Bad News & Good News
We’ve all heard the saying “I’ve got some bad news and some good news.” In fact, there is a common joke about that saying. “The bad news is there is no good news!” The way things are in our country right now, you could say that is quite appropriate. But that is not necessarily true. I think there are a lot of good news stories out there, we just mainly hear about the bad ones. So for the first half of 2020, let me just say, “I’ve got some bad news and some good news.”
We are still dealing with the Covid-19 Apocalypse. The bad news is there are reports of states with an increase in the number of cases. The good news is there are also reports of states that have a decrease in the number of cases. I am not trying to diminish the importance of taking all the necessary precautions to make sure everyone is staying safe, but merely pointing out that there are reasons to feel optimistic and hopeful.
There is a lot of attention right now about racial issues in our country. The bad news is there are racists from every ethnicity in our country and the world. That is a fact of life and is never going to change. The good news is there are a lot more empathetic and compassionate people that only want their family, friends, and neighbors to be safe and would do anything to help. In fact, I believe we will only get better and stronger because that is the type of people our country is made from.
A lot of people have not been able to go into their jobs and have needed to work from home. The bad news is this can make people feel restricted and confined after a short time. The good news is that it has allowed many families to spend more time together and to make some special memories. It’s all in the perspective of how you want to look at any situation. Do you find the negative or positive side of it?
I feel bad for all the traditional graduation ceremonies that were cancelled. The bad news is they were not allowed to experience the same traditions and rituals their family members and friends were able to. The good news is they were able to create their own special and unique ceremonies. The best news is they will later be able to say, “Back in my day, we didn’t get a regular graduation ceremony.” Trust me on this. I have hundreds of “Back in my day” scenarios I have used. Just ask Justin, Ryan, Brittney, and Cassidy.
So when you hear the bad news, I encourage everyone to find the good news side of life. I will try and do the same. The bad news is once again you have received my point of view on yet another topic. The good news is it’s over now and you may proceed on with your day. Thanks for reading.
Next week: Happy Fourth of July 2020
P.S. The absolutely best “Bad News/Good News” story I have ever heard came from a good friend of mine that lives in South Dakota. It was the night before the Battle of Little Bighorn and Custer sent a scout to access the situation. The scout came back and said “I have some bad news and some good news. The bad news is there are thousands of Indians ready for battle on the other side of that hill. “What could possibly be the good news?” Custer asked him. “We won’t have to ride back across South Dakota!” was the scouts’ response.