Rolling pandas. Parrots perched on the shoulders of dogs without dogs knowing. Corgi dogs who get excited and yelp like crazy when they see their reflections in a mirror. Then there’s this recent video that’s gone viral of a kiwi girl having her very first taste of ice cream and completely lapping it up — a new experience, the first time enjoying sweet plus icy cold. These videos across YouTube and other forms of social media have millions, if not billions of views. The people who are a bit cynical and pessimistic think it’s all a waste of time and eye balls put to poor use. They think that everyone should be more serious and read real news and get with the current events.

I’d beg to differ. I don’t think that watching videos of rolling pandas shows that we don’t take life seriously or pay attention to current events or the disgusting and divisive state of our politics in this country. It’s not either / or; what about having and doing both? I think that this can all be enjoyed alongside being well-informed citizens. I love watching those panda videos; I’ll admit it. I don’t watch them every day or every month, but when they come up in my Facebook feed or on YouTube, why not? It’s a much needed light and fun break from a world today that is filled with so many problems, so much anger, and a political climate that literally is having me and so many colleagues and friends experiencing anxiety. It’s tiring and frustrating to see Trump’s face and the word “Killary” all over the news and social media every single day.