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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW (No heading) ... Our View: Charging ahead on supporting electric vehicles ... Rogue River man allegedly copped to fatal knifing, affidavit says ... (No heading) ... Our View: Charging ahead on supporting electric vehicles ... Rogue River man allegedly copped to fatal knifing, affidavit says ... Get A Life: Make your universe a happy place Comment MailTribune.com Writer Posted Jan. 19, 2015 at 6:53 AM Posted Jan. 19, 2015 at 6:53 AM » Social News Loretta LaRoche More Content Now Einstein once said that the most important question we could ask of ourselves is, “Is the universe a friendly place?” Our answer helps us to decide how we live our lives. Do we spend our energies protecting ourselves against enemies real or imagined, or do we help make our universe friendly through collaboration, compassion and empathy? Unfortunately, of late, the news has been filled with acts of violence that are often unimaginable. You would hope that history would not repeat itself, but it often feels that we are re-entering the dark ages. It certainly feels that fear has become one of the constants in our society. The more we fear, the less we trust ourselves and others. Yes, it makes sense to be aware of possible dangers that could impact our lives, but it also makes sense to not let go of what makes life worthwhile. We need to feel hopeful about life and what it has to offer, otherwise we can become anxious or depressed. You might be thinking, “How do I do that when I’m surrounded with bad news and people who love to share it?” Well, it’s not easy, but it is possible. I have some people who can spend an entire conversation inundating me with how many things are wrong with the government, the economy, the neighbors, their weight and their relationships. By the time I get off the phone I want to jump off a bridge. Thank God they are few and far between, but I am making a conscious effort this year to avoid them as much as possible. It’s not easy if it’s your parents or mate, or someone very close to you. But they will get tired of their lamenting if you simply don’t show a lot of interest. My ex-husband was a verbal vampire. When you finished a conversation with him, you knew you needed a transfusion. My mother had her Ph.D in pessimism. I finally figured out that if I simply countered with “Oh, well, what can you do?” they got tired of trying to rope me into their den of negativity. It also makes sense to have people in your life that love good news or who are actively involved in altruistic activities. Spend some time with family or friends sharing those things that are going right in your life or the lives of others. Research has shown that even watching someone help a disadvantaged person influences our mood and our immune system. Gandhi made the following statement often: “You must be the change you wish to see in the world.” I think if we could embrace this philosophy, our lives would be so much better. Author, humorist, PBS star and Fortune 500 trainer Loretta LaRoche lives in Plymouth, Massachusetts. To share your pet peeves, questions or comments, write to The Humor Potential, 50 Court St., Plymouth, MA 02360. Visit her website at stressed.com. MailTribune.com Writer Posted Jan. 19, 2015 at 6:53 AM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... Business Name address Location, ST | website.com Find Southern Oregon Attractions Bars Restaurants Beauty Salons Entertainment Doctors Medical Specialists Contractors Education Lawn Services Lawyers Shopping Travel Tanning Used Cars Wedding Services ▼ Add your business here + Events Calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Propel Marketing Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Mobile Site Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2015 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Local Media Group Publications Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted. MailTribune.com | P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501