Lessons from Lent
So I've had 40 days of minimal internet contact. I didn't un-install my browsers like I had planned, although I should have because I cheated occasionally.
The first week was definitely the hardest. I'd check my e-mail and keep hitting the send/receive button thinking..there has to be more! My computer is upstairs and before Lent I'd come up to check e-mail and browse from 7-10 times during the day. I found the time between e-mail checks began to slow down (only so many times I can hit send/receive til it sinks in there is no new e-mail!). I even *gasp* went a full day here and there without checking at all!
I mentioned that I cheated occasionally. Not once did I log into Facebook, my blog reader, or Twitter but I did give myself permission to do check things here and there that I felt necessary. My son moved from Cub Scouts to Boy Scouts and the new troop I needed to do some on-line training, get permissions slips, etc. The worse times for me was when Russ & I would be researching something. At first I'd just look over his shoulder..that got annoying real quick. Then I just "jump on Google to check" for myself and I'd find myself wandering around on tangents again. But..as soon as I realized what I was doing..I would stop.
Probably one of the hardest things was getting friend requests from Facebook and Twitter follows. Some of the people I had e-mails for and was able to explain..the others I hope will not think I snubbed them.
Anyway..so what did I get out of this? quiet, lot's of quiet
No, I don't need to turn my speakers down. I mean mental quiet. I love information..from people, books, blogs..anywhere. I still read books (lots in fact..I got a lot of reading done the past month and a half) but I'd have quiet interludes during the day to just think (while catching up on much needed housework!). I could get an e-mail and not immediately jump to Google to find 20 solutions to the problem..I could just think for a while, figure it the solution myself. Which is probably the same solution I would have come up with after 40 minutes of web-surfing anyway.
How did this fit in with my word of the year - Renew? It definitely helped:
Intellectual - As I said before, I did a LOT of reading. Some educational, some just fun (I read the 4 books from the Twilight series last week). I also got my acceptance e-mail (and then letter) from the University of Texas in Arlington. I'm heading back to school to work on a Masters of City and Regional Planning. More on this later.
Artistic - I did get some painting done. I finished a pet portrait commission and a flower painting. I'm finally starting to relax when I think about painting instead of the "who would want to buy this" panic I'd go into. Again..blog fodder for another day.
Physical - This is going well but slow. After doing a 13 mile hike with a group of scouts, I decided I'd really start pushing my workouts to the limit. For almost a month I did weights a minimum of 2 times a week and did some sort of cardio (running, elliptical, biking, etc) for 30 minutes to an hour 5-6 days a week. I really felt the difference in my body but my weight loss ground to a halt. Mentally, I need to see some progress so I've back off the intensity. I'm sill training to run a 5k though.
Spiritual - My Bible in a year goal is still going too slowly for my own satisfaction. I found myself writing arguments against the workbook author in the workbook I was using so I decided to switch tracks. I bought The One Year Chronological Bible and the guidebook. I haven't used the guidebook but it does help to have daily goals (that I can see I'm missing ;)) I'm almost to the end of February and I'm sure I'd be much further along if I wasn't so engrossed in the Twilight books last week. The mental quiet I talked about above also gave me a lot of time to think, ponder, pray and a philosophize which is one of the main reasons for breaking bad habits during Lent.
Emotional - Getting stronger every day. I've made the choice inside myself that I will change and hence my life is changing to fit.
So..enlightened, lightened, and lit up! Ok..so that's corny but I can't think of a funny or sage way to end this blog but from my several "more on this later" comments..I'd better sign off and get to work!
Fitzi, 7" x 5" acrylic on canvas, sold
The first week was definitely the hardest. I'd check my e-mail and keep hitting the send/receive button thinking..there has to be more! My computer is upstairs and before Lent I'd come up to check e-mail and browse from 7-10 times during the day. I found the time between e-mail checks began to slow down (only so many times I can hit send/receive til it sinks in there is no new e-mail!). I even *gasp* went a full day here and there without checking at all!
I mentioned that I cheated occasionally. Not once did I log into Facebook, my blog reader, or Twitter but I did give myself permission to do check things here and there that I felt necessary. My son moved from Cub Scouts to Boy Scouts and the new troop I needed to do some on-line training, get permissions slips, etc. The worse times for me was when Russ & I would be researching something. At first I'd just look over his shoulder..that got annoying real quick. Then I just "jump on Google to check" for myself and I'd find myself wandering around on tangents again. But..as soon as I realized what I was doing..I would stop.
Probably one of the hardest things was getting friend requests from Facebook and Twitter follows. Some of the people I had e-mails for and was able to explain..the others I hope will not think I snubbed them.
Anyway..so what did I get out of this? quiet, lot's of quiet
No, I don't need to turn my speakers down. I mean mental quiet. I love information..from people, books, blogs..anywhere. I still read books (lots in fact..I got a lot of reading done the past month and a half) but I'd have quiet interludes during the day to just think (while catching up on much needed housework!). I could get an e-mail and not immediately jump to Google to find 20 solutions to the problem..I could just think for a while, figure it the solution myself. Which is probably the same solution I would have come up with after 40 minutes of web-surfing anyway.
How did this fit in with my word of the year - Renew? It definitely helped:
Intellectual - As I said before, I did a LOT of reading. Some educational, some just fun (I read the 4 books from the Twilight series last week). I also got my acceptance e-mail (and then letter) from the University of Texas in Arlington. I'm heading back to school to work on a Masters of City and Regional Planning. More on this later.
Artistic - I did get some painting done. I finished a pet portrait commission and a flower painting. I'm finally starting to relax when I think about painting instead of the "who would want to buy this" panic I'd go into. Again..blog fodder for another day.
Physical - This is going well but slow. After doing a 13 mile hike with a group of scouts, I decided I'd really start pushing my workouts to the limit. For almost a month I did weights a minimum of 2 times a week and did some sort of cardio (running, elliptical, biking, etc) for 30 minutes to an hour 5-6 days a week. I really felt the difference in my body but my weight loss ground to a halt. Mentally, I need to see some progress so I've back off the intensity. I'm sill training to run a 5k though.
Spiritual - My Bible in a year goal is still going too slowly for my own satisfaction. I found myself writing arguments against the workbook author in the workbook I was using so I decided to switch tracks. I bought The One Year Chronological Bible and the guidebook. I haven't used the guidebook but it does help to have daily goals (that I can see I'm missing ;)) I'm almost to the end of February and I'm sure I'd be much further along if I wasn't so engrossed in the Twilight books last week. The mental quiet I talked about above also gave me a lot of time to think, ponder, pray and a philosophize which is one of the main reasons for breaking bad habits during Lent.
Emotional - Getting stronger every day. I've made the choice inside myself that I will change and hence my life is changing to fit.
So..enlightened, lightened, and lit up! Ok..so that's corny but I can't think of a funny or sage way to end this blog but from my several "more on this later" comments..I'd better sign off and get to work!
Fitzi, 7" x 5" acrylic on canvas, sold
Labels: Lent, Pet portrait, renew
posted by Charlotte at 8:51 AM
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