So I’m giving up television for Lent. I knew this would be way more of a struggle than the usual things I give up every year (sugar, carbs, etc.). I wanted to give up television last year for Lent but I feel like I honestly just knew I couldn’t do it.
As a single person living in NYC, the television really did keep me company. After greeting my cat when I’d come home from work each night, the first thing I’d do was turn on the TV. I had it on while making dinner, had it on while eating then I’d switch from my living room TV to my bedroom TV when I was ready for some shut-eye. I’d set the TV timer for 30 minutes so that I could fall asleep to the sounds of Michael Scott, or Chandler Bing, or George Costanza or Frasier Crane. If I’m being honest with myself, I know that at that time during Lent last year when I knew I couldn’t give up television, I had a realization that I had a real dependancy on TV. I know there are way more serious addictions but regardless of that, I don’t want to be someone who has a reliance on anything. Furthermore, I think it was my need for having the TV on has also gotten in the way of me pursuing other hobbies of mine. I want to write more. I want to read more. I want to get better at playing the ukulele and piano. These are things that I’ve wanted to do for a while but have taken a back seat to me coming home from work, being tired from the day and just wanting to turn on the TV and not have to do anything else. My mom had mentioned to me a few months ago that I shouldn’t fall asleep to the TV. This has been something I’ve been doing since I was 15. I like the soft, moving glow that the TV casts on my walls and I like the familiar voices of characters I love speaking to one another.
Anyway, here I am. On my first day of Lent and it just so happens to be on the day I arrive in Louisville, KY for a work conference. My colleague doesn’t arrive until tomorrow so it’s just me tonight. I ordered some Brussel sprouts from the bar downstairs, brought them up to my hotel room and began to eat them on my bed.
And by George, I wanted to watch TV. The temptation was palpable. When I came into my room the TV was already kind of on (it has that home screen of “watch your favourite streaming content on this TV!” with Netflix, Prime, Showtime and HBO options.)
And I shit you not, you seriously can’t make this up - the remote is standing on its bottom end basically begging to be picked up. As I was washing up and getting changed before eating I had thoughts of changing my Lent promise. What if I just waited until Sunday when I got home to start? I’m alone here at a hotel - what else is there to do? Especially while I eat? I sat on the bed, opened my box of Brussel sprouts, turned on my computer - thought about it once more but then, my eyes fell on the app I had purchased a couple months ago - Ulysses (a writing app.) With a sigh of relief and an instantaneous smile, I clicked upon the writing tool and began writing this blog. Yes, even as I type, it could be so easy to turn on the television and forget about my promise, at least until Sunday. But I didn’t even give giving it up a try. I honestly didn’t. I just walked into my room and instantly thought of an excuse.
So I’m working through it! As I’ve begun writing, just minutes ago, my urge to watch TV has weakened and weakened and I’m actually excited about writing my first blog post in ages and going to sleep to the sounds of Louisville outside my window. This will definitely not be an easy 40 days but I feel strongly that if I pass today… if I pass tonight, I can do it.
And ta da, one of the TV substitutes I had in mind is already being realized!
Wrightfully yours,
Mel