Social Media and Lent.

    Every few years, I observe lent, and on most of those years, I gave up social media. This year, I did it again. I wasn't quite sure what my expectations were this year. Sometimes, when I give up social media, it's to give my relationship with God an extra boost outside of my normal growth. In other years, I gave it up to help with my addiction and to grow closer to God. This year it ended up being more about my addiction. Part of me figured my scrolling habit would naturally translate into time in my Bible app as it has in the past. Although I was much more intentional about opening up my Bible app in past years than I was this year. It didn't this year, but probably because my focus wasn't on getting closer to God but getting further away from my addiction. So, instead of moving my screen time from Social Media to my Bible app, I was on my phone less.

    For the first few days, I used my social media time to clean up my email. Gmail had been complaining that my inbox needed cleaning up. So I worked on that. I thought maybe after I cleaned up my email, I would open up my Bible app more. Once again, I was wrong. And that's okay. Because that was the religion in me talking and not my relationship with God talking. Two different things.

    I did, however, notice that I started reading more novels. I wanted to start reading more books this year but wasn't sure what it would look like. I'm not a fast reader, and I don't have a whole lot of extra time in my current schedule to add more reading. However, since giving up social media, I have lots more time on my hands and noticed myself reading a whole lot more. Heck, I have read five books, and we are only at the end of March. For me, that's impressive. Mind you, my sewing projects have taken a hit because I have spent my weekends with my nose in a book instead of sewing/on my phone. But I'm going to take a few day's break from reading and work on a sewing project. I'm working on finding the balance between all the activities I enjoy.

    But the biggest thing I have noticed is that my addiction and desire to be on Facebook and Instagram has significantly reduced. And this year, I have a plan for how and when I will use social media. Every other time I have given it up for lent to help with my addiction, I never have a plan for after my fast is over. Or at least not a detailed one with proper guidelines that can be measured. This year, I have a plan and a good one at that.

    Because social media is not in and of itself bad. It can be helpful when used properly, and I finally have a plan for how I will use it going forward that will be beneficial. Which, I am excited about.

    At the end of the day, my fast from Social Media produced the exact results I was hoping for. Of which I am grateful for and proud of. I wasn't sure what it would look like in the process, but that does not always matter. Yes, sometimes it is about the journey and not the destination, and at other times, like this last season, it is about the destination.

Happy Easter, friend. He has risen.

God Bless

~Hannah