July 1, 2010

It scares me to even write this because then it will be real. But that’s exactly why I need to write this – I need it to be real. I need to put it out there and be accountable. And in order to battle any addiction, you need a support group.

I’m canceling my cable.

Ahhh!! It’s real! I said it. I’m accountable. I’m really doing it. Oh my God. I’m freaking out. I’ve been a TV junkie my whole life. Growing up, I had a TV in my room from the time I was two or three. In college, I had an illegal cable descrambler. And now, after a long, busy day, there’s nothing I love more than sitting on my couch with TiVo. And perhaps if I was a normal TV watcher, this would be fine. But I’m not. I’m an addict. I can’t sit down and watch one or two shows and call it a night. I’ll sit down in front of the TV, already exhausted, at 9:00 or 10:00 pm, and then watch straight through to at least 2:00 am, occasionally 3:00 or 4:00. Every time I’ll promise myself, “just ‘Grey’s Anatomy,’ ‘Private Practice,’ then bed.” But like all addicts, my disease is beyond my control. So after “Grey’s” and “Private,” depending on the season, come “Glee,” “The Bachelor/Bachelorette,” then “The Real Housewives of New York City,” “The Real Housewives of New Jersey,” “The Real Housewives of Orange County,” “United States of Tara,” “Nurse Jackie,” “The Tudors,” “Survivor,” “So You Think You Can Dance,” “Mad Men,” “Friday Night Lights,” and on and on and on.

Just writing this, my heart is racing. I can’t imagine not knowing what’s going on with… all of these people/characters. (I can’t even pick some specific people/characters. I am invested in all of them!) Maybe this is a bad idea. TV gives me so much pleasure. Why should I deprive myself of that? Taking deep breaths. Getting refocused. I know why. Because it’s not good for me. Watching TV actually makes me feel bad. When I’m done, I feel like my whole being has been pervaded with negative energy. Yes, there are moments of joy, laughter, happy tears, and inspiration. But for me, for some reason, it is all outweighed by this sense of heaviness/angst/discomfort/sadness when I’m done. Maybe if I just watched “Glee” and nothing else, I’d be fine?

A year or two ago, after wimping out on canceling cable, I decided to at least cut out shows that I didn’t totally love. So I broke up with the Desperate Housewives. And I didn’t really miss them. This time, though, it feels different. I feel like I can easily part ways with the Bach and Bachelorette. But Nurse Jackie’s husband just found out she’s a drug addict, Tara just discovered a new alter ego, and Betty and Don Draper are divorcing. This is hell.

I swear this is not me backpedaling. I will allow myself a few favorites online. But I cannot and will not spend hours in front of the idiot box like I’ve done for these past three decades. I haven’t watched TV for three weeks and I’ve been fine. But last night, alone in my hotel room, I closed the curtains, hunkered down, and watched a whole slew of shit. It was such a big hit off the crack pipe. Yes, there were moments I felt happy, moved to tears, and inspired. But overall, while watching, afterward, and this morning, I felt bleh.

It feels terrifying to know that when I get home to LA later tonight, there are three weeks worth of TiVo waiting for me. I haven’t quite decided how to handle it. Technically, it’s all grandfathered in.

Regardless, I’m canceling my cable and I’m excited to see who I am and what I do without it. I’ve said it out loud, and it’s real, and I’m accountable.

Update:

July 8, 2010

I cannot believe how different my life feels already. I haven’t even canceled my cable yet but I’m already experiencing better focus, productivity, and clarity. Just knowing TV is not an option – even while it actually still is – has been amazing. I already feel certain that this was the right decision.

July 9, 2010

Shit. It just occurred to me that I still have the series finale of “Lost” on my TiVo. It feels totally ridiculous to have come this far and not watch the final episode. I will watch it, and then – bam – cable over.

July 11, 2010

I watched the final episode of “Lost” and sobbed. So beautiful, so profound. While crying, I thought, “Why would I give this up? Being moved like this is such a gift.” And it is. But it comes at a cost, and I am clear on this now.

July 12, 2010

Just hung up with my cable provider. I did it. Canceled. I had one moment of concern, when the representative started asking me if I was sure I didn’t want to just suspend the service as opposed to canceling it: What if I regretted my decision and then had to deal with a whole rigmarole to get it turned back on in a few months? But I quickly regained my composure and continued with my plan. And I feel great. It was the right thing to do and I’m thrilled to have done something so good for myself. And I’m excited to see what the world has in store for me now that I’m no longer selling my soul to TV.

Photo credit: David Ojalvo

Jesus kicked my ass again—and I loved every second of it.

I’m a Jew, but I grew up in a non-Jew town, and I kinda had Jesus-jealousy for much of my life. Christianity had such an allure: the quiet calm inside a church, the white Communion dresses, and of course, all the bells and whistles of Christmas. Now, as an adult, I’m past the white dress thing. But the rest of it still holds a certain mystique. Yeah, some of it is trite, like the prettiness of Christmas lights, but I really do appreciate some real aspects of the religion. One of them is Lent. I have no idea what the real purpose or meaning of Lent is. But my friends are always scrambling around, giving up sweets, or alcohol, or Facebook, etc., and it seemed kinda cool. So for the past few years, I’ve taken on practicing Lent, too. I welcome opportunities to be a better person. Because I’m vegan, I’ve already taken all animal products out of my diet permanently. I feel good knowing that I’m not contributing to the suffering or death of any animals;  no need for me to give up something food-related. But there was a little somethin’ somethin’ I needed to address: shit-talking. This year, for Lent, I tried to give up talking about people. And let me tell you something, it kicked my ass.

Let me start off by saying that I am a woman of integrity, and overall, I really don’t shit-talk people that much. So I thought. All of sudden, I felt like I couldn’t open my mouth. My friend had a crush on a guy and wanted to know what I thought… I thought he was a cagey mother-fucker and a total weirdo. One of The Real Housewives of New York was parading around in fur, yet calling herself an animal lover. And a guy I had gone out with had turned out to be a total douchebag. Ahhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!! What had I gotten myself into? I’m a woman—the need to express myself and be fully understood is biological! Now I had gone and gagged myself. How was I going to get through these forty days?

I’m not gonna lie, I did not do a perfect job: My friend pressed and pressed, so I finally told her what I really thought of the guy. Chelsea Handler took the Real Housewife to task, and I posted it on my Facebook page. And when someone asked about the guy I went out with, I said he turned out to be a douchebag. Am I proud of all that? No. But there were also multiple victories where I did keep my mouth shut in cases that I normally wouldn’t have. Whether it’s bad-mouthing someone on TV, talking about a random guy we’ll never see again, or shit-talking someone we know, words have weight. And even if the person never knows what we’ve said, the energy is out there. If a tree falls and no one is there to hear it, it’s still a fallen tree. If the person never knows they’re being bad-mouthed, it’s still mean and hurtful. Not only am I being ugly to them, I’m also being ugly to myself. Shit-talking is like poisoning my own well water. It muddies my waters and darkens my energy field. All for what? Letting someone know what I think? Who am I? Why are MY thoughts so important that they must be known? And what if I’m wrong? Maybe my friend’s guy isn’t a cagey mo-fo; maybe he’s just nervous with women. Maybe the Real Housewife genuinely doesn’t know that animals killed for fur are electrocuted anally and/or vaginally. And maybe the guy I went out with isn’t a douchebag; maybe he’s just struggling with some issues and doing it the best way he knows how. (Chances are, my friend’s guy IS cagey, the Housewife IS selfish, and my guy IS a d-bag. But for argument’s sake, I coulda been wrong.) Unfortunately, I can’t take back any of the mean things I said about these people. (Sorry, but I just gotta say: Wearing fur is total fucking bullshit. Check out http://www.skintradethemovie.com/ if you don’t believe me.)

No, I did not do a perfect job during Lent. I couldn’t even do a perfect job now, writing this! But I learned a really valuable lesson that has stayed with me, despite the passing of Easter. I do not want to talk about people. It feels better not to. It has been said that we have two ears yet only one mouth, so we should listen twice as much as we speak. I like this. I have no doubt I will continue to struggle with keeping my mouth shut. But these recent forty days have been a real eye-opener and a true blessing. Praise be to Jesus.

My challenge to all of you who skipped Lent or want to try something else: Do it for the month of May. Give up gossip, or complaining, or best of all, eating dead animals! Visit goveg.com for a free starter kit!

Photo by Diana Mrazikova

Well, here we are at the end of January. Have you stuck with all your New Year’s resolutions? I always appreciate the chance for self improvement, but for some reason, New Year’s resolutions just don’t feel real to me. So this year, I decided to do something different. Instead of making a list of things I wanted to change in the upcoming year, I decided to reflect on some things I learned this past year. The hope is that the lessons will be my reminder for who I want to be and how I want to live in 2010.

Here are a few things I learned in 2009:

1. I can go six weeks without eating sugar.
2. I never want to do that ever again.
3. Saying what you mean and meaning what you say can be scary sometimes.
4. Speaking the truth gets a little easier each time you do it.
5. Traveling is magical, inspiring, and life-changing.
6. Traveling is challenging, confronting, and miserable.
7. It is nearly impossible for me to sleep with someone and not develop intense feelings for him.
8. Unless I’m traveling and leaving the country the following day. Then it’s just plain fun.
9. I can pee perfectly into a cup, while driving (cruise control on a highway), and not spill a drop.
10. Unless I pee so much that the cup gets filled—and I don’t realize it—and the cup runneth over.
11. I could blame the pee-smell in my car on my dogs.
12. I prefer to just tell the truth and laugh about it.
13. Giving my heart to someone who hasn’t earned it is foolish and painful.
14. Being open and vulnerable and jumping in with both feet is laudable. (However, it too may be foolish and painful.)
15. There are few things more terrifying than karaoke.
16. There are few things more liberating than karaoke.
17. A woman’s chemistry can make her crazy.
18. A man’s chemistry can make her fuckin’ batshit.
19. Instincts should never be ignored.
20. Sometimes, it’s hard to tell where your instincts start and your baggage stops.
21. Regret is a waste of time.
22. I struggle with time management.
23. I’m afraid love may not exist the way I want it to.
24. I couldn’t give up on love if I tried.
25. I will likely learn all of this all over again in 2010 (except the pee-spilling thing—lesson learned).

With 2 million books sold, Rory has taught us how to eat better. We’ve asked her for tips on how to live better, based on her own life experiences. Here are Rory’s top twenty ways to make every day shine brighter…

Rory Freedman, photo by Tim VanOrden

1. Don’t say “yes” when you mean “no.” It’ll make you resentful. Say what you mean and mean what you say.

2. When driving, if someone wants to get in front of you, let him in front of you. And do it with a smile. It’ll make his day better, and it’ll make you feel good. You just changed the world.

3. Try to make a gratitude list each day. Include big things and little things. Invite your friends to make their own lists; you can all email one another each day, sharing your gratitude.

4. Don’t be a problem solver when a friend just wants you to be a listener.

5. Call your parents or grandparents. Sometimes, a five-minute phone call is all they need to feel loved.

6. Be a good neighbor: Be considerate inside and outside your home/apartment so your noise doesn’t bother those around you. That includes opening and closing your front door quietly.

7. Pee in the shower. If we each did this once a day, it would save an enormous amount of water and toilet paper (trees).

8. Write a “fan letter.” Tell someone you know, or someone you’ve never met, why you admire him or her. You’ll make someone’s day.

9. Curb your jealousy. Be happy for others.

10. Be willing to be wrong. If someone has a grievance with you, really try to see her point of view. If called for, apologize. It’s hard to do, but it feels really good and makes life so much easier.

11. If you are in a room with someone you don’t know, introduce yourself right away. It takes away the social discomfort immediately.

12. Pick a cause close to your heart, and get involved. You don’t have to quit your job and dive in headfirst. Just get involved on some level and do what you can when you can. Go slightly beyond your comfort zone but don’t overextend yourself.

13. Be a good friend to your friends. Tell them what’s good about them, that you appreciate them, and make the effort to spend time with them.

14. Go vegetarian. Animals raised and slaughtered for food suffer immeasurably. Visit GoVeg.com for a free vegetarian starter kit.

15. Do your best to think good thoughts. They affect your health, happiness, and the people around you.

16. Do something frivolous for someone you love. (It doesn’t have to be extravagant.) It feels so good to do nice things for other people, it’s almost selfish!

17. Practice accepting compliments. The person complimenting you is giving you a gift. Receive it graciously, even if it is difficult.

18. Be generous with your compliments. Don’t blow smoke up anyone’s ass. Just say nice things when they occur to you.

19. Forgive those who have wronged you. Holding onto anger and resentment poisons your body and your life. There are no benefits in staying mad. Let go. It’s okay.

20. Forgive yourself. It’s okay to be imperfect and to have made mistakes. Try to do better, that’s all.

Rory Freedman, photo by Ariel Sinson

How did you change the delivery of your message for a male audience in Skinny Bastard?

What’s good for the bitch is good for the bastard, so basically, the men get the same tough love, straight talk, and compelling info the women get in Skinny Bitch. They also get male-specific bonus info about the prostate, erectile dysfunction, muscle-building, and how diet effects all three! (And I’m not gonna lie: there are multiple hilarious euphemisms for wang-doodles and jis in the book. We’re talking laugh-out-loud funny.)

What do you say to men who equate manliness and physical strength to eating a meaty diet?

Get with the times! There are professional athletes in every sport who are fueling their bodies with plant-based diets. Meat is high in cholesterol, fat, and saturated fat and can cause cancer! Carl Lewis, one of the greatest athletes of all time said the year he adopted a veg diet was his best year ever on the track.

What would you cook up for a skeptical non-skinny bastard to show him eating healthy and vegan is hot?

Vegan food is so amazing; there is something for every palate. There are vegan “meat” and potatoes-type meals that taste exactly like the real thing; exotic, ethnic foods; gourmet, high-end cuisine; and everything in between. So whatever a man’s favorite dish is, it can easily be veganized!

If you could share one tip with our readers what would it be?

Start somewhere! You don’t have to go vegan overnight, but today, pledge to change something! Pick a date in the very near future, make a challenging but attainable goal, and start planning for it. For example, take a 30-day veg pledge—dedicate yourself to trying one meat-free month. Don’t be a pussy! You’ve likely eaten meat your whole life but never tried being a vegetarian. Give it a rip! It’s just 30 days!

What are you working on now?

Vacation plans! Five books in five years (plus three workout DVDs) is a lot. I’m ready to unplug for a few months and recharge my batteries. There’s nothing like being in a new place around new people experiencing new things to get creative again.

Channeling the genius of James Lipton from Inside The Actor’s Studio, we would like to ask you a few of his famous interview questions:

What is your favorite word?
Vegan
What is your least favorite word?
Veal
What turns you on creatively, spiritually or emotionally?
LOVE!
What turns you off creatively, spiritually or emotionally?
Stress.
What sound or noise do you love?
The little clippety sound of my dogs’ nails on the floor when they’re playing.
What sound or noise do you hate?
My own voice, when I’m talking too much or complaining.
What profession other than your own would you like to attempt?
80’s aerobics instructor!
What profession would you not like to do?
Dentistry.
If Heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates?
You did it! You veganized the whole world!