Ah, yes, I remember it well (Part 2)

How did you do with your news blackout? Not all that well, I would guess. Consuming new, readily available information is a strong human impulse.

But, if you did succeed with it, you feel better, don’t you? Told you so!

Still, in the back of your mind, you are probably just not comfortable with this self-imposed exile from information. You might even be wondering if it is just a case of “ignorance is bliss.” And, most people would find it very difficult to seek ignorance just for a little peace of mind.

So, what else can you do? Here’s my little secret. Read the papers all you want, but do it the next day.

It’s been said that yesterday’s newspaper is only good for the bottom of the bird cage or wrapping garbage. But, it’s also a great source of perspective. It helps you see that nearly all “news” is of very little substance. In fact it is of almost no consequence in your life. It doesn’t matter. Voilá! Peace!!

Don’t believe me? Go get that stack of papers from the corner. Page through them. Eh!?

It’s just not that easy, though, is it? As financially responsible citizens of the world, we really should know on a reasonably timely basis what’s happening in the world of economics and finance. We can all be more discriminating in how we gather and react to the information, but we probably do need to pay fairly close attention to life outside of our own life.

Well, I’ve got another solution for you. Next week. And, in the meantime, go ahead and read your papers as they arrive if you just can’t help yourself. But, also keep piling them in the corner.