lent reflections: the social media epidemic.

well here we are, already into the 3^rd week of Lent. Participating in Lent is such a great spiritual practice and I am lucky to go to a church that acknowledges and encourages this important time during the church calendar. The act of giving something up for Lent represents the 40 days Jesus was in the desert. More than that, it represents things we may have become dependent on more than Christ. It is also a time to stop pretending, to get real with God, telling him what truly is on our hearts.

This year I gave up social media (facebook, twitter, instagram, blogs, websites) and chocolate. I am allowed to post on my blog, check my email and use the Internet only when necessary, like to look up directions or listen to music.

Now, I don’t think I am dependent on Chocolate or facebook, but when you give up these things, especially social media, you realize how much time it actually does fill.

Believe it or not, prior to 2006, people still had friendships and communicated with each other. Honestly, each year I give up social media is easier than the last and when I check facebook after Lent is over, it all seems so silly. Of course, these things in and of themselves are not bad; in fact, I have connected and built relationships with people I know or keep in touch with mainly through the Internet. But the time and distraction these sites become IS. It takes away from family, human interaction and being real with each other instead of the person we have made ourselves out to be behind the profile picture. We become so concerned with what everyone else is doing and making sure our live look good to others we loose our identity and begin to lack the confidence and knowledge that being our true selves is enough.

I saw a book at Barnes and Noble on this very subject titled, “Together Alone.” Those words perfectly sum up what too much social media has done to this generation. I think everyone would benefit from staying away from social media for 40 days. Heck, I would challenge some people to give it up for 24 HOURS. Stop the constant status updates and being so consumed with what your friends or followers think and comparing your life to the lives of others. Whatever happened to a little bit of privacy? Look up from your phone every once in a while and find other, possibly more productive ways to kill time. Life goes on and I promise you will only benefit from the break.

farewell to hostess and 2012.

I started writing these yearly round up posts at the end of 2007, which makes this my 6^th year-in-review write up. (Is that even possible?) And while sometimes I look forward to the task, other years I have a hard time summing up the year, creating homework out of a hobby. However, these yearly wrap ups are not necessary for today but for tomorrow. When re-reading about the years past, I have never regretted that I took the afternoon to reflect and remember where my life was or where I wanted it to go. So let’s get this started shall we?

My dear friend Louise wrote a “Year In Review” on her blog in the form of a time capsule. I immediately thought, “This is brilliant! and exactly why we are best friends.” So for my yearly round up, I too, shall create a virtual time capsule. A small box it will be, hand carved of rich mahogany, and will contain personal memories, snaps of pop culture and world events.

First off, my time capsule would be a music box and when opened, the pinnacle of Whitney Huston’s “I will always love you” would play. You know the part.  RIP girl.

To eat, I would place a Hostess Cupcake and a pack of Donettes in remembrance of the great snack brand that went out of business in 2012. I am sure they will taste just as delicious when they are opened in the future as they do today.

  

In my box, I would place the face of a synchronized swimmer, the ass of Misty May Turner and one of Gabby Douglas’ hair clips to remind me of the 2012 Olympics. I firmly believe that for the 16 days the Olympics are televised, you should watch them. Yes, I am that guy who Tivos handball matches. I only watch swimming and track once every 4 years, yet I was screaming at the television like I had serious investments in the winner. It is a slight relief when they are over though, so I can go back to not feeling guilty about not watching Canoeing.

The world did not end so maybe just a calendar of 2013 in there.

I would bottle up an afternoon at home with Lola. She is funny, smart and adventurous and developing into her own personality. I love it.

 I would write the prayer, “come lord Jesus, come” which was constantly on my mind and tongue on December 14, 2102, when 20 children and 6 adults lost their lives at an elementary school shooting in New Town, Connecticut.

Other events that took place in 2012 include being approximately 50 feet away from Thom Yorke himself when we saw Radiohead live and to my honest shock and amazement, America voted President Barak Obama to a second term after defeating Mitt Romney in the 2012 Presidential election.

My box is getting heavy. Real heavy. And while I bury it in the virtual ground, I think about what I want to be in my time capsule this time next year. As most resolutions go, mine include health, personal and spiritual improvements.

I want to work out 4 times a week. I know this is probably not going to happen as life gets in the way, but out of the 52 weeks in a year, if I can work out 4 times a week for 25 weeks, I will consider that a success. 

I want to stop eating so horribly after I get off work in the mornings. If I must eat, have something like cereal, a granola bar or a piece of fruit. Once again, being a realist, I know this is not going to happen every week, so I am allowing myself one cheat day every 2 weeks.

No soda! Eek!

I want to read through the entire Bible in 2012.

As a family, I would like to save $50 a week, which is $200 a month, adding up to $2,400 in savings for 2013. This is completely doable for us. It may take some discipline and limiting the crap we buy but isn’t that kind of the point?

As with every year in review post, I take a look back at the resolutions I made and how I measured up to the expectations I previously set for myself. One of my resolutions from last year was to limit my crafting and spend more time with Lola. It may seem silly, but I think I was trying to keep up with the Jones’ and crafting because, “That’s what young moms do!” I definitely limited my crafting in 2012, except for around the holidays, which is exactly what I needed. 

I wanted to write more. I did enter a piece I wrote into a contest and wrote 11 blog entries this year but that’s about it.

I did not buy a Vespa and I am not happy about it. I still turn green every time I see one. I’m not sure if it’s the price tag, the ridicule I get from friends or the threat of death from my mother that is stopping me. Whatever the reason for not buying a Vespa in 2012, it was a lame one. I still want a Vespa and probably always will.

 I did participate in Lent and plan on doing this every year. It is such a great spiritual practice and I am lucky to go to a church that acknowledges and encourages participation in this important time during the church calendar.

I prayed for patience at my job and while I am still at Menorah, the winds of change are blowing and I need guidance more than ever on which direction to take. Many options are possibly presenting themselves this year along with new desires to work in areas of nursing I never thought I would be interested in (addiction specialist? children’s hospice care? Who am I?) I need the Lord to make available and clear the path he wants me to take and when to take it. I need courage to not be afraid and step out in faith. He has always worked out the details and I am confident he will again.

I wanted to participate in races throughout the Metro, and while I did a few, I did not reach my goal of 7. At the end of November, I decided to take a break from running, as it was becoming something I loathed and did out of obligation instead of an enjoyable form of exercise. I started taking a bodypump class, cycling, swimming and getting back into yoga which has been the exact change of pace I needed.

Resolutions may seem silly but I have to believe that any time someone has the ambition to improve themselves, whether it be financially, physically or spiritually, it’s a good thing. Ultimately in 2013, I want to find this weird balance between self-discipline and self-improvement without being too hard or critical on myself for being someone I am not. 2013 is going to be a great year. I can feel it.