Ridding myself of fake reality that is reality television

I used to watch tv every night, almost. My shows of choice included The Bachelor, and any reality show I could get my greedy little eyes on. Now I feel empty and as though I’m wasting time when watching.  I feel as though there are far better uses for time than staring blankly at a black box, letting it do all the work for me. I made the choice, a few weeks back, to not watch as often. I would say that for the past month or so I’ve been watching a maximum of 2-3 hours per week, if that. That’s not being conservative.  My reasons are rather ethical in nature. To appreciate life, my rule is that you must be present and not distracted by any drama which is not truthful.

Many reality shows are not as real as one many think (you will discover this in conducting research online or by word-of-mouth). I used to delude myself for instance, into thinking that most of what went on in The Hills truly happened. Kristen really did get together with Justin and this in effect caused Audrina a significant amount of emotional pain, given that she and he were the ones with the authentic connection. Even though I read an article wherein Lauren Conrad indicated she was forced to dress in all solid colors and to paint her walls specific colors, I still believed that despite this, most of what went on in the show was true. Then she revealed more details, including the fact that the producers would text her and other cast members, suggesting that they say this or that, to create controversy in the storyline. I concluded then that the show was fake, but continued watching. I’m a masochist like that. 

When a Hills marathon was on several months back, I plugged in as per my usual giddy self, and like the other Hills addicts, was glued to my screen for the weekend. I watched each scene and dissected the real from the obvious improvisations and felt annoyed at the ending of the final episode. It belied the viewer, making one believe as though the meaning of the show was in its entirety so symbolic. It’s all a pile of nonsense. My point is that I’ve made the choice to stop deluding myself. I am no longer living vicariously through the characters, no longer envying them, longing for life to be as exciting as it is for them, given the constant drama with which they all must contend. Now that I have dipped my toes into the pool of reality, and reduced the extent of which reality tv plays a role in my life, I have begun to feel an overpowering sense of liberation. 

For the first time in quite some time, I feel competent, capable, and creative. That reminds me of a Chinese fortune cookie message I received many years ago, which read: “You’re competent, creative, and capable. Prove it.” As a matter of fact, I still have that little strip of paper sitting around somewhere. So, there you have it fortune cookie master. I’m proving it. I’m behind on the eight ball on that one, but better late than never, right? Now that I’ve relinquished my tv obsession, I have the time to take walks in the park, play the bass, write, and engage in other creative pursuits, and am not scheduling my life around the blank black box.

Do I feel somewhat aggravated that for the past few years, I have allowed others to live their live joyously at my expense, because I bought into the bullshit? Uh, yeah. Yet, there’s a saying that goes something to the effect of: If I knew then what I know now, I wouldn’t have done it. But I did and it’s done. Going forward, I do not plan to cheat myself like that, out of the true beauty that is life aside from television. So I bid adieu to reality tv in large part. You aren’t worth my precious time.

Chocolate

Oh how I love thee. You encompass my mind in the week before my period. Hence, why I’m craving you so intensely as of late. I wonder if it’s the fact that my body is in need of magnesium, or some other mineral or vitamin or whatever. I read an article today that stated that the body needs fat, hence the chocolate craving. I didn’t realize that chocolate equates to fat. I am pretty thin however, so the author of that article may be on to something. Perhaps it’s the melee I feel after satiating myself with dozens upon dozens of chocolate chips; the emotional high it yields in the aftermath. Quite possibly it’s the sugar itself contained within the delectable chocolate pieces that trigger the craving. It seems when I eat a little bit of sugar one day, I’ll inevitably crave it the next day, and the cycle continues. However, I don’t like depriving myself of life’s luxuries and sugar is a luxury of which I have access, so why avoid it?

Regulating your cycle the natural way.

Scratch my earlier post about how drinking dairy helped to regulate my period. Sure, that worked, but it wasn't full-proof. I needed to drink it consistently, and having to consume dairy on a regular basis was not sitting well with me, in part because it was too regimented. I wanted to eat/drink dairy when I felt so inclined, not out of need. You feel me? Furthermore, I just wasn't buying the fact that my body needed milk every day for my period to arrive on schedule. Thinking that I needed the same thing (milk) each day for "x" amount of years was a bit daunting and just didn't feel right.

In seeking a more balanced approach, I conducted what I refer to as "research" online (ie. through all random sorts of googling) and in the process, uncovered two items of importance: that I am a vata person (in ayurvedic terms) and that I have a cold uterus in need of warming (in traditional chinese medicine terms). You're probably thinking this sounds crazy but trust me, it led me to an "aha" type moment.

You see, I was eating cold foods in the winter (ie. cold salads/fruits/water, you name it) and not thinking twice about how this could have a potential impact on my cycle. There I was sitting in my car during my lunch break in the fall, shivering while eating a huge bowl of salad. As I'm a thin person with cold hands (characteristics of a "vata" type person) with an erratic menstrual cycle (characteristics of a "cold uterus"), these are the principles I followed to warm the uterus, and (crosses fingers), my period has been like clockwork ever since (sept, oct, nov, dec, jan):

1) Consume warming foods/drinks (as per traditional chinese medicine and also, temperature-wise).
    e.g. Drink warm water with cinnamon, eat dried fruit such as dates.

2) Avoid cold/raw foods.

3) Ensure the abdominal area and feet are warm at all times. (Wear enough layers in the winter to ensure the stomach area is not exposed to cold drafts, and do not go without socks, ever.)

4) Use a heating pad on your feet and lower back.

5) Practice yoga (the most beneficial poses for menstruation in my opinion are: cat, cow, corpse, downward dog, and reclining bound angle).
   Tip: You can do reclining bound angle for a few minutes in your bed, before sleep.

6) Take walks or do some form of exercise. (ie. get off your buns and move)
    This is especially important to keep in mind if you're an office worker like me and tend to lose track of time while sitting at your desk.... no excuses; make the time, for your health.

7) Get outdoors, in the sun preferably. (Don't be afraid to take walks in the fresh air even in cold weather, being sure to bundle up. Even though it is sometimes difficult to get motivated in the cold months to take a stroll outdoors, it feels good once you get going.)

Disclaimer: Everybody is different and what works for one person may very well be ineffective for another. Also, I am not a doctor, so take what I write with a grain of salt and don't hold me to any particular outcome. My opinions and experiences should not be misconstrued as medical advice and no action should be taken based solely on the contents of this website. Consult with a medical professional for advice on any matters pertaining to your health and well being.