Something I've been noticing about myself is that I take any opportunity to escape reality for a while.
Not in any deep, complex way. I just do it through watching a movie, or reading a novel. I think I would much rather get lost in a book or TV show, an interesting and emotionally exciting story about a fictional character's life, than confront my reality.
My life isn't eventful enough. There's not enough feeling or drama.
I think that's why I need to sort of get my daily fix. Whether it's through watching a movie, (which, not surprisingly, I love to do), watching a reality show, reading a novel, gossiping, checking other people's facebooks, etc.
And I don't think these are always negative ways to spend our time. I gain many positive things entertaining myself through media, or discussing that which doesn't necessarily have anything to do with me. I learn about various topics, other cultures and ways of thinking, I even learn things about myself through the way I react to what I'm reading or watching or talking about.
But I know that for me it would be healthy to be aware of how much I am investing reality and other people, and to balance that with how much I am investing in fiction.
5 comments:
I feel the same way, escape from reailty is very necessary. My life is not intersting enough to not want to know what others are up to. I keep very busy, for certain, which I feel is important, but I love to know what others are up to, I recently joined/became addicted to facebook myself.
doesnt it seem stupid that we would friend each other on facebook also? Being brothers? On that note, I think may can relate to what you are saying about the way we keep in contact with others. I can rewind 10 years ago, and anytime I wanted to talk to my friends I had to call them AT HOME, then on the cell phone, then through the computer. I thkn we keep TOO busy, but as you were first saying, it is a good escape from reality for us to be able to contact our friends whenever we see fit.
Kevin- You bring up a couple good points.
Now that I've reread my original post (Fiction), I think I wasn't very clear with my opinion and the point I was trying to get across.
My intention was to explain that sometimes I think I spend too much time on trying to entertain myself, rather than investing in the things that really matter in my life, (like friends and family). And that it's easy for me to avoid those things because they require effort, emotions, energy.
Well, I see how spending time on entertainment could feel uncomfortable. But perhaps, we can sometimes feel encouraged and supported to pursue dreams/passions/visions of our own after watching or reading another person's story. Maybe deep down, we are very convinced that "this" happened to somebody in a precise time and place and that helps us solve our own conflicts and questions.
Also, as good as it is to be aware of our daily situations; there're situations from which we deserve a break. Situations that in order to be softened or even approached, require from us to look from afar, another perspective and with an open mind. A good movie helps me do all those. Truth is that entertainment has power to help us see and appreciate the things we have in life, as to ignore important things from our own reality.
Everything depends. "Depende. Todo depende. Del ojo con que se mire, depende."
Leticia- very good point.
I am thankful for your different point of view, as it helps me see the issue from the other side, the positive side.
I guess I'm a bit negative or critical at times.
Your comment also makes me see the benefit of looking for the good and true in every aspect of your life. No matter what you're doing, try to take something good away from it, or bring something good to it.
I have used reading books as an escape from reality almost as long as I have been able to read. And the only negative thing about that is that I always feel a little guilty for not using the time to do one of a hundred things I should be doing instead. Then I try to remember what Ruth B. once told me: don't "should" on yourself. I understand your comment about not having enough feeling or drama, though. Life is too short to go through it just skimming the surface. But meeting all our obligations tends to leave too little time and energy for finding excitement. I just try to notice and really appreciate the everyday things that bring joy - flowers, books, talking with a friend, taking a walk.
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