Chapter: Cutting the Cord

 In 2022, I made a decision that might seem unusual in today’s digital age: I cancelled every single streaming service I had — Sky, Netflix, the lot — and I haven’t looked back since.

At the time, I was living alone. Originally, I’d set up the Sky box and various streaming subscriptions for Josephine, so she'd have her favourite shows when she visited. Josephine’s own home didn’t have any pay TV at all — just the local Irish channels and stations from the Wales regional UK broadcasts. It made sense then to provide something extra when she was here, to help her feel at home and entertained.

But once Josephine stopped coming — thanks in large part to the influence and control of the Special Olympics club — the entire setup felt unnecessary. There was no reason to keep paying for services that served no purpose anymore.

So I pulled the plug.

I went back to basics: the free TV channels, and my trusty old video/DVD player. It didn’t take long to realise how much peace came from that small change. No endless menus. No disappearing content. No feeling of being sucked into something designed to waste my time. Just the shows and films I love, when I want to watch them — no strings attached.

The switch became symbolic of something greater. As Josephine’s visits stopped and our connection faded, I was forced to simplify, to reclaim a sense of control. And sometimes, in the quiet, with a DVD spinning in the player and nothing else competing for attention, I felt something close to contentment.

It’s strange how something as small as turning off a subscription can feel like taking back a part of your life.

I often say to people: if you’re feeling overwhelmed, if you’re tired of paying for things that give you less and less in return — cancel them. Dust off your DVD player. Find joy in simplicity. You’d be surprised what you don’t miss.

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