breaking up is hard to do...

TL and I have decided to "break up."

No... not us, not with each other. We're breaking up with our Television. Just for one week. (to start...) This all began when I read how Andrea and her family had done it. She described so beautifully how it changed them, how it delightfully gave them an awakening. TL and I had been discussing it ourselves, in fact he's been actually trying to get us to do this for a long time... We realize it's definitely going to be harder for us than for most people. We watch a lot of TV. A lot. Way too much. And, after being cooped up in this house for the past few months, I'm just sick of it. I'm sick of the addiction. I want more.

Then this past Saturday night we went to church, and lo and behold the new series just beginning was right along these lines. It's no accident we showed up on that night. "What would you do if you only had 1 month to live?" There are all kinds of cliche answers, right...? Quit our jobs, travel, spend time with friends and family, eat all the junk food we want... But, if we want to get real serious about it and truly begin living a quality of life, we have to come up with better and more realistic things to do. And not watching TV is right on top of the list!

Our inspiration...
*Superhero's Media Diet...
*Pastor Doug's 1 Month to Live Series...

Our plan of action...
Determining what matters most...
Define values...
Determine plan of action to pursue these values...
Decide on what changes need to be made to acheive these values...
Depend on God's Power to live out these values...

So... over the rest of the weekend TL and I sat down and created some lists... It's a start! The TV is off. And, I am also going to limit my computer time as well. I do have some necessity type things that requires me to be on the computer, but I will be cutting down on all the non-sense lolly-gagging and self indulgent reading that I do on a daily basis, usually when I'm not watching TV. For now, I see time spent outdoors, time spent reading good books and just wholesome quality time spent with each other in our near future.

I'll report back on our success... stay tuned! (hee... irony!)

Comments

[Amelia Dew]

Good on you two! I has the sam realisation Saturday nigt too while doing Earth Hour.My boyfriend and I decided to go further than just turning off the lights and turned everything off at the wall. We spent the evening playing chinese checkers by candle light and had a ball. We didn't bother turning the evil TV back on at 9pm at the end of the hour. We also decided that we will do this every week. It was really lovely to just talk and laugh and have fun together. (more fun for him though because I am crap at chinese checkers) Glad the leg is better. Amelia

[Roxie]

Oh, please allow enough computer time to post on how this experiment/new road goes for the two of you. TV is such an easy, easy trap to fall into. I know that if we allowed ourselves anything other than "Kountry Kable" I would spend far too much time on the couch. I know this from experience, I've had a serious TV addiction since I was a child.

I'm also very interested in how other couples define mutual goals/priorities. Good stuff!

[Kim]

what a great idea ... do they have a "nicorette" type gum for tv do you think? I will bring this up with my family ... but breaking up with our computers as well ;0 that would be a must