Lent

Lent is a powerful idea-- giving up something daily for just over a month in order to focus more fully on what is important.

Christmas is such a special holiday but when it comes to religiosity Easter is my favorite-- hands down. There is much less fuss around Easter and more time to focus on Jesus Christ. I love it.

I'm a little late for starting Lent this year. In fact-- I've never done it. But my growing addiction to Facebook has led me to start Lent a little late. I'm giving up Facebook and choosing to focus on my children for Lent.

It's been over a week now and I haven't been so fulfilled and so happy in a long time. I'm not saying Facebook is bad. For people who use it in moderation I think it is awesome. I wish I could use it in moderation. But I can't. I've been spending hours a day either reading facebook posts or reading the links other people post. And reading all those things has been consuming my thoughts, feelings, and time. It was all I would talk about with my husband (who would patiently listen but now admits he likes our conversations better). It would take time away from my children. I just got absorbed in an unhealthy way.

So I quit. I mean I really quit. I deactivated my account. I deleted my entire computer history so my computer wouldn't automatically put Facebook in the search bar when I entered the letter "f." I was so in the habit all I had to do was type "f" and my computer would fill the rest of it in. So I would type "f" then "enter" and bam-- I'd be there. That is why I had to delete the history. In the last week I have automatically typed f+enter and just gotten the letter "f" in a google search. The habit was so strong. I had my computer forget my password.

And I've been doing so well this week! I've spent more time really connecting with my friends through phone calls and long personal e-mails. I've spent more time playing and reading with my children. I've kept my house much cleaner. I've exercised more. I've read the Wall Street Journal (we have a subscription) and talked about those articles with my husband. I've given undivided attention to movies and books. It's just been a wonderful thing for me.

When I am past my fear of using Facebook too much perhaps I'll rejoin. Until then I may just continue this Facebook fast past Easter. I'm thankful for strong religious traditions (even those not of my faith) that help people become better. I'm thankful for Lent.