All day Every day 24/7 signing off?

Gather round boys and girls, lassies and lads and let me tell you something you may not be aware of. There was a time that television stations actually stopped broadcasting each day. There were 3, yes my dearies, ONLY 3 main networks. You might be old enough to remember. I'm stretching my memory muscles AND had to check YouTube to verify. The national anthem would play, our U.S. flag would raise, then there would be multi-colored vertical bars and a very annoying audio tone. I believe it was around midnight or maybe after the late night show....and then. Nothing. Until the next day.

Wow, maybe that is why sleep didn't seem to be as MUCH of an issue as it is now for me. The choice? was made for me. Turn off the TV or hear the annoying audio tone. The TV usually went off pretty quickly after that.

Fast forward to now when there are HUNDREDS of possible channels, let alone music stations included in cable packages. I don't believe any stations actually go "off" the air anymore. There are always reruns...and home shopping networks. ;) AND, just in case one cannot find anything on the actual TV, there is always the internet! Open. 24/7 for your viewing pleasure and convenience and sleepless nights.

While sometimes it is handy and even life-saving to have more coverage, as with weather for warnings, etc., even this can get taken to the extreme as every airtime second must be filled with SOMETHING! It is frustrating, and OK, often times entertaining/humorous to watch news people try to check in with each other as one stares blankly during the brief delay until it is their turn to speak or to not realize they are "on air". It is often painful to watch someone be interviewed that just lost their house or their child to an accident or, or, or......

"Can you tell us how you're feeling?" REALLY?!?!?!

Maybe that is part of the problem: we are so busy WATCHING that we forget about the actual important personal connections of family and friends. We don't get a chance to process feelings without a camera or microphone being shoved in our faces. AND that's only actual news people. Our cell "phones" have cameras and video capabilities that can record those moments too.

I started writing this even before the latest hurricanes: Harvey, Irma and now, Jose and wild fires. Too much water in some places....and not enough in others.  I cannot watch too much news coverage usually. I feel it too deeply and it affects my mood and attitude. I've learned to filter (for the most part) what I partake of.
I'm realizing I'm not so good at shutting it off though. I'm going to have to be responsible for my own "signing off". I have an alarm on my phone to "remind me" to go to bed. I often ignore it. Sleep experts would say no screen time an hour before bed. Ummm. There are often TVs, cell phones, lap tops, tablets, etc. IN OUR BEDROOMS! However, that is also a choice.

We can be kept busy 24/7 if we allow it. Time to be more aware of what I allow and choose. How about you?

Signing off. For now.

Psalm 25:5 (NIV) Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long.