Out with the negative

It has been a couple of years since I have been compelled to write a letter to the editor of the AV Press as I have drifted away from regularly reading the letters from individuals as they are almost always focused on negativity back and forth.

The editorial on January 1 was spot on. If you have not read it I encourage everyone to. People have always had a tendency to be either positive or negative but over the last 10 to 20 years our society has become much more negative and I believe it is a result of how easy information and news is able to be consumed.

You can read a short headline and suddenly feel knowledgeable on a topic and an expert. We establish opinions on very little knowledge and then feel the need to argue and defend. As someone who used to be considered a pessimist on a regular basis, I can testify that change is possible.

It is not easy and it usually takes a lot of time to learn to focus on the good and what is positive but I can attest to the fact it is worth it. The idea of a low bad diet sounds strange to most of us but you will become wiser and happier. A word of encouragement or a compliment stands out so much more today in our world of negativity as it is so rare.

Why not start the new year off with a resolution that will truly make a difference in your life and that of others. Change for the positive starts with one little action at a time. Cliff Beckwith Lancaster