I am suffering from numb thumb, also known as remote control, out of control syndrome. My knuckles have cramped up from holding on, as I peruse the multitude of options available for my viewing pleasure. After scrolling up, down, and all around, through the vast maize of many choices, I decide that there is really nothing on.
This could be a result of any of the following:
a) I have already seen it and I watch too damn much TV.
b) I am out of touch and don’t know what I am missing.
c) I don’t know how to operate the remote.
d) Most of what is offerred is really just plain crap.
I am going with d.
I ask myself, do I want to spend an evening watching the minute by minute activity of another person’s life? The answer is clearly no. Do I want to waste my precious, few, free hours of the day listening to commercials blasting across the airwaves, for products that I never intend to buy? No way.
According to the A.C. Nielsen Co., the average American watches far too much TV, more than 4 hours of TV each day (or 28 hours/week, or 2 months of nonstop TV-watching per year). In a 65-year life, the average person will have logged an equivalent of 9 years glued to the tube or some other form of media.
September 19-25 has been designated as Turn Off Week (fka TV Turn Off Week) by the Center for Screen Time Awareness. The Center for SCREEN-TIME Awareness is an international nonprofit organization based in Washington, DC and seeks to reengage people with their families, friends and communities.
Life is out there, if we get out of the chair.
I have started my list of things to do during TurnOff Week. They include:
1) Take a walk.
2) Write a letter with pen and paper.
3) Call an old friend or a relative.
4) Read a book from cover to cover.
5) Create something from old things around the house.
6) Take a long hot bath with wine and candles.
7) Bake from scratch.
8) Clean a closet.
9) Attend at least one live entertainment event.
10) Learn a language or skill.
What’s on your list?
5 comments:
Leave me a note. What's on your list?
My list would include a daily bike ride and a visit to the library. We are never too old to learn!
So I'll hear from you???
Sure thing Linda! We have so much to catch up on.
Turning the TV off for a week is a great idea! It seems I never make time to do the things I really enjoy as often as I should. Another method may be to reserve one night a week, all year long to shut off the tube and get creative.
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