Unsolicited Health Advice
17 Jan 2019
Today I’m going to do something that I’ve never done before. I’m going to give you a bit of health advice.
Please bear in in mind that I am not a doctor.
Still, I don’t think you have to talk to him about this.
You will know whether this is right for you or not.
Throw Out Your TV!
Here’s why:
Now, I usually get sick about once or twice a year, which coincides with visits to my family. No, I’m not saying I’m allergic to my family, and that you should avoid yours, far from it. (Well, I guess that really depends on your family…)
But the thing is that when I’m visiting them, the television is on almost 24/7. From the time they get up, until the time they go to bed, they’ve got the TV on. For someone who doesn’t own a TV (haven’t for the past 7-8 years), this is just too much.
What I notice is that after a few days, I start to get agitated. My attention span goes out the window, and ends up being on par with that of a goldfish. I feel lethargic, depressed and fearful. In other words, after just a few days of being blasted with messages from the tube, I feel like crap.
On the rare occasions where the TV set is actually turned off while I’m visiting, I immediately start to feel better. So why is that?
When you watch TV, you have about 15-20 minutes of programming (if you’re lucky) before switching to ads, which again switch every 30 seconds for about 5-10 minutes, and then you return to the program. This pattern repeats itself, so that something is constantly changing.
If that is your daily ritual, watching TV for hours on end, is it any wonder if you feel unfocused and unable to concentrate?
But, but, but….I’ll Miss Out!
Watching the so-called news, isn’t all that good for your health either.
TV news isn’t really news anyway. It’s the same shit, different day. The names and places may have changed, but the stories are the same – rapes, murders, wars, scandals and other unfortunate events. All with the same message – the world is going to Hell. Which by the way, isn’t true. But you would think it was, if all you did was watch the news.
If you’re really worried about being left out of the loop, and missing something important, then read the news instead. Select what interests you. Limit the amount that you consume.
It’s like if blueberries give you gas, but yet you insist on eating them because ‘they’re good for you’, then eat a handful. Don’t swallow the whole bucket, which is what happens when you watch the news. The shit just gets poured into you.
Besides, you are probably still connected to some form of social media, and I’m pretty sure that if World War 3 starts, you’ll hear about it there first.
The bottom line is that you don't really need to sit and watch hours of misery on the television every day. It will not keep you informed, it will only make you depressed and fearful. Share on X
Unplug to Plug In
Another thing about television, is that it also disconnect you from the people around you, because all you’re doing is sitting there staring at a screen. You may be doing it in the same room with others, but you are not actually with them.
Occasionally you’ll comment on what’s happening on the TV, but there will be no actual conversation or discussion taking place. If you had someone come into your living room and transcribe the limited exchange of words between you, it would read like the ramblings of someone experiencing a psychotic break.
“We got chips? No don’t do that! Why doesn’t he get rid of that comb-over? Behind you, he’s behind you. What’s so special about her ass, anyway? Oh, I like that car.”
One of the things that affects our health the most, is our relationships. People who have happy relationships with family, friends and partners, generally tend to have better health as well, both physical and mental.
Which is why I’m giving you this unsolicited health advice, from a non-professional standpoint: Unplug the TV, and plug in to your relationships - with yourself, and others. Share on X
© Merlyn Gabriel Miller
