That’s what my brother called it several weeks ago. He said he was on a “media sabbatical.” Instead, that lucky guy can just step out his front door and have mountains all around him. He lives (at about 8,000 ft) on the west side of Sugarloaf Mountain just west of Boulder and goes out almost every day to hike with his dog Lucy. (Somebody has to keep an eye on the back country.)
That sabbatical thing struck me as a wise thing to do, and I’m slowly moving in that direction. I’m trying to break my habit of following national and international news, trying to remember that I don’t have to know everything that’s going on in Washington or the Middle East or the rest of the world because those things don’t directly affect my everyday life. It’s not like I can do anything about them anyway — except worry, stress, get angry and/or frustrated, and raise my blood pressure (which my doctor recently told me is becoming a concern). Of course I will continue to vote at every opportunity.
I do, however, keep watching local news. I want to know, and feel I should know, about events in my city and my state. These are the things that affect my life directly — not Washington, not Gaza, etc. The major headlines do manage to get through here and there, but I try not to go looking for them — most of the time. I even got through the whole day yesterday without watching any of the Sunday morning news and opinion shows (or their late evening reruns). That was a first for me.
Now I have more time to worry about things like should and when do I spring for a tub-to-shower conversion? Can I realistically expect to age in place (I won’t go anywhere without Charlie)? What should I do to lower my blood pressure? What do I do when a smoke alarm starts beeping at midnight and I’m no longer willing (or able?) to go that high on a ladder? (It did and I did, but that’s another story.)
So … I guess home delivery isn’t going to take care of everything after all.
Oh, tell me about it … :\
Tell about which? The sabbatical? Or the aging in place? We’re virtually the same age but you don’t have a 65 lb dog and a 12 lb cat.
Yeah, the second, she said single-mindedly …
You’re right, I don’t. I must weigh da Boodsta, coz I never have. Weighed meself on Sunday last, and am pleased to see 76kg (11.97 stone).
I follow a lot fewer news stories than I used to. So much reporting is over sensationalized, biased and sometimes outright false. I do follow some local news and the weather.
and yeah, aging …
Weather. Now there’s a topic worth following. I’m a total addict. Inevitable when you grow up in tornado alley.
I tend to back off for a while when it starts to get to me, but I do want to be informed – it’s finding that balance
Admittedly, I peek frequently. Don’t want to be caught unaware and unprepared if a troll army is afoot. Or dragons. Or whatever.
Hmmm, think the photo of Twin Sisters is the general view heading to Estes from the South; enjoyed seeing that side coming home from Wild Basin.
Not having a tv really reduces media overload– using it for gaming instead of watching is an option for you 😄
And I assure you it is a very well used option!
I don’t have one either. But I do have a subscription to BritBox, and that means I can watch those few things I want to on my laptop.
I never try to weigh Rowdy. I let the vet do it once a year. I don’t have enough hands to do it.
I am a solid news junkie, a hopeless addict. I get where you’re coming from, but I really don’t want to be cured. I feel privileged to be living in a technical world where everything that’s going on is accessible via television and computer, not just history being made but advances in technology and science. As to the effect of media on my health, I can’t see it as bad. I have the same concerns as you, including the smoke alarm thing (very upsetting), but my electronic window on the world is what keeps my juices flowing. I would be very disappointed if you were to diminish expressing your views on current events.
Unfortunately it does raise my blood pressure considerably (both literally and figuratively) to keep hearing about you know who and you know where, to the virtual exclusion of everyone and every place else. But even pressure cookers blow their tops occasionally, of necessity, and I will no doubt continue doing the same.