Brain Candy
Intellectual chocolate cake
Journal: 12 November, 2025, morning.
“Brain candy.” That’s how our kids describe the television shows that Eli and Isaac like to watch that are mindlessly entertaining, without any thinking required. They get to do a little of that but not much. It’s not at all good for their developing brains.
There’s brain candy for adults too, right? Reality shows are brain candy. And those shows where people argue and act badly and exhibit the worst of behaviors and the host just seems to encourage that. It’s like watching a train wreck. The Price is Right? Brain candy. Jeopardy? Not brain candy. Sesame Street? Not brain candy.
That 70s Show, The West Wing, Northern Exposure, The Sopranos, Law and Order, Grey’s Anatomy: brain candy or not brain candy?
Ted Lasso. Brain candy or not brain candy?
Things that inform us, educate us, encourage us to think, pique our curiosity, challenge us: not brain candy.
How much time in your day is spent actively and robustly thinking? The dietary equivalent of protein and vegetables? How much time is spent passively consuming? The dietary equivalent of Butterfingers and chocolate cake?
I know. We love Butterfingers and chocolate cake. 🙋♀️🙋♀️🙋♀️
But… too much of those are not good for my body. And my body lets me know that, loudly and clearly.
I don’t think we get as clear a message (or really *any* message) when we consume too much intellectual brain candy. We lose our thinking edge when we don’t actively use that ability but it’s much easier to not use it. Thinking about more difficult and complex things, holding all that in your mind and processing it, is definitely mental work. Have you ever thought about something so difficult to conceptualize that it made your head hurt? I’m laughing here but that’s real, I assure you!
It’s wonderful to have done challenging things and succeeded. It’s not so wonderful to be in the thick of trying to do them. That’s a slog, and usually painful. But crossing the finish line? Amazing! Sweet! We love that.
I like doing hard things. Always have. That something is difficult really motivates me to try to do it. I don’t necessarily want to do some things but I want to have done them. Does that make sense?
What I am saying here: don’t get addicted to brain candy. Do some of the hard stuff. Be discriminating in what you choose to spend your time doing. Beach reads are fun and relaxing but Dostoevsky will “stick to your ribs.” Sometimes I like light and frothy (there’s a reason they call them “beach reads,” you—and your brain—are on vacation) but soon I am longing for something more substantial, more nourishing, something with depth and complexity and nuance. And I’m not just talking about books and reading here. That’s just an easy and familiar analogy.
Do more of the hard stuff. Don’t settle for just brain candy. You have so much potential! I think you’ll surprise yourself at what you can do if you try. And it doesn’t matter what age you are.
I hope you try.
#journalingalife