I have an addiction to the houswives

One of my favorite parts of the week is the night the Real Housewives of Atlanta/Miami/Orange County/Beverly Hills/New Jersey/Vancouver comes on, and I have the chance to catch a glimpse into a world so separate and lavish from everything I have ever known. Recently I have been trying to figure why I crave this excessively superficial form of entertainment. I thought it might just be a way for me to shut off after a long day, but I realized it was something more convoluted than that.

I desire the lifestyle the housewives have. I dream of owning multiple cars and grandiose houses that require a staff of 10. This isn't just me though, I know a significant portion of my friends feel the same desire, and however mind numbingly dumb some of the housewives are, they represent something so much more to us. They are the life we want. I suppose I can't speak for everyone, but I believe it is the life I want. Growing up in an exceptionally middle class family I didn't have anything in excess, including time, yet I always make time for my housewives. I realized that all the time I spend watching and dreaming of what I could have, I'm wasting what I do have. Every second I spend watching a reality show, I'm not working efficiently and I'm not spending time with anyone in particular. Its peculiar how doing something like watching a reality show to make me feel as if I am a part of the rich and famous lifestyle, actually puts me further and further away from having it.

The sickening thing is, that this thought isn't motivating enough to make me stop. For the moment I'm appalled, and I'll do my homework more focused and determined, but then a half an hour later and I still feel the need to flick on the TV.

As addictions go I suppose this one isn't the worst I can have, but as they say, acceptance is the first step.

I included a little clip from the reunion of last seasons Real Housewives of Atlanta for those of you who don'y really know what this show is all about.