T.V. or not T.V.?

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I have all but stopped watching T.V.
When the T.V. is on it seems like there is a disturbance in the atmosphere of my home---feels like an electrical storm minus the invigorating rumble of thunder or the benefit of a good rain. It seems dry and it makes me feel depressed. But like a person who clings to the wire that is electrocuting her it is hard for me to let go.
Here's what I notice: When it's on (even if it's on a 'good' program) I feel edgy; when it's off I can breath better---have more time to think, and can ponder something for longer than a few minutes at a time---don't have to wait till the next commercial break.
Anyway, when I hear people, like T.L. say they don't have T.V. anymore it nudges me closer to pulling the plug on my own.
The sisters at the St. Benedict monastery in Canyon, TX don't have T.V. and they are happy.
Anonymous  and his wife don't watch theirs anymore either.
They couldn't drop it cold turkey but wanted to start eating dinner without tube so they turned it off and are weening themselves from the electronic distraction by playing Yahtzee while they eat. The eat more slowly and actually talk to one another at dinner time.
That is what I want to do (only I'll be talking to myself since I dine alone.)
Some monks and nuns listen to pre-recorded readings from the Bible or from the writings of the church fathers. I guess I could do that.
But a Zen buddhist would say, "Why not just eat?" And that is what I am asking myself. Why can't I just eat, with no distractions? And  what if...
I could.

Comments

La Rooster said…
I had to go watch some television to see how I felt about this. Hmmm. I flipped through the channels and caught snippets of Law and Order, Law and Order SVU, Law and Order Criminal Intent, CSI, NCIS, America's Next Top Model, The Great Cake Challenge, Bodacious Backyards, Star Trek: The Next Generation, and The Andy Griffith Show. Yup. I like TV. It's a good ol' pal that is always willing to hang out with me when I'm whooped, too tired to hold up my end of a conversation, or just too boring to be around.

At the same time, I've got to admit, television watching is really more fun with company. While watching Animal Cops, for example, my sister and I often mute the program to revile horrible people who do horrific things to animals, then spin off in a vociferous condemnation of people who do cruel things period. Of course, this usually winds up with a mutual praise party with both of us citing all the wonderful things we do for man and beast.

When I left my wonderful building for a year to be with Dad as he slipped away, one of the truly important factors we discovered was that we were TV compatible. He wasn't all that keep on Top Chef or Project Runway, but he took them in the same competitive spirit I accepted football. We both drew the line at golf. But again, the programs sparked conversation--he felt sorry for the little chef with the funny hair and thought everyone was mean to him just because he was a smart aleck. I was up in arms about the coach who shoved a kid backward when he missed a pass.

So...sorry Joyarcularis, I'm afraid I'm going to have to stick with cable and all the resultant noise. I'll turn it off when you come visit, though!
5/11/10, 6:30 PM
La Rooster said…
Addendum: You may actually be suffering from an exposure to an electromagnetic field (EMFs). Scientists have proven that high degrees of EMFs can cause headaches, edginess, a sense of dread, and sometimes even rashes. Not to be alarmist, but you may want to check your plugs, your circuit breakers, even the TV itself.
5/11/10, 6:36 PM
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