Is the world filled with people who only know how to PANIC at the news?

Is the world really filled with people who only know how to react with panic when they read or hear the news?

I ask because everything negative or dangerous going on in the world seems to inspire panic or near panic, whether we’re talking about economic trouble or swine flu. From the 24/7 cable channels to Internet blogs, no one seems to pause and reflect on ANYTHING. Instead, everyone runs around screaming: “The sky is falling! The sky is falling!”

Look at the economic downturn, for example. As grim as the economy is worldwide, there still are people out there finding the best buy on everything from TV sets to cars to stock prices. I realize that’s not really good news for people who have lost huge chunks of their retirement funds or even their jobs. But for those with even a little bit of money for buying or investing, these are not bad times.

And then there’s the huge crisis (?) dominating the news cycles yesterday and today — a swine flu epidemic (?) spreading throughout the U.S. and Mexico. I would not pretend to minimize the potential problems associated with this new strain of flu. Health officials are urging everyone to take two major precautions to maximize their chances of being infected with this or any other flu: 1) cover your mouth when/if you cough or sneeze, and, 2) wash your hands with lots of soap and hot water frequently.

But whether you’re facing hard times economically or you’re worried about the flu outbreak — DON’T PANIC. Don’t take foolish risks and don’t ignore real dangers — but DON’T PANIC.

Got it? Good.