About Brainfood
Post 105:
Today I want to talk about nutrition, but not the kind that sends you off to Whole Foods for a bundle of kale and unpalatable nuts or whatever.
I mean to examine what we put in our brainpans, i.e., the kind of entertainment and messaging we accept as acceptable. That could’ve been said better, but I’ve got a lot going on today, so indulge me.
A lot of what I write about on the blog is directed toward writers and other types of artists, but this one ostensibly applies to everyone.
I’ll use myself as an example. If I binge reality TV for a week, read paperbacks about romantic teenage werewolves, then top it off with a couple rehashed movies about rebooted characters, I’ve basically digested a large dose of crap.
Now I can feel the criticism already coming. Who am I? Am I a proven and best-selling author or Grammy-winning songwriter. Nope. But that’s the goal. Let’s go back to the nutrition thing and perhaps it’ll make more sense: If I eat well, vegetables, proper proportions, stay away from the unhealthy, it doesn’t make me Mr. Fitness that day.
Not that day. Not tomorrow. But there’s that expression about Rome, you know, the one how it wasn’t built by people who watched reality TV.
There’s all of history and its masterpieces to take in. They’re cheap and available. Put them on your plate. Add some new stuff as well. A lot of talented people are doing great work that can only add to your mental health. I’d argue that TV is probably doing the most revolutionarily thought-provoking storytelling at present, but I go back and forth between television and literature. You can’t lose either way.
Does this preclude you from dessert? Not at all. We all have our guilty pleasures. Unless you’re a monk or whatever. Somehow I don’t think you’re a monk. Apologies if you’re a monk.
Anyway, go forth and enrich your mind. It’s easier than enriching your body. But that’s me. Kale is just disgusting. Tell me I’m wrong.
See you after.
