To View or Not to View, That is the Question

If you have kids (or even if you don’t), you likely own at least one, and probably more like three, television sets. Chances are you’re subscribed to cable television or have a satellite dish. Chances are even better that you have a VCR or DVD player hooked to at least one set to catch those “must see” broadcasts.

But is this good for your children? There is evidence that increased television viewing leads to lower SAT/ACT scores and other measures of academic success. Check out Marie Winn’s website for details of her years of research on the subject.

I think the second part of the question about TV viewing is–is it good for you, even as an adult? In sessions with people who watch a lot or a little, we’ve pondered the emotional effects of television watching.

There are lots of positives–it’s relaxing, it’s informative, it’s entertaining. There are also some negatives–it’s isolating, it’s depressing, it’s overly simplistic. The real problems in life don’t get solved in 30-60 minute increments, although it would be nice if they did.

What do you think? Are you a dedicated TV-watcher? Are you a dedicated non-watcher? What’s been your experience, and if you’re a parent, the experience of your children?

August 11th, 2008 - Posted in Parenting | | 0 Comments

Waiting for a Break-Through

So a couple of weeks ago, on an unseasonably warm and sunny day (83 degrees in Michigan, unheard of) we planted the first of the 2010 crop. The cool-weather things: lettuce, spinach, beets, garlic, potatoes, and peas.

Of course, each day since then I’ve anxiously surveyed the plots, looking for those little tell-tale signs of emergence that promise a hearty growing season down the road.

This week in client sessions, I’ve found myself thinking about that waiting-for-growth period in the garden, and how similar it is for all of us waiting for a particular life dilemma to be resolved.

An unresolved issue of any kind…relationship, grief, job, whatever…tends to occupy our thoughts disproportionately. We peer at it from different angles (is that a little green shoot?), haul it out for closer inspection (maybe if I get down on the ground and look sideways), and talk with friends and family to get their input (come out to the garden, maybe you can see better than I can).

All of this is worth doing if it helps get us to a point of acceptance, even before resolution. When it becomes excessive (no, thanks, I don’t need dinner, I’m just going to sit here and watch things grow) perhaps we need help from someone less invested in the outcome (Nancy, it is midnight, come inside now).

I wish you much success as you work toward resolution, and watch your gardens grow. Remember to ask for help if you need it. Because we all need help sometimes.

And by the way, the garlic is up. Really, it is.

November 30th, 1999 - Posted in Gardening and Life, Health: Emotional, Physical, Mental, Spiritual, Parenting, Uncategorized, Work | | 0 Comments