By Hugh Winig, M.D.
Dr. Winig is a retired psychiatrist and a longtime OLLI @Berkeley member and volunteer
When I moved to the Bay Area in 1975, I felt frustrated that the New York Times, my favorite source of news when I lived back East before the digital world arose, was not available at newsstands on the West Coast until the day after it was published. Of course, there were other sources of news, but having the printed version of that newspaper was what appealed to me then. And well before that, when I was in high school, if I wanted to know who won a particular baseball game, I might even call a local newspaper’s sports department to find that out before their newspaper was even printed.
Today, of course, with a couple of taps on one’s cell phone you can be completely up to date on whatever it is you want to know about, whether in the world of sports or news about any other aspect of the world. This is both very good and very bad!
In our modern digital world, it seems impossible to feel detached from what is going on in the world for any extended period, especially during these turbulent times when wars, environmental disasters, local civic disruptions, and threats to our democracy arise each day. Yes, I want to be informed, but no, I do not want to constantly learn of the failings of governments, of environmental disasters, of threats to peace locally, nationally, and internationally that dominate the news daily.
Relief for me from this constant bombardment of unsettling realities comes from having a cultural, intellectual, and spiritual life. These help me overcome the helplessness I feel when the news I read is beyond my control. But one does have a modicum of control over what consumes our mind. By going to museums, the theater, the symphony, a sporting event, or simply take a day trip to the countryside to be in nature can help one detach from the news that can be so troubling and make one feel helpless and hopeless. It is not superficial to do these other things—in fact, they are a crucial part of leading a healthy, balanced life.
The Covid era we have lived through, and which dominated our thoughts hour to hour, is still with us, although to a lesser degree. But life will never be quite the same as our future unfolds. Disruption to jobs, schooling, relationships, or even simple activities like going to the movies, has forever changed our lives. People we once knew well may no longer be with us, our government is in constant flux, and our normal aging process impacts us as well. If we sit still and do nothing but turn on the news, it doesn’t take long for our minds to discover something new to worry about.
The answer to the question posed in the title of this essay is to enhance one’s intellectual, cultural, and spiritual life while accessing the disturbing daily news in a managed and measured way. Inner discipline to protect one’s emotional well-being as the world seemingly spins out of control is the key, just as it was in ancient times and throughout history. The human experience is largely about living with uncertainty, with forces both good and evil, and appreciating the fragility of one’s life while still maximizing a sense of purpose and enjoyment.
We have the freedom to cultivate happiness for as long as we are able, so we should try to do exactly that in whatever way works best for us, and not simply react adversely by compulsively following the news every day.