what to expect: a small tidbit on creation
Recently, I saw the words “create more than you consume.” Five words that have come back to my mind many times since I saw it the first time.
Today, you can effortlessly enter another’s world. Turn on your television, and join Frodo Baggins on a journey with the hills of New Zealand behind him. James Bond, driving an aston martin down the windy streets of Rome. Hans Solo commanding the Millennium Falcon. You can travel through time, feel fear, or see space. An escape from reality. Movies, television, and now social media are constantly provoking us. Shows consistently end of a cliff hanger, eerily successful at making us binge watch.
Now, do not get me wrong, I appreciate the arts. It is a valuable art, it is a culture, and watching movies, television, or social media isn’t inherently bad. It brings us together and in some cases drives us apart. But all things must be in moderation. I remember seeing that quote, “create more than you consume,” and I began to think about the amount of time I have spent watching content. Comparing the hours on various devices, was honestly quite similar or even more than actual living. Living, to me, is off electronics: trying a new hobby, eating with friends, going on trips, going on hikes.
I was consuming others living adventurous lives, but my life was the price. I will never not enjoy movies and television. But that alongside social media made me realize that I consume others’ lives more than my own. When I began to realize that, I decided to try to take back control. I took initiative, planned dinners and themed events with friends. I began to read and write. I bought my first chess board and a tennis racquet. Over the next few months, I began to add little hobbies into my life. I strive to live my own life, and I think all people should think, do I create more than I consume?
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