Once Upon a Time

 

    ...there was a young girl who never smiled, even though she brought smiles to everyone around.  Her entire job always brought smiles and happiness to everyone else.  She worked at the shopping mall, where hundreds of strangers saw her walking around selling her balloons.   Little children would run up to her, happy and laughing at the sight of her.  Senior citizens would enjoy seeing the wonderful colors she carried with her and the goofy faces on her balloons.

        The young girl, however, only saw the world in black and white.  She watched the news on television and would see the tragic wars taking place.  She read the newspaper and saw the reports of the homeless population.  She knew of the pollution in the air and in the oceans, and of the crime in the cities.  In her world, life was in terrible shape, and it was all too overwhelming.  Her sadness for humanity had stolen her smile and all the color had drained from her life.

        No one should surround themselves with the news.  The news people are in the business of generating ratings, so all they pump out is the muck at the bottom of the tank.  The more viewers they can boast of having, the more advertisers clamor to stand in front selling their balloons.  It is a sad, pathetic system, that will also drain you of  your color, if you let it.