When my husband and I got married three years ago, we moved across the country and packed the bare essentials. We left many things, including his t.v. in Nashville for others to use. And here we are, three years later, still without a television in our home.
At first, we were excited to go without a t.v. because we knew it would save us money on our electric bill and cable bill. After a few months without it, we grew to love the silence it brought. Our nights were spent reading together, and cooking. Before we knew it, we hardly noticed we did not have a television. And even today, I forget we live a little differently until I get blank stares from people when I tell them I did not see the latest show because we do not have a t.v. in our home.
Family and friends have tried to pawn off old t.v’s on us because they have felt like we were missing out on something. We keep turning them down, and will continue to turn them down. The truth is, we feel like we have something they don’t.
Because we do not own a t.v., our minds and our lives have more space in them. I have more space to imagine, create and write. I have more space to spend intentional time with friends when they come and visit. We do not have the temptation to fill the void of silence with something on television. Instead, we talk, we engage.. and we cook.
I have more space to be still and know that He is God. In the silence, I am able to better engage in prayer with my Father. I am so easily distracted, and I am thankful that three years ago one more distraction was taken out of our lives.
Our marriage has blossomed without a television. We have learned to communicate better, and have learned to enjoy the silence in the company of one another. We have both developed a passion for cooking together, and have allowed time in the kitchen to be our nightly entertainment.
Have you thought about cutting a t.v. out of your house? It’s quite a daunting task, but it can be done!
Start small by limiting yourself (or your children) to two shows a day, and continue to decrease the amount of time spent in front of the television with other engaging activities. Soon, you will find yourself more engaged, and able to give the people around you more of your undivided attention.
Even a small time without television may be just what your soul needs. Try fasting for two days, and if you feel inclined, allow the fast to last as long as you need! You may find that you enjoy it more than you imagined!
Meghan is a Celiac who loves to get creative in the kitchen.As a health nut, she is always soaking up ways to live a healthier, simpler and more peaceful life. There are several things that make her heart happy: Jesus, my husband, our dog Dakota, playing outside and creating things.
