Three Hours and I was Hooked

Television has always been a staple at my house. At an early age my mother made sure I didn’t overindulge and watch too much. At that point in time shows weren’t so high on my list. They definitely didn’t carry as much weight on my scale of important likes either. When I was younger I watched shows that were meant to amuse a small child and programs that made me learn without my direct knowledge or acknowledgment. Then one summer early in my middle school years, maybe between fifth and sixth grade, my mother decided to limit my television viewing time to three hours per day. I will admit it nearly killed me in the beginning. Let’s just say I made what seemed like millions of trips to my local library. Over time, though, I missed watching television less and less. Then, as the school year came and went, my ban was not put back in place for that next summer.

From that point on I’ve been completely enamored with television. Now, though, I have a different view of it than in my Barney watching days. It stills serves as one of my main forms of entertainment, but it is also a way to connect with my friends, to escape my problems, blow off steam, and inspire my creativity. It is my connection to the world and what’s happening in it. And, for some reason, I almost always crave some sort of background noise, no matter what I happen to be doing. Television fills that need. I just love being able to push a button and instantly be transported to some of the most interesting places on earth, both real and imaginary. The main reason I have so much interest in television is because it has a rare ability to help me blow off steam and take my mind off troubling issues. Really, though, it interests me because I love it; its ideas, shows, casts, and entertainment possibilities. To think, it only took a limit of three hours to foster an interest that will probably last my lifetime.