“I don’t watch TV.”
Each time I make this confession to someone, I am met with puzzled looks that border on bewilderment.
“Well, what exactly do you do with your free time?”
I read. I make time for the people and things that really matter to me. That’s what I do.
Most authors are introverts by nature and would rather spend their evenings with a good book than mindless entertainment – not that there’s anything wrong with Netflix and chill. Lots of people love it. I just don’t happen to be one of them. I hear of lots of couples zoning out in front of the television screen and I just don’t get it.
Not everyone’s brain is wired to spend hours in front of a television. I am highly likely to fall asleep when I spend more than 15 minutes in front of a screen. To me, it’s a passive experience where I’m distracting myself from the stuff that truly matters to me.
I need depth. I need to expand my mind. I need something for my brain to chew on.
Courtesy of the coronavirus, many of us are on lockdown – spending unprecedented hours at home. As someone that’s accustomed to being in professions where people are the heart of everything I do – this lockdown has urged me to slow down. To zone in and figure out what really matters to me.
In Gary Chapman’s Five Love Languages, he writes:
“In the vernacular of Quality Time, nothing says, “I love you,” like full, undivided attention. Being there for this type of person is critical, but really being there – with the TV off, fork and knife down, and all chores and tasks on standby – makes your significant other feel truly special and loved. Distractions, postponed dates, or the failure to listen can be especially hurtful. Quality time also means sharing quality conversation and quality activities.”
We live in a world full of distractions competing for our short-lived attention. The past few weeks have forced me to slow down and think about what really matters to me.
What matters to you? How has the lockdown changed your view of quality time?
As for me, you’ll find me in bed reading Brian Weiss’ Many Lives, Many Masters.
Till next time – stay asymptomatic.
The Mercantile 
I agree everyone is wired differently. Stay safe and enjoy this break
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