“I find television very educating. Every time somebody turns on the set, I go into the other room and read a book.”
– Groucho Marx
It just hit me. I haven’t watched television in two weeks! I’m not on a television burning crusade and I didn’t declare a TV fast, but I haven’t seen a sit-com, reality show, sporting event, or a rerun in over two weeks. Here’s the thing that strikes me the most about this: I haven’t missed it. Is that because much of the programming is mind-numbing drivel? That may be a part of it, but there’s more to the story.
In these two and a half weeks, I have finished two books, began a new long-term personal project, got a decent amount of sleep, exercised two or three times a week, and spent time with Krista. It’s been great! What prompted this accidental TV fast?
One factor was that we moved our television into our second bedroom. The living room is no longer a misnomer. We use that room for LIVING now. If we want to watch a movie or a TV show, we go into the other room. Now when I’m sitting on the couch, instead of reaching for the remote, I grab a book or a magazine, or better yet, we may even have a conversation! Other times, I just sit there and breathe (lately I’m discovering how important breathing is).
I still enjoy movies and a select number of television shows, but this 18 day boob-tube break has reminded me that life is truly lived outside the perimeter of that 42 inch screen.
Curious Heretic 
Or are you just drunk on all that wine you blog about you heathen! Just kidding! It is amazing how much time you can waste at the TV. I only turn it on if there is something I know I want to watch like sports or Star Trek reruns. The warning here goes back to that old computer idiom – garbage in = garbage out.
My wife and I have implemented “no TV no Cell Phone Saturdays”. It is now my favorite day of the week. It’s amazing the things we miss when we are distracted by the TV. My saturday is now the longest day of the week, in a good way. So enjoyable, refreshing, relaxing! Of course I say that the day after I received the 4 hour Season 6 premiere of 24 on DVD. But we won’t be watching it on Saturdays!
Another nice by-product of no tv Saturdays is that I now find myself videotaping the kids every Saturday. I will thank me for this later in my life.
I need to try this. I’m not a huge fan of TV, but I’m hooked on the fourth season of 24. I admit, I say I don’t read the Bible enough because I can’t find the time, yet we always make time for what we want to do.
I was gonna write a good long post about what a good idea this is, but my programs are on… gotta run!
Lol… JK… I’ve actually been watching less television lately. Great post!