It is time for us to create a “television escape club” and it is past time to do whatever we want. During my work travels for the past 15 weeks, I rarely streamed any movies or shows. The hotel televisions gathered dust and I ignored the basketball and football games blaring at restaurants while dining out. ”Oh, there was a Super Bowl?” I remember the hotel concierge asking why I was not watching the match and describing me as she smiled as ”very un-American.” I will take this compliment with a smile of my own.

Do I feel a sense of superiority in all of this(?), not at all. This is simply a choice to remove myself from unproductive viewing. I’d rather read a book these days because my mind can generate those scenes far better than any special effects shown on a screen.

There will be exceptions of course such as the 2024 season of Formula 1 racing as they wave the green flag in Bahrain this next weekend. I’ve already been promised we will re-subscribe and enjoy each race as they travel the world until November. Side note: How the hell do you do better than Team Red Bull winning 22 out of 23 races in 2023?? It’ll be thrilling to find out this season.

There are several books with film adaptations I want to see soon.

Occasionally I’ll stream some brilliant but stupid television show as well.

The idea is to not plop down out of boredom and mindlessly scroll through the tv menu looking for options to waste my time or be lazy. No, the times I spend in front of the tube will be mindful and deliberate.

I would really like to remove a television from our bedroom in favor of watching the television in the living room instead, but I have been currently outvoted. Hopefully this changes soon, like say, during an upcoming move and oops, the screen has cracked or the unit dropped.

Other alternatives include not seeking out new things to watch or not subscribing to new streaming options.

Speaking of options, I am really looking forward to a healthier lifestyle soon and I cannot do this in front of a television.

While typing up this article I was enjoying this album: