P.O.P. Project for May -L.

When I first saw the theme for the May- Pink of Perfection- challenge, I thought it too hard and no fun. Then I reconsidered.

I am not a stranger to the media ban. 8 years ago, newly divorced, I decided to not get cable television. My reasoning was that it would be too easy to turn it on when I didn’t know what to do with my newly freed up time . I wanted to make more active and creative choices, less passive and routine ones. I am also an avid reader. I love that reading takes me into new worlds and experiences. But I’ve also had to take sabbaticals from reading, recognizing that I was reading more, living my life less. I have the same concerns for video games and the new wii players, the seductive loss of the distinction between real activity and virtual activity. My hope was that without the narrative of another book, film or T.V. , I would more clearly advance my own life’s story line.

Like the smoker trying to quit, I soon noticed when I would reach for a book or when I would want to turn on the computer to play, read, watch a video or T.V. show. I picked up the knitting I had started to learn. Contemplated starting a puzzle I had in a drawer. I felt lost without my anchors, not free. I adjusted my personal narrative. Me, the hero of my own story, reads. A lot. I became much happier with my book back in hand. Next, movies were back in. I’m a visual person, with needs, I declared . My story line then expanded to included magazines. Online desires, that’s me too. I love media. Happy me. We were all reunited. I had completely caved.

I’ve taken away from this experience, this challenge, an appreciation of the creative works of others and my love of it. I am a great audience. I still believe in the importance of the balancing of real and virtual. The necessity for direct experience, not just second hand accounts. I’ll cut back, not out, my reading and media love, when I feel my personal narrative is being lived to close to the couch. I am more cognizant of the fact the I am the author of my life and that I write it with my daily actions. I have always loved a good story.