Turn Off Your TV!!
Almost twelve years ago I stopped doing something that changed my life immediately.
I stopped watching TV.
Now hold on there a second, Sister. Hear me out.
I know, I know, many years ago, I would’ve thought the same things…that this was crazy and what’s the point? Almost twelve years ago I would’ve felt deprived and out of sorts if I couldn’t watch my favorite show on Thursday nights (it was on NBC and that’s all I’m saying J).
I had heard of people who didn’t watch TV and even more intense, people who didn’t HAVE a TV and well, I just didn’t understand the appeal.
But something on that day almost twelve years ago said that I was all done. So I stopped cold turkey.
And now when people ask me what I do if I don’t watch TV, what comes to mind is how much they don’t do because they are watching.
I absolutely do not judge anyone for watching TV and I watched myself for many years; however, what I noticed when I did watch TV is how the hours would melt away while I was in an almost unconscious state. I certainly wasn’t awake and aware—which is the state I am striving for through my daily Prana Power Yoga practice, meditation practice, and raw vegan lifestyle.
Watching TV, like any habit, just took a bit of time and practice to kick. And once I had stopped, I was amazed at how I did not miss it. At all.
“Why,” you ask, “would I want to do this? I need my ‘ten minutes’ when I get home from work/school/the gym to chill out and unwind,” you continue.
Well, girl, if it were ten minutes, I’d say go for it, but when have you ever stopped watching TV after ten minutes?
And how many other things could you be doing and enjoying and really present for instead of staring at a machine in a daze-like state and taking in more subliminal messages than you’ll ever be aware of, telling you how you really need to buy this and that to feel good about yourself and be anybody.
Super-mom is telling you right now that you can feel good about yourself right now and you ARE somebody—right now.
To discover more about who you are, just try it. Turn it off—for two weeks…and see what happens.
January 25th, 2010 at 1:09 pm
So funny to read this. I haven’t had a TV in 29 years (since I left home for college, I’ve never missed having one, and in fact, when I’m in one of those homes where the people need to have it on for “background noise” I go crazy.
However, I did grow up watching TV. Probably not as much as the next person, but easily a couple hours a day. And I still got straight As and I still got into college and truthfully, I feel unharmed by it. Would I have been better off reading Jane Eyre? Of course. But would my 15-year-old self have been inclined to read Jane Eyre? No.
I think a lot of us urban, hyper-educated, uber-parents, are trying a bit too hard to give our kids the childhoods we wished we’d had, for our own good.
So I’ve done a bit of an about face on the TV in the last few years, and I’ve been letting my son rent TV programs (he’s a fan of Smallville and Lost) from Netflix. I don’t see the appeal of Lost at all, I got “lost” on episode 6 or 7, in fact. But I did watch 7 seasons of Smallville with him. And I even enjoyed myself. Of course I was knitting while watching … had to assuage the guilt somehow.
TV’s a bit mind-numbing, but I think it’s important to trust our kids to their own path. I grew up doing my homework while watching Happy Days and Laverne and Shirley. I turned 18 and basically never turned on a TV again. But turning off TV was my choice. And I think it’s sad so few parents trust our kids to make the same wise choices we did.
January 25th, 2010 at 3:13 pm
God Elizabeth I so hear that….I respect choices made by other parents, however, I have friends who all but ban TV, video games, etc… and they are SO the ones who feel the need to chastise and say to whomever will listen “we DON’T play watch, blah blah blah at home” and then give me 20 reasons why their way is far superior! I laugh and have to wonder what the huge deal is!!! The funny thing is that their kids watch movies on the computer (still screen time in my view), play “computer” games (again still in front of the screen albeit not a ‘horrid brain numbing’ video game), and have TONS of technology in their very young hands. So while not having a TV could be a great thing, the key is balance. Are these kids watching a ton of movies when they are sick? Do these Mom’s and Dad’s realize that movies on the way in the car is the very same thing as watching that same movie on a TV screen? Are the kids plugged in in various other ways (Helloooo Facebook, Twitter, Texting)? Is it really virtuous to go sans TV at all costs? Who knows. Don’t get me wrong…I am not one for allowing the kids to numb out in front of the TV and I too, hate the background noise…I much prefer it off (well unless Carol and Mike are doling out a homespun lesson to the Brady 6).. For me I have seen so many wonderful programs for little ones and allow my guys to enjoy them in moderation. TV should NEVER replace reading, talking, playing games, parenting, etc…however the trend that I have been seeing among my children’s friends that are banned from anything, is that they come to my house and would rather sit in front of the tube than play tag, which bums my guys out..they eat 8 cookies in a row when the other kids are happy with 1 or 2 because they are not available at home…all they want to do is play our video games on a beautiful day until I kick them outside with a bat and ball…what can you do?? I really do feel as though kids will make the right choice if they are allowed to do so, but by exposing them to only one way/view we aren’t giving them the chance. I have faith that my kids will get out there and if they need a nudge, that is what I am here for as their Mom.
January 25th, 2010 at 9:28 pm
Chrissy, I also grew up drinking 3 or 4 glasses of chocolate milk a day! I drank it it with a teaspoon while watching TV (I’ve always been weird … ) Anyway, I’d go through one of those canisters of Nestle’s Quick every few weeks, and it just never occurred to my mom to cut me off.
Well, guess who – in addition to turning of TV for good – became a health freak in college? I not only gave up chocolate, I gave up milk along with it, and 150 other not good for me things as well. All on my own.
January 26th, 2010 at 12:37 am
Is it cheating if I PVR all the shows I love watching? If not, then I’m totally in.
January 26th, 2010 at 6:43 am
LOL..RIGHT Elizabeth???? I gave up much of the same stuff at about that very same time. I am glad that I was exposed to many different people/ways. I think that to sequester our kids and only expose them to one way is not always the best bet. I want the very best for my children (what Mom doesn’t?), however I just have to respect that they are their very own people….
I come from a VERY Italian family…which is wonderful and I truly feel blessed! The only thing that I can think of that bums me out was our birthday cake (I am a twin)….it was one of those ones from the Italian bakery that was made with whipped cream, filled with berries and had green almonds pressed on the sides…clearly NOT a kids Bday cake! I used to hope and pray for a “normal” birthday cake (HELLOW Chocolate icing/vanilla cake with candles and my name..you know the drill….I mean really…frig the gifts….I’ll take cupcakes EVEN), and every year my sister and I ended up with you guessed it…the nut cake! LOL!!! It was what my parents had wanted and thought was “right”. Did they once ask us what we liked? Ummm, Nope, they chose for us. Which is very much like parents who only expose their kids to “their” way of thinking….the funny thing is..I now can stomach that cake, but am still VERY aware that sometimes kids need to find their own way….
And Heather..if I had to imagine my life without Clinton and Stacey???? Really! TV does have lots to offer, it is and will always stand to reason..too much of ANYTHING is no good!
January 26th, 2010 at 11:35 am
The thing that has changed my life has been giving up watching the news!! It does nothing but create suffering…even if it’s only on in the background. When I was in middle school and high school, however, I LOVED watching Dawson’s Creek. It felt so good to know the issues that I dealt with in school were so common and normal among teenagers that they were even depicted on TV through Joey, Dawson, and Percy’s lives (of course there was some unrealistic situations)! I even watched with my mom, which facilitated many great conversations. Balance is definitely key.
January 27th, 2010 at 6:09 pm
I don’t watch TV ever either anymore – and I must say I don’t miss it at all. In fact I can’t remember how I ever had the time for it. I do more reading and I do spend more time in front of the computer (though often I had my laptop with me in front of the TV back in the old days – two screens, yikes).
I don’t miss it at all. At all!
xo