TRUMPLESS

I admit it. I had a problem. I was addicted to the news.

Now this is a strange admission, especially for me. I think if I started off by saying, "I was addicted to Reese's peanut butter cups," people who know me would nod sagely and say, "Yep. That sounds about right." Chocolate is a logical addition for me. News is not.

Mostly because I never cared about the news. School shootings, fires, murders, rape . . . all of it is so depressing and  it has a hopelessness and a terribly repetitive pattern to it that makes me run as far away from it as I can.

And then came Trump.

I am unabashed in my hatred of Trump. I think he's a terrible person, a terrible president, and a terrible American. But it was because of him that I found myself addicted to the news.

Every day I would go to a news site and there'd be a headline saying "TRUMP TAKES A PISS IN THE ROSE GARDEN" and my heart would begin to pump fast and I'd think Finally. This is what's going to get rid of him.

And then nothing would happen.

So I'd obsessively refresh the news site and a new headline would pop up saying "TRUMP CALLS GEORGE WASHINGTON A PIECE OF SHIT ON PRESIDENTS' DAY." And I'd think, Yes! He's gone for sure now!

And then nothing would happen.

That's what my days became. Refreshing the news, getting mad about what Trump said or did, getting madder that there were no repercussions, lather, rinse, repeat.

Until finally, about a month ago, I said to myself, I just can't do this anymore.  And it was true, I couldn't. I was completely burnt out on the news, on Trump, on everything. So I quit. Cold turkey. I stopped visiting news sites altogether.

And you know what? I am so much happier now.

It took me cutting news — and Trump — out of my life to realize how miserable it had all been making me. I'm sure there have been major news stories that have come and gone since I gave it all up, but honestly, I don't care. I can't and I won't get sucked back in. I plan to vote in November to make positive changes, but until then, I refuse to be baited by all the negativity that circles through on a minute-by-minute basis.

I know a lot of people who take breaks from things like Facebook, and I totally get it now. I strongly recommend taking a break from the news like I did, even if it's just for a week. See if you don't feel better once you're disconnected from all the drama and histrionics.

I'm betting you will.