Well. I did it. I turned my cable off. I turned in the box and the remote and said, “Turn it off.”
This may not be a big deal for many people. I know many people are cable-free and it’s not a big deal for them. But, for me, it is.
I grew up with television. It was my company and my entertainment and my source of information. It is as familiar to me as brushing my teeth. I use television to unwind after work. I turn on something mindless and just chill.
But lately? No. For the past 6 months or so, I’ve flicked around at night thinking, “Goat, eleventy-hundred channels and there’s f*ck all on!”
There were (are) a few shows that I really like that I will miss, I think. But, be it due to age or temperament, the show that I used to *love* just didn’t do it for me any more. Either the characters changed, I lost my taste for blood and gore, or the “plots” just became insipid. I could no longer get interested in CSI or NCIS or any of the other letter-shows. I didn’t want to see anything with vampires or cops or hospitals.
So, both for that reason, and to save money, my cable is gone. I disconnected the box on Sunday. I turned it in on Tuesday. It was strange to come home from work and not just flick on the mindlessness. A friend sent me a text on Tuesday asking me if I was watching a particular show. It was strange.
I have taken on Netflix though. So I will continue to rot my brain at times.
I hope I get used to it. I hope it motivates me to use the Wii again. I hope it motivates me to read more.
Baby steps, right?
Debra
You’re inspiring me. I’ve often thought I need to drop my cable and have determined to do so when I move… I just don’t know if I want to do it before. I’m wavering on that. Please keep us updated on how you feel in a month or two. I’m betting it won’t be long before you don’t even miss it.
Good job!