New Leaf Coaching & Consulting
  • Home
  • Services
    • Leadership & Organizations
    • Life and Leadership Coaching
    • Coach Everyone
  • Process & Methods
  • Clients
  • About
  • Blog
  • Book
  • Contact
  • Search
  • Menu Menu
Blog
Change and Transformation, Facing Fear

No Escape

I stopped at my usual station to fill up my gas tank this weekend, getting ready for a week of out of town meetings at schools.  The pump was brand new, and I liked the crisp, clean display that was easy to read in the bright sunshine, and the new handle that felt clean instead of cruddy.  As soon as my gas started pumping, the display switched to show me the three-day weather forecast.  “That’s pretty cool,” I thought.  But then, the screen switched to “TV mode” and NFL highlights began playing at an ear-shattering volume.  Really?

I’m amazed at the number of screens I encounter out and about.  They are in bathrooms and airport terminals, on planes and buses,  in our hands, in minivans and waiting rooms.  It’s not like I’m completely against TV, as there are a number of great shows on such as POV on PBS, and more.  It’s not that I’m against technology – I have a laptop, iPad and iPod, and I teach schools how to use technology to enhance instruction and communication.  I use technology every day.

It’s just that I want to choose when and where I get my exposure to TV and media.  Do I want to have a TV blaring at me while pumping gas?  Not at all.  I like standing there, watching traffic go by, looking at the park across the street, watching clouds, feeling the breeze while I get a small break from driving.  I probably won’t go back to that gas station again.

I have learned to be creative at finding seats in airports close enough to see what’s happening but far away from the gate and the TV screens blaring Fox News, although it’s impossible to escape entirely.  I discovered how to make the screen on the airplane seat in front of me go dark.  I sit around the corner in my doctor’s office waiting room with my book to get away from the video screen.

Have we gotten so uncomfortable with silence?  With waiting patiently?  With quiet moments without distraction?  With focusing on one thing at a time?

We passed a law in Wisconsin limiting smoking indoors, to protect people from air pollution.  I wish we could limit media pollution, too.   Choice is a beautiful thing.

 

 

October 22, 2012/0 Comments/by Jen Wilson
Share this entry
  • Share on Facebook
  • Share on Twitter
  • Share on WhatsApp
  • Share on Pinterest
  • Share on LinkedIn
  • Share on Tumblr
  • Share on Vk
  • Share on Reddit
  • Share by Mail
https://consultnewleaf.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/logo-300x100.png 0 0 Jen Wilson https://consultnewleaf.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/logo-300x100.png Jen Wilson2012-10-22 13:12:242022-04-13 20:24:24No Escape
0 replies

Leave a Reply

Want to join the discussion?
Feel free to contribute!

Leave a Reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

Recent Posts

  • Immunity to Change: Brené Brown and Lisa Lahey and You
  • Overcoming Imposter Syndrome: Created On the Outside, Healed On the Inside (Part 3 of 3)
  • Overcoming Imposter Syndrome: Created On the Outside, Healed On the Inside (Part 2 of 3)
  • Overcoming Imposter Syndrome: Created On the Outside, Healed On the Inside (Part 1 of 3)
  • The Great Recombobulation

Categories

  • All
  • Change and Transformation
  • DEI and Belonging
  • Facing Fear
  • Gratitude
  • Happiness
  • Intuition
  • Kindness
  • Leadership
  • Management
  • Mindfulness
  • New Leaf News
  • Purpose
  • Remote and Hybrid Work
  • Retreat

Archives

  • December 2022
  • May 2022
  • April 2022
  • June 2020
  • May 2020
  • January 2019
  • March 2016
  • July 2015
  • June 2015
  • December 2014
  • November 2014
  • June 2014
  • December 2013
  • August 2013
  • June 2013
  • April 2013
  • January 2013
  • November 2012
  • October 2012
  • September 2012
  • August 2012
  • July 2012
  • January 2012
  • November 2011
  • October 2011

Contact us today for a FREE 30 minute discovery call!

Get My Free Consultation
New Leaf Coaching & Consulting logo

New Leaf Coaching & Consulting is an Organizational Development Consultancy. We help people in values-based organizations work well together so they can do amazing work in the world. We create customized solutions, focused on your goals, so your organization can achieve extraordinary results.

  • jennifer@consultnewleaf.com
  • (414) 510-8153
  • connect on linkedin
© 2020 All rights reserved. New Leaf Coaching & Consulting. | Website Design by Bizzy Bizzy
Life UnpluggedGratitude for Gray Days? Scroll to top