THE INVISIBLE BUCKET...

A funny thing happened this week.

I downloaded a new web browser. Despite my best efforts to turn off the news on the home page, it absolutely refused.

So...being me...I turned it into an experiment.

For one week I used my old browser with no news. Then I switched to the new one.

Sure enough, the headlines pulled me in.

• Aliens are coming.
• The hottest temperatures ever recorded.
• Famous surfer breaks his neck.
• Beloved author dies.
• The best pizza in America.

I'll admit it—the clickbait worked.

Ironically, many people don't know I spent the early part of my career working for a major newspaper company, then at CBS, and later became the editor of the oldest newspaper in California.

So this isn't coming from someone who's anti-news.

It's coming from someone who understands what news is designed to do.

We all have an invisible bucket. Every day, something is filling it—or draining it.

Most headlines are engineered to trigger adrenaline, uncertainty, and urgency. They keep us clicking because our brains are wired to pay attention to potential threats.

The problem is, humans weren't designed to carry the weight of the entire world's bad news every single day.

We evolved in tribes. We shared grief together. We celebrated victories together. We helped each other through difficult moments.

When you stop constantly feeding your mind negativity, something wonderful happens.

The positive starts filling the space.

(...the pizza was from Una in New York, in case you were wondering.)

But here's what's ironic, I got sucked into the news story and chased down their website (because I'm taking my son to see Hadestown on Broadway this Fall, so naturally I need to eat this pizza), only to see this message from the owners on a blacked out website:

This week, I'd challenge you to do something different.

FILL YOUR BUCKET.

Spend ten minutes browsing a website dedicated to good news instead.
https://www.positive.news/
https://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/
https://www.onlygoodnewsdaily.com/

Then share one uplifting story with a family member, friend, or coworker.

See what happens.

Life already gives us enough hard moments.

We don't have to consume everyone else's too.

Choose joy.

Choose peace.

Your bucket will thank you.

PS - The concept of the invisible bucket came from a children's book I read my son for many years, I firmly believe adults should be reading children's books too. You'll find it here.

PSS - I stumbled on this article on the good news website and realized - the aliens really already here, if you want a good laugh, check it out. https://www.positive.news/lifestyle/arts/underwater-photographer-of-the-year-2026-the-winning-image/

— Dr. Michaela.

Do you know your Primal Wound?

Because once you do… it changes everything.