Lent: Booty Kicker & Habit-Breaker
Posted by Aarti on February 22nd, 2012 . Filed under: Uncategorized .
If you follow me on Facebook then you’ll know that I’m severing the cord for Lent. Or perhaps severing sounds too final. Putting one of those clamps on it that they always seem to use on Grey’s Anatomy.
I can’t pretend I’m not just the slightest bit nervous that I will lose some of you in the process, since it’s much easier to update on Facebook than it is to update here. But I think this is a good step for me; I’ve found that, with all the political and philosophical tension on Facebook, my blood pressure spikes every 10 minutes when I’m on there. I don’t enjoy it, and yet, it’s kinda like that moment in “The Jungle Book” where Mowgli can’t resist the snake because he’s hypnotising him (that part always used to freak me out!).
My sister-in-law put it best: “I don’t even WANT to go on there, but it’s so automatic!”
Too true! I’ve already typed ‘f’ in my browser window once today without even thinking about it.
Anyway, I’m kinda hoping that it pushes me to write more here on the blog. It is such a huge regret of mine that I don’t write on here as much as I used to. Part of it is that I always want to write A+ posts for you guys, things worthy of your time, and that kind of pressure is a tad paralyzing… part of it is that I’m sometimes going through things that are so overwhelming (and yet so personal)… other times, I’m just too damn lazy.
So, here’s to seeing more of each other over the next 40 days!
Tomorrow: my new little curly-hair technique. It’s a goodie!
-x-
aarti
February 22nd, 2012 at 4:19 pm
Hubby and I have taken a few breaks from FB before.
It’s very much needed sometimes!
February 22nd, 2012 at 4:36 pm
My mentor invited me to fast from something for Lent this year, and I chose Facebook, too! I’ve never done something like this for this length of time, so it’ll be interesting to see how it goes, especially since Facebook is so thoroughly integrated into our lives!
God bless you this Lenten season!
February 22nd, 2012 at 6:25 pm
I think it’s a good idea! I haven’t taken a long fb break before, only short ones, and my husband has never even had a facebook(he’s stubborn about it! lol). But yes especially now that it’s election year, certain topics are not very enjoyable for me that pop up on there! I’ll be checking your blog.
February 22nd, 2012 at 6:49 pm
You made a great decision . . . you will see that you ‘just freed up a lot of time’ to do something different, better and more productive! There is LIFE AFTER FACEBOOK. I look forward to reading your blog posts here
and T H A N K Y O U for sharing/creating the MASSAGED KALE SALAD. I prepared it for my family of 5 last night . . . and they absolutely LOVED it! I used only pomegranate and raw pecan pieces . . . YUM
February 22nd, 2012 at 6:53 pm
Love it! I kissed Facebook goodbye about a year ago and have been thrilled with the decision. It sounds silly but it was hard at first but since then, I’ve found myself more content, more peaceful, and more focused! You wont lose me!
February 22nd, 2012 at 7:16 pm
Need all the luck I can get to execute on my resolve for Lent this year.. BREAD & Rice.. (Its tough, but I believe, the Divine power that instilled this thought in my noggin will guide me through!).. Can’t give up Meat since I’m vegetarian,
Facebook… Woah.. no way, I have a blog that depends on it!
February 22nd, 2012 at 7:16 pm
I’ve written much on my blog about FB tension. I took a hiatus from my personal wall and just focused on my business page and some private accountability groups I run. It was great.
Then, just this week, I started venturing back on to my page . . . and I had a bit of an annoyance. Time to back off again. Only, I can not completely as I do run a business and social media is key – BUT, as for my personal FB profile page? Time to say farewell once again.
February 23rd, 2012 at 6:27 am
Yay!! I look forward to more posts! I am definitely monitoring my FB usage lately and do find I’m more likely to post on my blog when I am on FB less.
February 23rd, 2012 at 9:40 am
HALLELUJAH !!! Giving up Facebook should be a permanent thing. It has certainly gotten out of control. No matter how many ways or how much time I have gone about trying to get FB out of my computer they find some insidious way of sneaking back on. I started over a year ago and am still getting at least 4 ‘requests, etc.’ from them a month, even with them on my ‘SPAM’ list. GOOGLE privacy invasion is not far behind!
I also made Kale Salad yesterday. This time with pears and walnuts, and a bit of dijon mustard in the dressing. Unbelievably delicious !!! Honey Crisp apples and pecans are also an option for me.
KEEP ON BLOGGING Aarti, I look at it almost every day.
February 23rd, 2012 at 10:33 am
You won’t lose me, sweetie. I read you on FB and here on your blog.
I’ve actually given up some carbs for Lent: bread, rice, potatoes and pasta. I hope I can last 40 days!! Wish me luck
February 23rd, 2012 at 11:27 am
Honestly, I didn’t even realize you were on facebook. I already miss seeing you in my newsfeed and I don’t even have it on there yet.
I do enjoy your blog posts, though and will love having more of them over the next few weeks.
February 26th, 2012 at 8:41 am
Hello Aarti, I went to find you on Facebook and I saw that you were taking a break for Lent. I am not sure how you can do it; I think I would go crazy. But I saw that you were going to be at the Taste of Dubai in March, and I got excited. I am a newly culinary graduate, and at 36 just starting my career. I have always loved to cook and bake, but being a military wife of 16 years and raising a family sometimes my dreams got put on the back burner. But now that both my kids are in school, I have been able to start following my passion. So this event is very exciting for me. Not only will this be my first time to Dubai, but my first food festival of this type. I am hoping to meet you and some of other great chefs along with learning about food from other cultures. I am hoping to take a lot from this great experience. And if you need some help with your demo let me know and I will be sure to pack my pink chefs jacket, LOL. Once again I am looking forward to this event, and hope to see you there.
Best regards,
Jennifer Decker
.
February 26th, 2012 at 9:55 pm
I have never given up anything for Lent, even though I’ve been a Christian my entire life – 63 years. I’m sure some of you reading this are shocked by that statement. I often wonder why people refrain from a certain thing or activity during that time. If they do that as a sacrifice, then they are not remembering that Jesus was the perfect sacrifice once, for all time. If we make sacrifices to please God, we are either not understanding or not accepting Jesus as the perfect sacrifice. We are accepted by God’s grace, not by what we do. I’ve also recognized that many of the people who give up something for Lent ignore God most of the rest of the year. Is their fast made to appease God? I believe that we need to honor God every day, not just on “special” days. Another thing to think about: If something is given up for Lent, what takes the place of that thing – i.e., is chocolate replaced with prayer and Scripture? Is no Facebook replaced with equal time studying God’s Word and praying or sharing the Gospel with others? These questions are just something to think about, not a criticism. May your hearts be filled with joy because of God’s gift of His Son during this season and every day of the year.
February 28th, 2012 at 8:45 am
Aarti!!!! I am blessed for you, but confused. You sent me another twitter reply message yesterday telling me to follow you on your personal FB page and we could chat… but I cannot find a personal fb page for you! PLUS you are telling us here that you aren’t going to be doing any FB… just want to chat with you regarding my friends in GOA and a releif project going on there, and also a dear friend of mine that is in the top 12 girls on American IdoI… wanted to know if u would like to meet up with them, they are awesome people! , and dont know anyone really except their contestant friends… so hoping you read this and will get back to me..
all the best,
graciously, Cathy
February 28th, 2012 at 8:24 pm
Once for Lent I gave up using the internet while my kids were awake (so, roughly 6 AM – 7 PM). It was rough at first, but I found so many other things to do. I was a better wife and mother, and I suddenly had time for creative pursuits. Even after Easter I found that I didn’t use it as much as I did before Lent. I’m glad I did it!
March 6th, 2012 at 4:54 pm
I want to give it up too…soon. So glad you’re blogging more. If I had a bunch of awesome blogs to check I’d use those Facebook moments to read (actually read) blogs. I sort of feel like Facebook killed the blog the way that video killed the radio star. It’s not dead yet, but life support and it’s not lookin’ good. Sad. Let’s revolt! Going to update my status…
March 6th, 2012 at 5:15 pm
Love your blog. Always have.