COMMAERNTTARY
the Sky iS
nOt Falling
describing and then want to convince us
to call their number or send them a check
so they can take care of those problems
for us.
To avoid all this nonsense, I turn off
my TV, radio, iPad and cellphone. Then,
while things are quiet, I look around at
what I have and take in a sunset at the
beach or a snooze. You might be surprised
how soothing it is to listen to water break
on the sand or slosh up against the
pilings of a dock without worrying about
your future. Sometimes, I’ll even drive to
one of the old Florida attractions like Bok
Tower, where periodically its carillon
will break the quiet.
There are lots of things you can do to
get away from these doomsday thoughts.
Try visiting one our state’s unique cities
JULY/AUGUST 2016 | TAMPA BAY MAGAZINE 117
Henny Penny may have
started the rumor that
all is lost and that the
sky is falling. However,
today, it is the media that keeps
such predictions in our minds.
We are constantly warned in
advertisements that we must
buy gold from metal and ore dealers
to protect our financial investments
and that we need to take action to save
ourselves from disaster that always
involves us sending money to someone
who is selling something to protect
us from the impending doom. What a
bunch of hooey!
I know that my biggest problem is the
negativity I am bombarded with day
in and day out from my radio, TV and
newspaper. Everyone seems to feel that
fear sells, so we are constantly being told
that the end is near. Yet, my life seems to
be happy and pleasurable.
It appears to me that the people who
are making doomsday predictions have
all found a way to make a buck out of
whatever they are promoting. They want
us to believe the dire scenario they are
or walk the main street of places
like Dunedin, Gulfport or any
number of towns and cities that
make up our area. Take your
family to pick strawberries in Plant
City or visit the Sponge Docks in
Tarpon Springs and enjoy a Greek
pastry. There is an endless list of
things that will keep negative thoughts
out of your mind.
Between now and November, I’m not
going to let myself become overwhelmed
with concern about all the dire predictions
that we will be hearing. When they start
to tell me that the end of the world
is coming if I don’t do as they say, I’m
just going to go to the happy place in
my mind. Whenever someone wants to
tell me how bad things are, I’ll just tune
them out and keep myself positive. I can
do this because the sky is not falling – no
matter what Henny Penny says. I know
that tomorrow will be a great day. 9
By Dick Crippen
Dick Crippen