Surprising News By Linda Stowe
There is something about human nature that compels us to immediately want to share surprising news. That must be why conspiracy theories spread at such a rapid pace. It’s like that old game of hot potato when you immediately pass the potato on to the person in the next chair and before you know it the potato has passed all around the room and everyone has burnt their hand. I don’t really know the point of this game, but it serves as a good metaphor in explaining my reaction when I came across my ex-husband’s obituary. The first thing I did was forward it to my brother and my son.
Don Wellmeier passed away this past October at the age of 90. We were married just two years, but those two years changed the course of my life.
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Polly here. Another extraordinary piece by Linda: The act of passing on surprising news. This just happened to me recently. I found out a thing that surprised me about my past. At first, I wanted to know more. Then, I wanted to tell someone who was with me at this time in my life.
I’m not sure what it is about our human nature that makes this so. But I think a couple of things might be going on. First, it allows us to express emotions about this “thing,” whether positive or negative. And we want to do this in an environment that can understand. Secondly, sharing this news can validate our own feelings or perspectives. In a safe way.
It is a big world out there. And we discover new things every day if we are paying attention. I hope if you find news today, it is surprising in a good way.
Surprising News By Linda Stowe
