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Good Entertainment

 Have you been so completely disappointed in shows lately? And then, because of COVID, the movie theaters and movies that I have been so looking forward to are being pushed back to 2021 (we hope!), makes it even more depressing.

So, about four years ago, I realized that one of the reasons why my depression/anxiety was so bad (I've had it all my life), was because I would mindlessly watch whatever. I was mindful of movie ratings, but for the most part, if the rating was acceptable, then whatever in it was 'acceptable'. But after a time, I started to experience weird mood swings, my thoughts were going to dark and weird places and my overall mood was affected. And, to make it even more interesting; I was managing my father's movie theater at the time, and so movies were free, and I would watch whatever was playing, because...why not, right? FREE!!

Anyway, after a steady diet of whatever I was watching, I finally had a "Come to Jesus" moment with myself. I started doing the mental checklist of things that I was doing, that were NOT helping my mental health. My television and movie viewing was at the top of that checklist. It was there that I decided to start my improvements.

I have realized over the years that I am an 'All or Nothing' kind of gal. I cold turkey quit soda (for no real reason at all whatsoever) back in 1999 and haven't really been back to that since, so I figured that's what I would do. Instead of just filtering out shows and movies for content, I just quit everything altogether. 

It worked...for a few months. I am an avid reader, so I just supplemented my entertaining hours with that. I even 'cleaned' up what types of books I read; to make sure that I was filtering out unnecessary things that I was dumping into my brain. That was working beautifully. 

I was dutifully chugging along, when COVID hit, and then we were all at home, quarantined. My books ran out, the library was closed, and I am too cheap to buy ebooks or subscribe to audible, etc. I reread some of my favorite spiritual favorites (Jesus the Christ by James E. Talmage is AWESOME!!)

I was sick and tired of watching what my kids watched, and I craved to fill evening times with something. So, my husband and I went back and revisited some 'older' shows. Some of our favorites are: 

Psych

Chuck

Monk

All three of those shows started out so clean; hardly any swearing or even innuendo. And then, after a couple of seasons, I started to notice the occasionally additions of unsavory things, and my anxiety started to make me crazy. So, after watching the last episode of the last show, we decided to stop again. 

Don't get me wrong; I watch stuff. We have a television and a DVD player, and a Firestick. But instead of sitting down and binge watching show after show after show and knowing in the back of my mind that I'd regret it all the next day, I began to be more mindful of what I was doing. 

Anyway, I'm not meaning to preach...just sharing my journey. But, this topic came to my mind as I found myself commiserating with friends that it's just, like, impossible to find good entertainment nowadays, and I feel like I should scrap it all together sometimes. Also, don't even get me started on my social media problem! Occasionally unplugging from that has been a total godsend!

So, working towards cleaning out my brain has taken up most of the end months of quarantine. In addition, I have made dietary changes and I exercise (I HATE to exercise, not gonna lie), and I have seen a huge difference. More clarity of thought. Calmer mood. I can feel God's peace more poignantly. 

Now, if I can only get my next novel finished...

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