The television binge is over. Ok. Ok. What’s next?

Dear Self,

In five days our Netflix subscription will end and I’m curious about what I would like to do with the time I am going to get back.

I have this strange, unhelpful, belief that I somehow deserve ‘junk TV’ at the end of the day (quality junk, of course) because I have worked hard all day and that is how I can ‘switch off’.

Sure. I’ve done lots in the day. But either I am tired and it is time for bed or there must be some activities I can do to wind down that don’t involve me staring at a screen for an hour (or two or three or…).

I binge watch TV series because I love story. I ‘escape’ and visit another world, another community, another group of friends and see how they interact with the things that go on for them.

It is actually what happens to me when I read good books. I love a series of books that mean I can follow the same characters over time. But it doesn’t have to be a series, just a good book, with a good story, will do.

I don’t have enough books in my life right now.

But also, there are all these things I love doing. Playing the piano, researching about the body and how it moves, writing, making things, listening to stories. I’d really like to do more of these things — but I’m worried I won’t switch off and go to sleep at the end of it all. And I get to the end of the day and I have this story running…that ‘I’m too tired’ to do anything of value or importance.

Interesting.

I’d like to challenge all this. I’d like to find a way to finish each day off doing things that are restful…things that are regenerative and that are an expression of what I think is important in the world.

The television binge is over.

Ok.

Ok.

What’s next?

Luke

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Know someone who’d appreciate this story?