Alternatives to Neflixing

Netflixing

verb

1. To watch an entire season of a show in one sitting
2. A valid excuse for avoiding social obligations.

     Sentence: "I can't make it to the party this weekend.  I am Netflixing Friends."

Netflix, seems like the perfect way to spend your time when you have nothing else to do (or maybe a lot of work to complete).  It draws you in with its countless of TV shows to browse: action, romance, sci-fi, horror, documentaries, thrillers, dramas, classics, something for everybody.  Plus, no pesky advertisements.  How can you not turn that down?  Wait, not good enough?  Maybe you'll try these wonderful movies and TV shows Netflix has recommended for you because the company knows you so well from your previous selections. Netflix constantly adds new seasons from shows you love, and now that it is churning out it's own shows, how can you not stay plastered to the screen, watching episode after episode with 1o-second breaks in between?  

I admit, Netflix takes up more of my life than it should.  I've fallen into its dazzling trap. But surely, there are better things to do with my time than let Netflix guzzle it up.  The world has to have more to offer.  Since Netflix didn't always exist, believe it or not, people must have had something to do in their free time.

The Alternatives

1. Knitting

If you don't know how to knit, now is the perfect time to learn.  All you need is some yarn and knitting needles, and you can knit your whole wardrobe.  The combinations of colors and patterns are endless.  Maybe start a club with your friends and a group knitting project.  It's a useful technique to learn and a great way to socialize with like-minded
people.

2. Jogging

Netflixing is probably taking away time from exercising, which is essential for your health. But thankfully, jogging takes three simple steps.  Just turn off your computer, put on your sneakers, and go for a run in the fresh air.  (And, you also need a bit of motivation.)

3. Cloud Watching

Not only is it a great way to get in touch with nature, but it is also a wonderful way to discover more about yourself as you ponder on what the clouds look like to you.  Is it a rabbit?  No, it looks more like a hamster.  Join the Cloud Appreciation Society for updates on cloud-related news around the world.

Hopefully you will try one of these three suggestions out and find that you enjoy one more than netflixing.

Say Yes

“Say yes, and you’ll figure it out afterwards.”

—Tina Fey

Yes--one small word chock full of meaning to convey confirmation and commitment.  

Last year, my Key Club adviser asked me, as Community Chair, to organize a prom for the Forteniter's Club.  Of course I was slightly hesitant at first.  I had a whole bunch of questions running though my mind about the process.  I had never done anything this big. And the doubts started growing, but somehow, my mouth, disconnected from my mind,  blurted out the word yes.  All of a sudden, my worries just disseminated.  I said yes, and I was going to do it.

At first, I felt like I had lot on my plate because the prom was a few months away and all the tasks seemed to be jumbled together into a huge menacing one.  I tried to figure out ways to tackle it, and decided to break it down into smaller pieces.  I created categories for what needed to get accomplished: food, decorations, music, photo booth, and party favors. I sets deadlines and created a budget.  Every week, Key Clubbers that were interested in planning this prom would come meet to discuss ideas.  Little by little, the planning process came together all by itself.   

The end result was a wonderful rush.  The church was decorated with Hollywood-themed decorations--red and gold streamers, balloons, tablecloths, and flowers.  Key Clubbers dressed up as waiters and waitresses to serve food. The DJ was up on the stage mixing away his music.  The Polaroid photo booth with cute hand-made props was up and running. And best of all, everyone that came was left happy, full, and with a party favor full of candy.  All it took was for me to say yes.

There will be situations where you won't feel ready for.  When we are asked to do something outside out comfort zone, we immediately think of all the obstacles in our path. But, sometimes, you just need to take a step back, and just put yourself out there. Trust that you have all the abilities to make it work.  Trust that it will eventually come together.  Trust that you will figure it out.

Say yes--just one simple word--and may it change you for the better.

Swallowing Pills

Whenever I'm faced with the choice between sickly medicinal syrup and a nice solid pill, I choose the pill.  But that was not always the case.  Where as now I may be able to swallow pills the size of the tip of my pinky, I remember a time when pills were my worst nightmare.

I could not always swallow pills with one gulp of water, so I tried to avoid taking pills at all costs. I equated pills to sickness, so I washed my hands often and thoroughly.  And I was always updated on vaccines and got my annual flu shot.

But whenever flu season rolled around, I always got a nasty sickness no matter how much I tried to prevent it from happening.  If I wanted to feel better and heal quicker, I had to take a pill.  Turning the pill into a mush that I could swallow was a process done so often that the steps were ingrained into my head.  I observed my parents as they mashed up the pill into a fine powder and funneled it onto a spoon.  Sharp bits of the red coating would stick out in the midst of the white landscape.  They diluted it with water, so the powder wouldn't stick in my mouth.  Then came the worst part: swallowing the medicine.  It didn't help that I was feeling sick and sore most of these times.  I pinched my nose and  gulped down the murky water.  I tried to wash down the lasting tastes of the pill, but it was all in vain.  The bitterness had stained my mouth and a spoonful of sugar was not going to help.

Most of the time, all I had to take was Advil or Motrin, not as large on the scale of pill sizes.  But one time, I had to take a pill that was twice as large  Instead of taking it with a spoonful of water, I dumped the powder into a cup of water, thinking that it would make it less bitter.  And boy was I wrong.  Instead of getting it over with in one swift swallow, all I did was suffer through it slowly with many sips.  After that, I was tired of my method of taking pills.

If I could swallow the powder in one gulp, why couldn't I swallow the pill that way too?  I wasn't afraid of choking, but the idea of not being able to chew something before swallowing made me uncomfortable.  The thought of it may had made me felt that way, but I would never know how until I tried it out.  The next time I had to take an Advil, I put it on the spoon, took a couple of deep breathes, and swallowed in down in with a huge gulp of water.  I was really surprised when I realized there was nothing in my mouth--no pill, no bitter taste.  I had done it without mashing the pill to bits.  I don't have any specific method to swallowing pills, but there is research out there on ways to make it easier.

Ever since then, I've saved myself countless times from the bitter innards of a pill and the thick medicinal syrup.