Mommy, when I grow up I wanna be a couch potato...just like you!
No one really dreams of wasting their life in front of the TV.
That goal ranks up there with becoming a professional burger
flipper or french fry specialist. Yet, the AVERAGE American
spends 4 hours each and every day in front of the TV. That makes
the AVERAGE American a part-time couch potato, clocking in 28
hours per week. Is that really the American dream now?
Are you watching TV instead of pursuing your dreams? If so, what
message might that you be sending to your children? Would you
rather be a living embodiment of someone who pursues their
dreams, or an embodiment of couch potato-hood?
What messages does watching TV send to our kids?
First, there are all the messages the TV itself sends out: all
the sex, violence, and other messages depending on the shows
that your family watches. By watching these shows we legitimize
the messages contained within them.
Second, there is the message we send by our example. We
demonstrate to our kids how to interact with the world when we
are watching TV, especially when we do it for four hours a day.
We are passive. We hypnotically accept most of what is
presented. We are isolated from the world. We do not actively
engage the world. Time wise, we also show our kids that TV is
the most important thing in life after sleep and work.
Third, there is the message we send out by omission. We
demonstrate everything else that we are not doing when we watch
TV. We are NOT showing by example how to take care of
responsibilities. Our minds are NOT focused on reality. We are
NOT physically active. We are NOT pursuing our dreams. We are
sending the message to our children that watching TV is more
important than pursuing our dreams. The average American child
may be surprised to find their parents have dreams beyond
Saturday Night Football.
What are your dreams?
In order to set a good example of following your dreams, you may
wish to consider strictly limiting, or eliminating TV from your
life. When people are involved in pursuing their dreams they
often find that they do not have the time to watch TV. TV just
gets in the way of pursuing other dreams.
Although you won't magically have your dreams materialize, once
you get control over--or get rid of--your TV, you may find that
you may have the time to pursue your other dreams. You will have
time to build a happy family and an exciting marriage. You will
have time to pursue the health and body you desire. You will
have time to build communities with your neighbors. You will
have time to play an active role in your church or religious
institution. You will have time to play an active role in social
or political groups. You will have time to do charity work. You
will have time to start your own business. Whatever your dreams
are, you will have the time to pursue them.
Just Imagine...
What would happen if all Americans threw their televisions out
their windows today and started pursuing their dreams? What if
the entrepreneurs focused their energy on building their
businesses? What if all the moms and dads in this country
started devoting more of their time to building the type of
family they had always dreamed of having. What if communities
came together to pursue their common dreams. It could literally
change the world. Or we Americans could go on as we are now,
passively letting our dreams pass us by, stuck in a hypnotic
daze in front of the TV.
Turn OFF your TV and follow your dreams!