Long(er) time readers know that I take my queues about what to write from the Universe. What I mean by that is that I observe what’s going on around me, what people are talking about, and what I’m going through at any given time. I filter all of that input and notice patterns emerge that tell me what I might have to say/share is something someone might need to see/hear.

I got that feeling very strongly this week as one theme kept coming up in multiple conversations: Drama.

Specifically, manufactured drama and how we get caught up in the manufactured drama instead of looking at life as it is or focusing on improving our lives. Now, don’t get me wrong… we all have some drama in our lives that isn’t manufactured. Losing someone is drama. I’m not talking about that kind of drama.

I’m talking about the kind of drama that pops up on your social newsfeed that has nothing to do with your happiness or your life. I’m talking about the national political scene where no matter what anyone does on the other side, it’s seen as evil. Some of you know my political ideology, and this has less to do with left vs. right than it has to do with manufacturing drama and demonizing the other side while being hypocrites in doing so.

I’m talking about the airwaves being full of “reality” TV shows that suck us in with the drama, making “stars” out of people I wouldn’t peg as role models for my kids.

I’m talking about the constant news of the latest celebrity scandal. I didn’t care at all about the Johnny Depp/Amber Herd trial, for example, but I couldn’t escape the news or the headlines or the many memes.

I’m talking about the incessant notifications on our devices from social media, “news” outlets, etc., about things that are inconsequential in my life over which I have no control. While it’s tragic that bombs are being lobbed on the other side of the world, there’s nothing I can do about it and I don’t need to be informed the minute an explosion takes place.

In an effort to reduce, if not eliminate, being influenced by all this manufactured drama, I’ve taken the following steps. And with 2024 being an election year, we know we’re going to get inundated with more politically manufactured drama than we need.

1) I cut the cable. Not only am I saving money doing so, but I’m also saving my sanity by not scrolling through channels, hearing about the latest manufactured drama, or seeing the latest about a singer and her football-playing boyfriend.

2) I turned off all notifications on my device except for messages from family (which manufactures its own drama) or mail notifications from my agent/managers, casting emails, and emails related to Life After Losses. I will also allow weather alerts. This means if someone likes or comments on my social media posts, yay! but I won’t see it until I log into my social media account.

3) I’m limiting how much time I will be on social media daily. And going into an election season, social media and politics are a hotbed of manufactured drama — regardless of your political affiliation. I will practice the fine art of scrolling past manufactured drama, and I will not provide public comment on news articles I see. I’ve learned that even pointing out that the sky is blue will result in a backlash.

4) I will stay informed by looking at what many consider the least biased news source, the Associated Press. All I need are the facts, and I’ll reach my own conclusion — I don’t need to be told how to think by Fox or MSNBC.

5) I will continue to surround myself with positive-thinking people who recognize the toxic effect of manufactured drama and avoid the drama, as I do.

The bottom line is pretty simple: GIGO. Garbage in, garbage out. If I’m being dragged into someone else’s drama, I can’t focus on the positive changes I want to make in my life. And frankly, I’m more important than that drama, just as you are more important. If you avoid the unnecessary drama, you may find yourself seeing the world in a different light.

The only drama I want to see is a well-acted piece of art on the stage or screen. And I’ll probably think about how I may done that role differently.

So, are you thinking of doing anything to limit the drama in your life? If so, what? I’d appreciate your sharing on our Facebook page, so maybe we can learn from each other.