What I may give up for Lent this year

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bassmansteiny

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So while I plan on adding more time in prayer I was thinking of cutting back my time on social media. Either all together, or greatly limiting my time. I love this forum and a couple of music ones I frequent (one for KISS - the rock band and a bass player forum). I feel like you are all my friends and family here.

I suffer anxiety, I go through times when it gets bad and I tend to isolate myself and times it’s not so bad. I pretty much have a couple of really good friends and family. Because I spent some time locked up, not a violent crime, some of my family and friends don’t want anything to do with me anymore.

I feel this is something that would be a sacrifice/hard to do and as I understand that is the idea of giving things up for lent. Just not sure if I should do this though. It might be to much and if I am not successful I feel like I would be breaking my vow to God to give up social media for Lent. I feel a connection with people on here. I just wanted (name removed by moderator)ut from you all. Even my none Catholic Brothers and Sisters are welcome too. Hope this post makes sense.
 
I’d be concerned about anyone giving up their primary source of social interaction without a plan to replace it with some other social interest. How about just giving up a particular site? That way you have made a sacrifice, but you won’t feel so isolated.

What you choose to sacrifice for lent should ultimately benefit you spiritually. If it’s going to make you anxiety worse or lead to feelings of serious isolation, pick something else.
 
As a professional wrestling fan, I’ve been known to buy upwards of $250 in wrestling shirts and items a month.

For Lent I’m giving that up. But also, I’m going to try and recite the St. Michael Chaplet along with my daily Rosary as best I can during Lent.
 
I agree with @mrsdizzyd. Giving something up should lead you to something better spiritually. For example, if you know that visiting a particular forum leads you to be short-tempered and uncharitable, giving it up may lead to greater patience and charity.

Is there a quality you want to grow in during Lent? How might your Lenten practices lead you there?
 
Want to hunger like Christ did in the desert? Are you healthy? Then, how about a total fast on Fridays? How about zero social media? How about zero media period. Yet, giving up on frosting still allows one to eat the cake. If you are able, make Lent felt and it will yield many more spiritual benefits.

The Archangel Raphael to Tobit and Tobias:
Tobit 12:8-9
Prayer is good with fasting and alms more than to lay up treasures of gold: For alms delivereth from death, and the same is that which purgeth away sins, and maketh to find mercy and life everlasting.
Click to expand...
 
We make promises to God, not vows, as non religious. Even so, if this will cause further anxiety and isolation to give up a forum, it is quite ok to revise your plans and promises.

Maybe using prayer intentions forum more over lent, giving your musical talents to the Church, is better suited to you.

Social media is becoming a lifeline to those in lockdown due to the corona virus. I read over 6% of the global population is in lockdown/ quarantine due to it.
 
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Why not instead of it giving it up totally minimizing your time on social media?
First figure out how much time you spend on social media in a day. You might realize that you spend 3 hours a day on social media. If that is the case maybe you can decide to spend no more than an hour a day on social media sites. Maybe you spend an hour ever day currently on social media and maybe you will decide to spend no more than 2 hours a week. Then use the time you are not spending on social media to be drawn closer to our Lord in the Eucharist.
 
Thank you all for the suggestions and thoughts. I think I may try to severely limit my Social Media usage during Lent. I probably won’t give it up all together. That and spend more time in prayer, example start praying the rosary again, really slacked off the last couple of years. I can’t do the heavy fasting because of health issues though.
 
I have just continued to live Lent the way we did as kids at home. We cut out sweets and treats and desserts and ate simply (but healthily). We went to Stations of the Cross on a Friday afternoon and picked up fish and chips on the way home. Lent always had calm and simple feel about it in my memory.
 
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