Local Man Faces Daily Choice Between Knowing What’s Going On In The World And Being Happy

MATILDA MARTIN | Local News | CONTACT

For Todd Guthrie, just like many Australians, every day involves a difficult choice; the choice between staying informed and being happy.

The 23-year-old barista from Brisbane wakes up each morning and deliberates.

“Take today, for example,” Guthrie told The Advocate, “I was reading the news on my phone and I came across an article about the alarming rate at which the arctic permafrost is melting and the adverse effect that will have on our rapidly warming planet. Instead of reading it, I made eggs.”

This morning, he chose happiness.

He doesn’t always make the same choice though. Just last week he read an in-depth account of the deplorable conditions refugees are being kept in by the Australian government at the immigration detention centres.

“I’m not going to say I regret making that decision,” Guthrie told reporters.

“But let’s just say, I didn’t make any eggs that day.”

What choice will he make tomorrow? Only time will tell.

“You never know whether you’re going to have an informed day or a happy day until it’s happening,” Guthrie said.

“But one thing is for sure, you can’t be both informed and happy.”