I start yet another day by chastising myself: “Forget about the news!” And I do my best not to browse through online newspapers. “Forget about the Greek bailout, the pope’s encyclical, and the financial indices,” I continue. But I can hardly wait to get to my laptop and surf the World Wide Web. “Forget about geopolitics, climate change, and the fall of Rome,” I keep reminding myself of my many vows. And this keeps going on morning after morning, year after year. “Forget about this silly world and focus on your own path to enlightenment,” I go for the jugular. Which makes me smile as I go about my morning chores. “Forget, forget,” I chuckle to myself. “As if I haven’t been born with this monkey brain between my ears…” It is only a matter of time before I grab my laptop and let it rip. Penning my comments about the news is so much fun, anyway.

Addendum (November 30, 2015)

The very day that Paris climate talks have kicked off, the European Union and Turkey have announced a deal concerning refugees. I am not sure what it involves, but it is surely good news, for the refugee crisis is threatening the Union itself. By now, the Schengen agreement is in shambles, and the freedom of travel cherished by nearly everyone within the Union is on its hind legs. Back to climate talks, the opening day has been a great success. All the world leaders have assembled under one roof at long last and gave many a peppy talk. Chances are that the eventual climate deal will be a good departure in the fight against disastrous climate for many years to come. In short, the news could not be better on this special day. But the main reason I feel like rejoicing today has little, if anything, to do with climate change or geopolitics. Or anything else having to do with the world at large. Actually, I am rejoicing because I feel that I can forget about the news for a brief while and dedicate myself to my own self. To my inner world, that is. The very thought of a few days of blissful thoughtlessness makes me smile to myself. And the day when I will finally manage to forget about all the news for ever and ever beckons warmly. “Forget, forget,” I chuckle to myself over and over again. “Forget, forget…”