Lent is the period between Ash Wednesday and Easter that people of some faiths commit to fasting or giving up certain luxuries as a form of penance.
Every year, for as long as I can remember, I have given up pop or chocolate for Lent. It’s not that I drink that much pop, but I really, really enjoy it when I do. On the contrary, I eat a lot of chocolate. Some may even consider my consumption of chocolate a form of addiction.
This year, I have decided not to give up either. To be frank, between having the appetite of a growing teenage boy (thank you, Bridget) and preparing for our move in March, I will need the spurts of pleasure that both pop and chocolate provide.
Back to the drawing board…
As I mentioned in a previous post, I have challenged myself to make better use of my not-so-much spare time: spend less time on my phone, read more, etc. Bingo! What is the greatest distraction of achieving this goal? Facebook. While I don’t consider Facebook to be a “luxury” (more like a bad habit one can’t kick), giving it up for 40 days would be a challenge. So, challenge accepted and no Facebook it is.
I have permitted myself three exceptions:
- If I receive a message, I can read it and respond. Come on, I don’t want to be rude.
- If I receive a notification from a group to which I belong, I can review it. I get frequent notifications from our HOA, work groups, etc. In many cases, Facebook is my only method of receiving this news.
- Brian can relay to me important news shared via Facebook and comment on my behalf if I deem appropriate. What if a friend of mine announces a pregnancy or has a baby? Again, I don’t want to be rude.
If you don’t receive a thumbs up from me on your next Facebook status or photo, now you know why.
So long, Facebook. See you in 40 days. Until then, I’ll be drinking a Pepsi, enjoying a Snickers, and cruising Pinterest.
our sweet simple life 