It'll be a shift for me--meaning I'll have even less time to get my personal projects done than I have now.
But a hard "reality check" (prompted by examining myself as 2011 comes to a close) has made me realize I've not spent the time that I had wisely while I had it...
This new year will bring new changes that will help me focus a bit more on what I need to do. Several things are developing that will guide my attention more toward my studio and away from time-wasting activities that seem to suck all my drive and determination away.
First off, we have decided to get rid of cable TV from our household. Now, for someone who has never lived life without a TV, I think I will go through a period of adjustment and withdrawal... We are shifting to streaming viewing, so I'll only end up watching TV that I can get through Netflix and Hulu and such. Which, in the end, isn't that bad really. No longer will I be able to simply plop down on the couch and flip through 250+ channels and find something mindless to absorb my attention. No. Now my viewing will be a bit more "consciously chosen", and the television will no longer take up as much of my life as it did. Honestly, I've lost too much of my lifetime to programming that hasn't resulted in much of an impact on me, and suffered through enough commercials prompting me to buy stuff that I'm just tired of it all. I'm done with it.
This decision will save us at least $50 a month. That makes me happy!
This may seem like a baby step, but for me it's a big move toward committing to an artistic lifestyle that will help me be less angst-ridden and a lot more diligent. I can't watch news channels anymore without feeling completely wound up and frustrated by the lack of objectivity, and it's getting harder and harder to find quality serial programming as shows don't have stories with a beginning, middle and end anymore--they just keep going ad nauseum for the sake of generating ad revenue... And if I see another Kardashian, talent show, or celebrity reality drug rehab show I'm going to puke. Thanks, but no thanks. Turns out the only thing decent to watch anymore is the Simpsons, and I don't have to pay so much to do that.
It's interesting how I have a whole book of ideas that I collect when I'm not at home, but once I get the chance to work on them I instead sit and let my brain turn to mush in front of a glowing box... Well, no more.
I realize that once I get into my studio, I get lost and absorbed and thoroughly enjoy my time there... But lately I've felt like I've had to force myself to get down to work, and that really worries me. I can't seem to remind myself enough of the rewards that I inevitably feel when I create. It comes so naturally, and yet this last couple of months I've felt really adverse towards investing myself in any project whatsoever... I'm hoping that removing even a single temptation like my TV will help redirect me toward doing what I know I love.
Anyone else have any experience with this? Impact? Advice on what they did to help them not miss it? I have a feeling that after a lifetime, it might be like trying to quit smoking, in a way... Bit nervous about it, but confident it's the right thing...
Wish me luck? Please? : )
And Live Life with Relish!
Image from .reid. via Flickr. Creative Commons License.
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