Facebook Free for Forty Days.

I said farewell to Mardi Gras on Tuesday and hello to Lent on Wednesday. I had moved away from the whole "giving something up" for Lent several years back but decided this year it was time to return to that practice and detach myself from something I spend WAY too much time consumed by: Facebook. So long! Adios! See you in forty day. Surprisingly (for me), I didn't suffer any withdrawals from it yesterday but found myself several times today tempted to log on. But I resisted! Woot!

I'm giving up Facebook for Lent for several reasons:
  1. As stated above, I'm on it all the time.
  2. One of my New Year Goals for 2014 was to spend less time on social media.
  3. I've become a social media news junkie and find myself so consumed sometimes by everything everyone else is doing that I either suffer FOMO or I don't spend enough time investing in myself and on the relationships around me, including my faith relationship.
To aid me in my quest, I deleted the app from my iPhone and when I find myself wanting to look at it, I make myself go do something. Plus, I recruited a coworker to join me so she can be my accountability buddy. So if you post some big life news in the next 40 days, sorry for not congratulating you or commenting on it. But hey, phone calls still work! And if I accidentally miss your birthday because I've relied on Facebook to let me know when it is, happy early/belated birthday. My apologies!

I didn't fast yesterday as the Catholic faith recommends? requires? but I did abstain from meat (a Catholic practice) and went to get ashes. I went to Rayne for their Ash Wednesday service and really connected with the worship. The lights in the sanctuary were dimmed making it feel more cozy, more spiritual. The brief sermon resonated with me and I allowed myself to just sit and be for an hour reflecting on life lately, where I want to be, and how to ask God to help me get there.While my mind wandered a bit, I was able to stay pretty focused and present in the moment.

Whether you're a spiritual person or not, I believe Lent is a great time for reflecting on what it is you need to let go of: something that distracts you, possibly harms you, or makes you feel less whole and complete. It may be a thing (like Facebook) or it may be a relationship. And if letting go of something is too much, then I encourage you to take something on. A commitment to take 5-10 minutes each morning or night for reflection, a good deed a day, gifts of gratitutde, that sort of thing.

Be well. Cheers.

Comments

LB said…
Oooooh Facebook, that's a real commitment! Well worth it though. I love Lent even though I'm not Catholic...always have given up foods but this is a great idea! So are you staying on Instagram?

Popular Posts