Bad news isn't wine. It doesn't improve with age.

"Bad news isn't wine. It doesn't improve with age." These words, spoken by the great Colin Powell, carry with them a truth as sharp and clear as a sword's edge. In life, we all encounter times when bad news comes upon us like a storm, darkening the horizon and shaking our very foundations. Yet, Powell’s wisdom reminds us that unlike the finest wine, which grows richer and more complex with the passage of time, bad news does not improve with age. It festers, it spreads, and if left unchecked, it can poison the soul. Bad news requires action, not patience; it needs resolution, not stagnation. It is a reminder that the longer we allow negativity to linger, the more it can erode our peace, our clarity, and our strength.

In the days of the ancient Greeks, they understood well the corrosive nature of bad news. The mighty city of Athens, filled with its philosophers, artists, and warriors, was often shaped by the tides of war and the devastating news that followed. The people, however, were not bound to dwell on their losses; they did not allow the bad news of their day to grow stale and poison their spirits. Instead, they acted swiftly, seeking to resolve the crisis at hand with courage and clarity. Pericles, the great statesman, understood that while difficult news was inevitable, allowing it to linger and weaken the resolve of the people was far more dangerous than the news itself. Bad news, he knew, must be addressed and acted upon, or else it would rot the heart of a nation.

Consider the story of Alexander the Great, whose entire reign was built upon the quick and decisive response to bad news. Alexander, as he journeyed across the world, faced many challenges, many setbacks, and countless pieces of devastating news. Yet, he understood that in order to move forward, in order to continue the conquest of the world, he could not allow these burdens to grow heavier with time. The moment bad news arrived, Alexander sought a solution. Whether it was the loss of men in battle or a rebellion in one of his provinces, he took swift action, knowing that letting such troubles age would only lead to further complications and despair. Bad news for Alexander was like a wound: it needed to be tended to quickly, or else it would fester and ruin the mission.

Powell’s words carry weight not only in the realm of war and strategy, but in everyday life. In our personal journeys, we are often faced with bad news—whether it is a setback in our career, a loss in our family, or a challenge in our community. The temptation is strong to push this news aside, to hope it will go away with time, to think that it will somehow improve as we let it age. Yet, Powell reminds us that bad news is not like wine—it does not improve or become easier with time. If we delay action, if we let the bitterness of the moment linger, it will not only hurt us but everyone around us. We must, like Alexander, meet these challenges head-on and resolve them before they can infect our thoughts, our lives, and our relationships.

In a similar vein, consider the example of Abraham Lincoln during the Civil War. As president, he was no stranger to the burden of bad news. His country was divided, his people were suffering, and nearly every day brought word of loss, of battle, of lives lost. Yet, Lincoln understood that bad news could not be allowed to dominate. He did not dwell on it, nor did he allow it to age and fester. Instead, he responded with resolve, determination, and clarity of purpose. Lincoln acted swiftly, making tough decisions, always keeping his eyes on the future, always seeking to heal the wounds of the nation. His response to bad news was not to ignore it, but to face it and act decisively, a lesson that resonates today.

O children of the earth, the lesson we must take from Colin Powell’s words is one of action and resolve. In your own lives, when bad news strikes, remember that it does not improve with age. Do not let it grow, do not let it linger, and do not allow it to cloud your judgment or your spirit. Act quickly, make decisions, and move forward. Life will always present challenges, but it is in how we face them, how we deal with them, that defines the quality of our lives. Bad news is a reality of the human experience, but it is how we respond to it that will determine whether we remain strong or fall into despair.

So, let us learn from the great leaders, from Alexander to Lincoln, from the philosophers of ancient times to Colin Powell. When bad news comes, let it be met not with fear or hesitation but with action and resolve. Let us not wait for time to heal wounds that can be mended today. Let us face the challenges of life head-on, confident that through action and wisdom, we can transform the negative into the positive and rise above the storms that threaten our peace.