On watching tv
My fellow human on a social media platform raised a question of media entertainment, such as watching tv/streaming. I never contemplated it in much depth because I don't have a tv, don't feel the need to have a tv and I rarely watch films/series. In fact I only watch something when I am with the person I live with, and mostly we watch Danish films. I am genuinely curious about Danish films as it's part of Danish culture that I'm trying to understand as I am currently living in Denmark. I don't feel bad about occasionally watching those films, and the amount of time I spend on this activity feels lagom. I don't want to watch more, as watching tv is actually one of my least favourite activities. I don't want to watch less, as I don't have a "no tv" policy.
When I was young, my family watched tv, I grew up in a normal household. But for many years we lived in a beautiful, remote area due to my stepfather's job. In comparison to magical nature in that area, tv was not interesting at all. So I never learned to rely on tv for entertainment. As a child, I genuinely liked to read and I used to paint a lot. In winter, I loved spending time with the snow, and also with my brother and the cats and the dog we lived with. When I was 10 or so, I asked my mother and stepfather to get some chicks so we could raise them. For many years, we lived with chickens. They required much care but they were also family members, so I would spend time with them. I would spend a lot of time with nature, with fields, trees. We had a large garden, and I would at times help to look after it.
In Sweden and in Finland, I lived in very beautiful areas and would spend much time with nature as well. In neither of those countries I had internet at home, because I knew I would not be streaming. After my fellow human asked me the question about media entertainment, I asked myself what I do with my time if I don't watch tv. I read and write a lot. I write both as my profession and also sketch some thoughts about my life in my personal notes. Much of it is public (e.g., this autoethnography) because I chose not to separate my research and my personal practices/my life. These days I am writing a book, and that takes much of my time.
I love simple activities such as sitting and walking. They are therapeutic and conducive to wellbeing, even though they are often seen as doing "nothing". I celebrate doing nothing and I'm not ashamed of saying this. Oftentimes, I sit while being mindful of the presence of others, such as the stars, the moon or the sun. I often have fika with the sun. During those moments, I feel so much gratitude, awe, wonder, all kinds of self-transcending emotions.
I do many things slowly, and that takes time. I don't have a car or a bike and try to avoid using public transport too. Instead of watching tv, I would rather spend my time on going for a very long walk, to a food market, to the sea. It takes time to cook from scratch. Recently I was making my own skincare, and this takes time.
I spend time on thinking and dreaming. Often, beautiful ideas come to mind not when I am reading something, but when I simply let my thoughts unfold naturally.
I spend time on deep conversations with fellow humans and on responding to their messages and emails, but also on internal conversations. I ask myself whether I am on the right path in my life and how I feel about it. I spend time on cleaning my home, honouring the objects I live with. In summer I take time to forage.