Finding Comfort In The Old

Why do we turn to old shows or episodes we’ve seen over and over again in times of stress or busy moments when we just need “background noise”? What is it about the old familiar and predictable lines that calms us down and helps us get down to business?

Judging by my age and gender you might guess that I would turn to reality tv or ABC’s Shonda Rhimes’ Thursday night lineup (Shout-out to the brilliant fellow Chicagoan!) when I get stressed out, but you’d be wrong. Don’t get me wrong, I really enjoy reality tv and Shonda-Land, but I am old soul at heart and nothing brings me joy and peace of mind like a few episodes of Law and Order, Murder She Wrote, or Golden Girls (although watching the girls too late at night always makes me want cheesecake or ice cream, but that’s a story for another time). The point is I can watch hours and hours of any of these shows and feel relaxed and refreshed afterwards.

I think there is something about knowing the basic plot or structure of a show that makes it easy to have it on in the background and allows these shows to provide a bit of an escape when things are hectic in real life. I would also argue that sometimes we just don’t want to have to think…and this type of tv show provides us an opportunity to do just that! The time we spend watching these shows allows us to enjoy some entertainment and more importantly, gives our brains and emotions a break. It’s probably similar to the way our favorite movies or even personal memories make us feel when we think of them.

As with anything in life, I guess it’s important to remember the past but live in the present.  With that said…it’s time to watch one more episode of Law and Order, before I catch up on my summer shows.