The internets like to make fun of people who give up things like Facebook for Lent. Well, the internets can sit on a tack! As an extrovert who was a stay at home mom for many years, I've come to depend on this website VERY heavily for human interaction. I am definitely going to "feel the sting" of being removed from my beloved social media site and spiritual growth is likely to happen.
Why Facebook: It's for my own good. First, I can't seem to stay out of trouble on this website. I try REALLY hard not to comment on people's controversial timeline stuff, but try as I may, I still often end up in trollish debates with a person who is a friend of my friend. In real life, I would not give a rat's ass what that friend of a friend thinks about my opinions...but put it on Facebook and I care a great deal. Secondly, I tie my worth to how many "likes" my statuses and blog post receive. Not always, but too often to be healthy.
The way that I interact with social media in turn effects my mental health. I get all worked up. My deep seeded need for approval and validation bubbles to the surface and I am miserable. No website should make me feel depressed and anxious...it's ridiculous. God has placed a holy soul in my inmost self, good brain in my head and wonderful, encouraging relationships in my life. I let a stupid website come along and completely invalidate all of that.
What it is:
- Very simply, I cannot go on Facebook from 9:oopm on Wednesday, February 18th until after Easter service on Sunday, April, 5th. There are no times when I am allowed to log in and check my timeline...just not.at.all. The plan was to deactivate my account so that I wouldn't be tempted. However, I use several sites which require me to log on using my Facebook account. I don't want the drama of creating a bunch of new passwords and logins. To help myself stick to the fast, I plan to remove the app from my phone and put a super short timer on my laptop (so I can still tap into the account if I need to sign onto linked websites)
- Because I primarily share my blog via Facebook, I still intend to use it to that end. When I do a Facebook share, I don't really go onto the site, I just send the link to my timeline via blog page. Because I don't have an opportunity to see or interact with people's timelines, I'm going to allow it.
- I've let people in my life know that they can contact me by email or text.
What it ain't:
- I am not intending to circumvent the fast by building up my Twitter account or whatever the hell else there is by way of social media.
- Pinterest will be allowed because I don't really use it as social media. It's more of a Google search shortcut for me. No drama. Just recipes and home decor.
In undertaking this fast, I am not trying to say that Facebook is evil. It's neutral. The way I sometimes use it, it can be harmful to my heart. I have allowed people that I don't know to injure me on a soul level. I have allowed people who are meant for relationship to define my ultimate worth, God should be affecting me on a soul level...He should be determining my worth.
Lent. It's a thing.
