Every once on awhile I recall this little mini movie that I saw on television as a child. It was on CBC and anyone over 60 might recall what I mean when I say it was just black and white and very cheap Canadian TV. Anyway, this story was about a man who was confined to a room for five years.
He could not leave the room, but could ask for anything and he would be given it. (I was very young when I watched this and really believed it all) Anyway, he went through different phases such as sleeping all the time, staying up day and night, drinking and staying drunk. One day he decided to ask for and was brought a grand piano. He did not know anything about it, but asked for books and started to learn by teaching himself. After a few years he was really playing beautifully. At the end of the five year term you saw the door to the room open, but, he was so engrossed in his music that he didn’t bother to go out. He had no way of knowing night from day so he was spending every waking moment on his studying.
Now, as an adult I have come to see the significance of this play.
The last two or three generations have enjoyed being entertained constantly through, first movies and records, radio, to stereos and television. Then came videos and computer games, ipods and cell phones, whew!! Is there no end. Do we have to be entertained twenty four hours a day? I decided to do away with anything technical that was for my “so called” pleasure, just as an experiment for a short time. It was a great experience. At first you feel at a loss with no television and the other things. What we can have is books, writing materials, musical instruments and games such as deck of cards.
Keep the house quiet for a few days. Discover yourself again and being with yourself and entertaining yourself and educating yourself.
The picture of the Two Girls At the Piano by Renoir is a reminder that children can open their minds without a computer. After all, it was those early people that invented everything that we enjoy today. But, let’s not get too carried away. Let’s remember that “we” are our own resources and use our own minds more often. Remember, use it or lose it!
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