I’ve decided I want to add a little something different to my job title, although unofficially, for 2021. Newspaper reporter/ paranormal investigator has a nice ring to it. I’d like to join a local paranormal investigation team.

I have all five qualities for a great ghost hunter, according to spookyisles.com. It outlined how to become a top paranormal researcher. I checked off each quality:

Be curious: a desire to uncover the unknown is crucial when it comes to ghost hunting. There is so much that we don’t know, and still have to figure out, about ghosts and other unexplained phenomena. A great ghost hunter isn’t distressed by not knowing, rather they are inspired to action.

Check. I can’t think of anyone more curious than myself. I’m a female and a reporter – a combination that makes me very inquisitive. If you factor in that I’m an Aries, I’m almost unstoppable. I persevere when others, most likely, will not.

Be positive: someone who is overwhelmingly bitter, angry, anxious, or sad will have trouble investigating the unknown. Spirits are attracted to energy, but friendly spirits are likely to stay away from negative people. It is only the harmful spirits that will flock to negativity.

Check. I’m very positive. I’ve been thrown my fair share of lemons in this life, but I refuse to allow that to sour my zest for living. Life’s stresses come and they go. When they come at me, I will wake up the next day and say, “It’s a new day and this one will be awesome.” 

Be a critical thinker: Ghost hunters have to be able to analyze data and make sense out of it. It’s necessary to be able to make judgments and look at a situation from a variety of different angles.

Check. Critical thinkers analyze, assess and reconstruct situations. Sounds just like a reporter. There isn’t any situation/ problem in which I cannot clear my mind and think it through.  

Be open-minded: A ghost hunter should be open to all possibilities. Because there is still so much that we don’t understand, we have to admit that during an investigation anything can happen.

Be skeptical: This may seem odd, considering we just said that a great ghost hunter should be open-minded. But when dealing with the paranormal you want to have a healthy mix of both of these qualities.

I’m running out of room in this column space, so check and check on the final two. I am open-minded, but skeptical. I’m willing to believe, but I do want proof. I’m open to all possibilities until sufficient evidence is found.

If you are a member of a paranormal investigation team and have space open for a seasoned reporter, give me a sign of your presence (pun intended). If the truth is out there, I’m ready to find it. Consider this my job application.

Standard reporter Lisa Hobbs can be reached at 473-2191