The temporary absence of television turned out to be a positive experience for our family. Without our only set, we were worried about how to spend our evenings, but it gave us the opportunity to focus on personal interests, catch up on neglected responsibilities, and engage in meaningful conversations with loved ones.
Because there was no television, we had plenty of time to focus on our own interests. We spent the entire week reading, surpassing the amount of reading we had done in the previous six months. At the library, everyone except my father chose two books each, but he decided to go with one larger book instead. By Wednesday, all of us finished our assigned readings while my father continued with his own. Additionally, each of us rediscovered and enjoyed hobbies that we had neglected for a long time.
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We organized old and new photos in a scrapbook and divided gardening tasks among family members, including planting, watering, and weeding. In addition to that, my sister and I overcame our habit of procrastinating with homework by eliminating television distractions. This resulted in quicker completion of assignments. We created a schedule for homework and were able to finish all assignments on time. Moreover, we finally addressed long-standing chores that had been postponed.
While at home, we attended to several overdue tasks. My father successfully repaired some long-broken doorknobs, while my sister and I painted our respective rooms' walls. Additionally, our mom organized the kitchen cabinets. Amidst these chores, we managed to make a shopping trip with the main purpose of purchasing groceries and household essentials. En route to the
store, we stopped at Walgreens to buy hair dye for both me and my mom. After finishing all of our shopping, each of us took some time to catch up on neglected emails and paperwork.
Previously, television dominated our time and hindered us from having valuable family moments. Nevertheless, we eventually decided to reestablish our connection. Instead of mindlessly gazing at a screen together in the same space, we actively participated in significant discussions for several pleasurable hours. It became apparent to me that I had been longing for these instances of familial unity. Furthermore, after an extended period of absence, my family and I engaged in board games as a collective activity. We genuinely relished this experience as we occupied ourselves with games like Monopoly, Guess Who?, and Life.
Despite our television being repaired, we realized that if we allowed it to, it could easily dominate our lives. Therefore, instead of simply stashing it away in the attic, we consciously made a decision to approach our viewing habits with more caution. Now, we only switch on the TV for our favorite shows, specific sporting events, and the news. This way, we are able to enjoy television while still leaving time for other activities and interests. Thanks to this alteration in our behavior, we were able to spend quality evenings with family friends without any concern about missing out on any programs. It had been quite some time since we had experienced such enjoyable moments.
