the April Showers and await the May Flowers.

Enjoy!

Sanford Berenberg

Sanford@berenberg.net
http://www.berenberg.net

http://sanfordberenberg.blogspot.com/
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