What Happens When the TV is Turned Off?

Okay, I love the Olympics but I'm glad they are over. Now I can get some sleep. Seems there are plenty of people around the world who are feeling the same way. We stayed up (or got up early) watching some of the most amazing displays of athleticism (a bunch of new world records) and were left in awe. Wonderful. Now can we get on with life, because the real part happens when the TV goes off. Sadly there are those of us who will seek another avenue to watch others. There is a real temptation in all of us to voyeurism.

No, I'm not talking about the criminal kind of voyeurism, I'm talking about the Facebook kind. We like to see what others are doing and compare. A recent study found that many people who were involved in Facebook were getting more depressed because as they looked at their friend's "status" they believed that everyone was having a better time than they were. The same result can happen with constant texting. We aren't really present where we are, but we think everyone is having a better time somewhere else. We spend our time trying to find out where the "real" fun is.

Yet, if we choose to fully live and celebrate it, life begins when we stop watching other people and just enjoy our own lives. Let's face it, we continuously face Olympic level challenges of driving to work, balancing tasks, working at the office or at home and keeping our energy going through the day to get through the finish line. But these are the tough tasks. What about the fun stuff?

That is where we really have power. We choose whether or not we will have a "good" life. Choosing a moment with our spouse, partner, or lover to just savor each other could make any voyeur swoon. Many people want to have a "good" life, but just don't know that it's right in front of them. We won't get any gold medals, but every day we have opportunities to live with laughter, love, friendship, and joy. None of them cost any money, just a little focus.

So once the TV or computer is turned off, real life begins. Create a place to savor good times, be with loved ones and try some fun stuff. You will be amazed how much of a great life you can create. It's not just the people on TV who have all the fun.