This cocooning technique has become useful for me as well. I mean why increase my stress levels by reading (or watching the news) about people and things I don’t want to read about?

I choose not to be bombarded by advertisements about shampoo and long hair because I have close cropped hair and most of that hair on the page is computer enhanced anyway. I don’t particularly relish being updated about which latest squeeze of which up and coming (or aging, whatever) actor is pregnant or with someone else. I choose not to be buried in dripping burgers and jelly desserts and all these other chemical laced health drinks that advertisers tell me are good for my kids. Yeah, right.

I also do not care reading about people that I personally know are heartless. They may be popular, talented, even prize-winning. But when I personally know that that man/woman/earthly being does not have heart, then I refuse to allow even a minute of my time to be wasted hearing someone else extolling their greatness.

So pardon me when you see me tuning out. I may have lost control over a lot of things in my life, but this are still my fingers thumbing through the papers, my fingers on the remote and my paycheck (flimsy though it may be) keeping the cable company and ISP happy.

I will read/watch/listen to what I want, thank you.