January 23, 2021
Reflection: There’s deep purpose in things that require focus.
Today, I’m grateful for: movie night
Challenge: Where are you guilty of multitasking unnecessarily? How can you better focus your energy?
I can’t quite remember the last time I sat down and watched a whole movie. Not an “episode”. Not a cartoon. But a movie. Now I’d be lying if I said I made it through the whole thing in one sitting. I’m basically a geriatric with a strict 9PM bedtime. But in my defense, it was a long movie. So we decided to break it up and enjoy it over two evenings.
It wasn’t that long ago that our primary source of entertainment WAS movies. I remember the excitement of a fresh Friday Eve, with a stop at the local Blockbuster on the way home to pick out a few movies for the weekend (VHS of course). Maybe if you were lucky, your mom would let you grab a couple “movie snacks” to go with. And you could only pray that the videos you picked weren’t damaged, or placed in the wrong box, and that you’d have enough time to watch each of them thoroughly before having to return them by the end of the weekend (or face a late fee!)
Seems so wild thinking about it now! But that truly was the main source of entertainment! Anything else required a set schedule on TV, with no personal conflicts, and a prayer that no weather event or political speech was going to interrupt it. Kids these days will never know the suffering of having to wait week-by-week to watch your favorite show, instead of DVR-ing it and binging it commercial-free over a weekend!
Ok, back to my movie. So I was trying to reflect on what seemed so special about this time spent watching a movie. Was it just the uninterrupted time?(We watched it after my son was in bed, of course). Was it the peaceful, quiet time spent together with my husband? The simple fact that it was a long period of time with a dedicated purpose?
I’m not quite sure I can put my finger on it, but whatever the reason, I was grateful for the opportunity to sit down, focus and enjoy. In a world full of distractions, it’s become an easy habit to multitask our way through EVERYTHING. I know I’m guilty of watching a show and mindlessly scrolling at the same time. Or using subtitles to give myself more control over how quickly I interpret a scene, and then can move onto the next thing. Or even catching up on current events during meal time.
But in what may seem like a fading industry or pastime, I think there’s something to be said about the role movies (and other things requiring dedicated focus and commitment) play in our lives. The things that force us to slow down. To stop. To pay attention. To look up. To listen. To lean in.
Today, I’m grateful for a simple movie night with my husband. And an opportunity to reflect on ways I can refresh my focus in all things.
What is your guilty multi-tasking pleasure?
XO
SS
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