As you may (or may not) know, I listen to a fair number of podcasts. Several I have listed in this blog.
But, from time to time, I find the sheer number of episodes daunting. Other tasks seem to take a back seat just so I can listen to them--and typically the shorter the episodes the better.
I've cut the number of podcasts/episodes from time to time. Now, I want to cut it back so much that I literally go on a podcast fast for a month. It may not be a complete fast, but if there is a podcast episode I want to listen to, it must really be an important one.
Why the fast? Well, first of all, I listen to most of my podcasts in the car. And, right now, there are a number of fiction audiobooks I want to listen to--honestly, there are days when I feel like I'm late to the party when it comes to many great books, even some of the classics in science fiction/fantasy--so the podcasts are going on hiatus. I'm currently listening to Frank Herbert's Dune. I remember going to the movie as a kid, but never read the book. Again, late to the party. And it's about time. I'm also starting to slowly read Robert Jordan's The Wheel of Time series.
Lately, I've also been asking myself why I do certain things. Why listen to this, why watch that show, why read that book, why read this blog . . .
Asking myself why I do things has really opened up new channels of thinking. I start to question everything. During the latest political race, I've gotten to the point of questioning everything I read. Just because a headline or article says something doesn't mean it's the truth. And, speaking of politics, certain publications are obviously slanted left or right, and especially in those cases I would question the "truth" of what one reads.
Open your mind. Question the source. Ask why.
Then, if you answer something with, "because I've always done it this way," stop doing it. I'm positive I won't miss much from the podcasts I normally listen to. It's not that I don't like learning--I love learning new things--but one can learn while you work.
Try it. Stop doing something you normally do "just because." See what happens. Pretty sure the sky isn't going to fall.
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