All the nastiness and negativity going around these days is contagious. Listen to it long enough and you'll find yourself slipping into a real funk. So let me tell you about some positive things that have happened recently.
Last week, I was invited to a lady's book club meeting. The book, Younger Next Year for Women, talked about diet, exercise and other lifestyle changes, things we've all heard about before. This particular experience was different because of the women evolved.
They were all of a "certain age," a time in life when a woman must accept her years and either succumb to the inevitable, or decide to stand and fight. These women obviously had chosen the latter, but it was the way they went about it that I found inspiring. They took the book seriously when it advised readers to engage in vigorous exercise for one hour a day, six days a week ... for life!
They vowed to walk together every morning regardless of how they felt or what the weather was doing. In short, no excuses, but outside of the commitment to walk, they were relaxed about diet and lifestyle. Eat meat if you like, have a candy bar or cocktail, but you better show up at 8:15 a.m. ready to walk.
Sure enough, after a year on this regime, they all felt younger and stronger, but the real benefit was more psychological than physical. They found they were more positive, more resilient and, in general, happier people. Their relationships with friends and family, and with life itself, had grown stronger along with their bodies.
A healthy happy life needs purpose as much as it needs physical exercise. Last month, I received an invitation to join a group of committed political activists at a communication workshop in Indianapolis, Ind.
WAND/WiLL is a coalition of women with a positive political outlook. WAND stands for Women's Actions for New Directions and encourages women to act politically. WiLL is a Women's Legislative Lobby group, women who have been elected to state legislatures around the country.
WAND was formed during the Cold War when women were worried about nuclear holocaust. Its interests have broadened since then, but they're still interested in nuclear issues. The women wanted more than just understanding. They wanted to be able to explain nuclear security to others, both in writing and before television cameras.
This is where the Truman National Security Project enters the picture. The Truman Project trains elected officials, candidates for office and progressive activists like the WAND/WiLL women to be better communicators.
Three important nuclear treaties are in the news today. The first of these has just been renegotiated. It will reduce the number of nuclear weapons in both Russian and the United States. The first such treaty was signed by President Ronald Reagan in 1994.
Now President Barack Obama and his Russian counterpart will update the treaty in a formal signing ceremony in Prague this week.
That leaves two more important treaties that must be addressed. The Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty is the cornerstone of efforts to prevent new nuclear weapons. It has been signed by the U.S. and many of our allies, but so far the U.S. Congress has failed to ratify it.
The Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty entered into force in 1970 under President Richard Nixon. It must be reviewed every five years. The next review takes place this May in New York.
These treaties are too important to degenerate into partisan bickering. Before you make up your mind about where you stand, go to WAND.org. Scroll down to resources and then click on Action Guides. The nuclear treaty information is at the top of the list.
I came back from Indianapolis thoroughly energized. It's impossible to watch a group of smart women go to work on a problem, whatever it is, and not feel positive about the future.
Joan King lives in Sautee. Her column appears every other Tuesday and on gainesvilletimes.com.