Goodbye to Television?

So graduation was almost a week ago, and the job hunt continues. Being an alumnus does feel really good. Knowing that I completed two degree programs in a *ahem* respectable amount of time gives me a solid sense of my own worth and what I'm capable of accomplishing. I get a really powerful kick out of doing things that take a great deal of focus. Which leads me to my next point...

Anyone who knows me knows that I do not have television at my house in Athens. Yes, I have a television, but I do not have access to televised content via cable or satellite. This has been the case since February 25. That's right, since February 25, I have not had television. Somehow, I've survived. How? TV networks have wised up to the fact that viewing habits are changing, and have responded by putting their primetime content on the internet. I can watch my favorite shows - Desperate Housewives, Dexter, Family Guy, True Blood, 30 Rock, and Dollhouse without having to pay for a cable subscription. And of course, the news is available online, 24/7. So when you think about it, I haven't really missed out on anything.

However, I've grown increasingly dissatisfied by my leisure habits, and this is attributable to my growing passion for interacting with people. Living alone (which I love, by the way), has led me to appreciate the time I do spend with people because for me it's a sort of project. I studied interpersonal communication for years, and I'm definitely living my major because I'm always making a conscious effort to communicate effectively. Speaking with precision and emphasis and avoiding space fillers like um and er. Keeping hand gestures to a minimum. Choosing my words carefully so that people never get the wrong idea. And working on my worst habit - not waiting until people finish talking before I chime in.

This is all very fun for me, and I'd like to make myself even smarter by lighting a fire under my imagination's butt by reading. Lord, I haven't read in months, and for me there's really no excuse for that. I always loved reading when I was younger, and there's no doubt in my mind that people who read for pleasure are the most interesting people on the planet. People who read have a genuine understanding that there is always more underneath the surface. As such, they are never satisfied, because there is always another page to be turned. In college I was surrounded by smart people, but the ones who read for pleasure are those who never cease to keep me guessing.

While searching for insight by those who had also given up the boob tube, I stumbled upon this article. Check it out. It made for a great read (pun intended).

However, this is not to blame television as the only time waster. A comment to that article made a great point: "TV watching, like many other activities that consume our time, such as using the computer, reading, socializing, eating, music listening, sleeping, should be done with some degree of moderation and life balance. Being consciously selective about how we use our time is the ultimate spiritual enlightenment."

Maybe I won't say goodbye to my favorite programs just yet, but I definitely need to pick up a book and go out more often.