Over a year and a half ago, when we first moved into our home, I called the cable company every two weeks for about three months to alert them that cable was still available though we were not paying for it. 6 times in three months we reported that we were still receiving able to watch cable, presummably from the last owner's contract. 18 months later, they have finally turned our cable off. Now, we get no television channels--none.

To entertain ourselves, my wife and I are left with the internet, many books, each other, our various hobbies, and a cute town, not to mention the angry married couple downstairs and the young girl's violin playing upstairs. How many hours have I spent watching television and what has come of it? Sure, there may have been a show every now and then that challenged my thinking or added the endless stream of information that flows into my sphere of thinking; but, now that it's gone, who cares?

Life is hard and dramatic enough without getting wrapped up into the emotionalism that television producers use to addict viewers and make money. Sure, I'm going through a little bit of withdrawl (I sat down today and clicked it on unconsciously), but my life just got a bit more simple.

Simplicity is grand thing. With it one has the ability to focus on what is most important, and accomplish great things without distractions. Without it accomplishing the most basic tasks becomes a struggle.

Large corporations used to bring in enthusiastic, inspirational consultants and strategic planners. They would spend hundreds of hours of human resources to create thick strategic plans that would end up sitting the shelf waiting for its replacement 5-10 years down the road. Now, these same consultants have rejected their previous key to unlock the future and replaced it with common sense, simplicity.

Their message: Do a few (3) things and acheive them. Don't get distracted by fads or the latest propagandists who really are only looking to make money. Everyone vies for your attention; stay focussed on the main thing. Simplicity.

I suppose the same is true for my life, our lives, too. What remains is only the task of deciding what things I will use my time to focus upon....luckily, I have one less option.