Slow News Day

​I was reading the Sunday paper lately. I have to say I absolutely love nothing more than my Sunday paper, a good mug of coffee and something sweet to go with said coffee and paper (unfortunately this doesn't happen all that often, what with everything going on in a busy life). Anyway, this day I had some time, and something sweet, and was reading the usual litany of cheery headlines ("Minister blasted for derogatory remarks", "GPs now a dying breed", "May failed to square the impossible circle" (you know Brexit had to be in there), "Climate study at odds with Trump's fossil-fuel agenda" (and you know he had to be in there too), etc, etc. All in all, not a very cheery sequence of headlines. So dismal in fact was it, it got me thinking what an RP-style newspaper would look like. Instead of "Minister blasted for derogatory remarks", you could have had "Successful negotiations completed between Minister and Nursing home industry". "GPs now a dying breed" could become "GP numbers on the rise again thanks to Conference" (you know the kind of conference I mean here).  "May failed to square the impossible circle" likewise would become "May and EU actively listening trying to meet each other's needs". As for Trump? I fear no amount of RP will ever work there.

So yeah, what a world we would have? On second thoughts I recalled lately hearing about a website that tried reporting only good news stories once. They lost two thirds of their readers after just the first day. People just had no need for it. So while the world would certainly be a better place, it may not be good for my Sunday paper's circulation and, by extension, my Sunday morning sanctuary. Actually, I think I will have to give this one a bit more thought. I don't know what I'd do without my Sunday mornings.

Author

​My name is Joe Power and I am the restorative practice development officer in Limerick since May 2018. I first came to RP in 2016 when it was introduced to the residential centre where I also work. I thought I would start to write a little about my experiences in developing both my own understanding of RP, as well as my experiences in trying to spread RP across Limerick. The reason for this is that I find that both my and other people's experiences are remarkably similar and there could well be some opportunity for other's to benefit from these thoughts (or ramblings!!). Anyway I hope you gain something from it. Also please e-mail any thoughts/comments/stories you might have to me at respracdevoff@gmail.com. Thank you.