Surprisingly often, I remember a co-worker in Dallas from the late 1970's. She was a cigarette smoker, who believed she could quit smoking whenever she wanted. However, she also believed that the self-discipline or will-power to quit was like a muscle -- you have to exercise it! So, she did not smoke on Fridays! She exercised her self-discipline every Friday.
I also have an addiction problem -- with news -- I'm a newsaholic! I watch it from early morning to late night. So, to exercise my self-discipline muscle, I decided to spend Sunday news-free. While I dreaded the day arriving, it was not as bad as I expected.
Yesterday morning, I avoided the Sunday newspaper and kept the TV off. (My wife stayed in the bedroom to watch the news.) In the afternoon, I actually went down to the beach to read a long-delayed book. No withdrawal symptoms! My hands didn't shake one time.
Late in the afternoon, a friend walked by me on the beach, telling me there was a three-way playoff in the golf tournament. Was that news or not? Or, was it drama? I don't know, but I immediately jumped up and ran home to watch the golf playoff. Still exercising self-discipline, the TV was turned off as soon as the playoff was over.
Excepting a little golf news, I spent a whole day news-free. I was as proud of myself as my wife was annoyed with me! Maybe, I'll exercise that self-disciple muscle again . . . by pushing the plate away . . . or maybe not!!
I also have an addiction problem -- with news -- I'm a newsaholic! I watch it from early morning to late night. So, to exercise my self-discipline muscle, I decided to spend Sunday news-free. While I dreaded the day arriving, it was not as bad as I expected.
Yesterday morning, I avoided the Sunday newspaper and kept the TV off. (My wife stayed in the bedroom to watch the news.) In the afternoon, I actually went down to the beach to read a long-delayed book. No withdrawal symptoms! My hands didn't shake one time.
Late in the afternoon, a friend walked by me on the beach, telling me there was a three-way playoff in the golf tournament. Was that news or not? Or, was it drama? I don't know, but I immediately jumped up and ran home to watch the golf playoff. Still exercising self-discipline, the TV was turned off as soon as the playoff was over.
Excepting a little golf news, I spent a whole day news-free. I was as proud of myself as my wife was annoyed with me! Maybe, I'll exercise that self-disciple muscle again . . . by pushing the plate away . . . or maybe not!!
