REASON GONE MAD: Reality overwhelms – theberkshireedge.com

I believe that taking periodic breaks from the news can promote mental calm and help renew your spirits. In this way, the anxiety and overstimulation catalyzed by the media may be minimized, and your body will function better. Dr. Andrew Weil, the bushy-bearded, alternative-medicine doc, proposing news fasts in his 1995 book Spontaneous Healing.

REGULAR PERSON: Whats unfolding in Ukraine is unbelievable. It happened so fast, its shocking and awful, and I cant stop watching the news and reading about it all day long. Im exhausted.

PERSON ON A NEWS FAST: What?

REGULAR PERSON: Its just horrible. The humanitarian crisis is heartbreaking, sometimes I just burst into tears. What if the war spreads across Europe? Or worse? Putin has nuclear weapons!

PERSON ON A NEWS FAST: What?

REGULAR PERSON: And I hope theres not another coronavirus variant anytime soon. Just as COVID starts to wane for now a terrifying war breaks out. Cant we get a break? Im not sure I can take any more. My neck is so stiff, I can barely turn my head.

PERSON ON A NEWS FAST (playing Sudoku): What?

REGULAR PERSON: And dont get me started on threats to our democracy. Can you believe these new voting laws in Texas, Georgia, and elsewhere? Creating confusion and designed to keep people from voting? All fueled by Trumps metastatic Big Lie about the 2020 election? Oh my god, look at my arm. Those hives werent there a minute ago.

PERSON ON A NEWS FAST (smiling at a beam of sunlight warming a kitten asleep on some laundry): What?

REGULAR PERSON: And now theyre banning books about sexuality, gender, and racism! And passing laws that could send teachers and librarians to jail. My mouth tastes like metal.

PERSON ON A NEWS FAST: What?

REGULAR PERSON: What?

PERSON ON A NEWS FAST: What?

REGULAR PERSON: And what if Trump is reelected in 2024? He just suggested bombing Russia with planes made to look like Chinese aircraft to start a war between Russia and China. This is a serious, dangerous time thats filled with unserious, dangerous people. I cant breathe.

PERSON ON A NEWS FAST (gazing at a vase of fresh-cut flowers): What?

REGULAR PERSON: And just this morning I read about the massive mental-health crisis in America, made much worse during COVID. Stress, anxiety, grief, loneliness, isolation, uncertainty, sleeping problems, and more. Our kids are suffering, were suffering, everyones suffering. I wake up from nightmares every night at 3 a.m. And why are my feet always cold?

PERSON ON A NEWS FAST: What?

REGULAR PERSON: And now a war thats broadcast 24/7, scenes of real-life violence played on infinite loop, delivered by the networks almost like entertainment, interspersed with commercials for Downy and personal-finance apps and restaurants serving all-you-can-eat chicken tenders. Its jarring to see war, entertainment, and commercials intermingled that way. Its like no one read Neil Postmans Amusing Ourselves to Death.

PERSON ON A NEWS FAST: What? Who?

REGULAR PERSON: In his 1985 book, Postman compared George Orwells 1984 to Aldous Huxleys Brave New World and, among other insights, concluded that weve become exactly what Huxley predicted: Orwell feared that the truth would be concealed from us. Huxley feared the truth would be drowned in a sea of irrelevance.

PERSON ON A NEWS FAST: Sorry, did you say something? I was watching people dance in sync on TikTok. Look at them go!

REGULAR PERSON: Uh, Mr. Van Winkle? Do you know that your long, white beard looks just like Dr. Andrew Weils long white beard? And that Ive never seen you together?

PERSON ON A NEWS FAST: Sorry, dont know anyone named Weil. Wait! Is he Dutch? Because the last thing I remember is drinking some liquor from a Dutchmans keg, playing a few rounds of nine pins, and then falling asleep under this enormous old tree.

REGULAR PERSON: Thats a lovely tree. Its an ash. I hope it isnt killed by the invasive emerald ash borer thats devastating trees across the Berkshires. Why cant I shake this dull headache?

PERSON ON A NEWS FAST (yawning): What?

Bill Shein doesnt have a bushy white beard, but over the last few weeks his hair has grayed at twice the usual rate.

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REASON GONE MAD: Reality overwhelms - theberkshireedge.com