Why David Foster Wallace Didn’t Own a Television
I’m a big fan of David Foster Wallace’s speech, “This Is Water.” I’ve gone so far as to have a framed goldfish in needlepoint that my niece made for me on display in my office because of my love of the piece.
Wallace was an interesting character. I’ve seen the movie The End of The Tour. I’ve spent plenty of time revisiting This is Water. But I’ve never really read much of his other work. (I’m starting Infinite Jest now, though. I figure that’s a good place to start.)
One of the things I did learn about Wallace once was that he didn’t own a television. He was so self-aware that he knew that having a TV would mess up the boundaries he needed to set for himself to do the work he needed (and wanted) to do.
My friend Steve Kamb spoke about something similar in his book Level Up Your Life when he suggested that readers set up their own “bat cave” of sorts. Make it so that the things you need are readily available to serve you and remove as much friction as possible to gain access to those things. That’s why I keep the Sodastream downstairs in my home; it acts as a trigger when I feel the urge to have a soda pop. With that device on my downstairs countertop, I get that reminder that I don’t want to drink soda and want to drink something healthier instead.
I’m a big believer in setting boundaries for yourself. That’s why I theme my time. I want that framework — those boundaries — in place so that it can support the things I need and want to do instead of finding myself wondering where my focus — and my productivity — went.
Wallace didn’t have a TV. That was his boundary, likely one of many. What’s a boundary that you have put in place to keep you moving things in the right direction?
If you can’t name one, then make one. Because if you don’t then someone else will do it for you.
Want to watch a video that was made about David Foster Wallace’s famous “This is Water” speech? Here you go. Want to watch David Foster Wallace talk about not own a television? Done.
