I’m at Southport Flower Show this week, it’s windy and like Lowther last week, very wet, but this time the event is in a park that drains well, and so I don’t expect any major problems beyond discomfort. All this wet weather has me thinking about how I spend my leisure time.
I have always had a love-hate relationship with TV. I haven’t owned one for more than 15 years, which has worked well and encouraged me to read a lot. I hate the thought of wasting time and find the mindless hours sat in front of a box such a waste.
This self-imposed exile worked perfectly until I got my iPad! Suddenly I had a mini TV in my bag, available at any time of day or night. Slowly the apps crept onto it, iPlayer, Netflix, Now TV, Amazon Prime, ITV Hub. I found myself watching endless, mindless junk.
Not stuff I was particularly interested in, certainly not things that taught me anything or expanded my mind. The programs filled the time, suddenly the hours built up, and I was watching 30+ hours a week.
I have written about this topic before and like the addict I am, I deleted the apps and went cold turkey. Unfortunately, my will power is weak, the apps crept back on, and I quickly found myself again in the same position.
I recently listened to a talk by Tony Robbins, and he asked the question, “if you knew you only had seven days to live, how would you spend your time?” He listed the usual responses we would all give about seeing loved ones, travelling, looking at a sunset, and so on. Then he said, “So why wait?”
This idea really hit home. I felt like he had punched me in the stomach.
“Why wait!”
How can I live the life of my dreams when I’m wasting all this time doing something completely mindless that brings me no joy? I resolved to take a different approach. Yesterday, I was back in Nantwich collecting stock, and so left my iPad behind.
So here I am 24 hours later TV free. Its too early to say whether I can stick it out. But gut feeling says yes. I already feel better, I went to sleep earlier, woke up earlier, feeling more rested and more awake than I have felt in ages.
The power of Tony Robbins question is that it forces you to consider how you spend your time and what your priorities are. You have no idea how much time you have left on this earth, so make sure you are spending every moment doing things that bring you joy. Things that you were put on this earth to do.
Time is short; time is precious; how you spend this time defines who you are. Please don’t waste it on mindless activities. Be a person of character, be a person of endeavour, be a person of activity and energy and most important be a person who says yes to their dreams.
Together, we climb the mountain, not in giant leaps but one small step at a time.
Hi, I enjoy reading your blogs and today I had to smile. I used to read far more than I do now, in fact reading has become an evening activity. I like to do tapestries and so try to do this in the long winter evenings as I can put the TV on and do my ‘work’, it helps my conscience.
Good luck at Southport hope all goes well.
Thanks Luke, I always enjoy your posts, but today’s really helped. My husband and I are planning early retirement, but it is a big step and I was worrying about it. Why wait? is even more important if you are older and time is shorter, but I will go forward now with this in mind and do all the many of the things I have had on hold before it’s too late! Many thanks, Helen
Soooooo true. Yes Those two words. Only do what makes you happy. Why wait
Good to put on a t shirt ? Inspirational. Thank you.
Hi,
I get so encouraged by your e-mails.
Thank you so much!
Only through God can we change.
Abundant blessings to you.
I love reading your blogs.
I went telly less for 18 months a few years ago and just watched the occasional programme on catch up. I now how a friend living with me and he is an absolute telly addict. He works away a lot of the time and during this time the telly rarely goes on especially in the summer months, there is so much else to do and I’m outdoors whenever I can be
Great Post Luke. Think your next goal should be to write a book!
Really enjoy reading you blogs. It was nice to meet you at the Southport flower show on Thursday and put a face to a name.
Love your products. Bought from you at Ripley Castle. Any new offers coming up for the bank holiday weekend? Wanting a present for a friend…
Hi Luke, I brought some of your products a while ago for my sister in law (she loved them) and so did I, I keep a candle for myself. This had been a bad year for me so far on the work front and getting your posts pinging into my phone have been a great help, so much so that in the middle of June I walked out of a workplace that was a very toxic place after being there nearly five years, I had nothing else to go to and should have been scared to death but all I felt was overwhelming relief. I am on my own so it was a big decision but I know it was the right one, I have an interview tomorrow which I hope will go well. It’s my birthday on Monday and I hope I can celebrate with some good news and turn the rest of this year around. Keep writing your blog, I need the inspiration!