It’s been years since I seriously gave something up for Lent, but I decided that this year, I’m going to deactivate my facebook account. My initial plan was to do the Sunday loophole thing that we practiced at St. Matt’s and sneak back on once a week. I think I’m actually going to try to last the whole 40 days, though. I’m still unsure of the reason why I’m doing this but it feels right so I’ll go with it. Maybe I’ll gain something. Maybe taking away that aspect of my life will cause me to focus attention in other areas.

And am I really deactivated anyways? I could do what Monica said she was doing and give up social networking in general, but is that really possible? Scratch that. I mean is that necessary? I don’t think anyone can fully give up social networking without becoming a hermit. Is email not social networking? Your phone? Going to parties? Going to class?! To my understanding, social networking is a simple concept of connectivity through some exchange of communication, whether online or offline. So am I deactivated? Hell fuckin nah. (Would I consider giving up cursing for Lent? I probably should…)

I do worry that facebook has become such an integral part of my generation that I’ll be terribly left in the dark with a lot of things, but overall, I think that these 40 days are going to be good for me. I see myself writing more in this blog and maybe even the old xanga that I still use for my private thoughts. (Yes it’s still going strong since 2002!) Hopefully I’ll inadvertently become efficient in all my projects and actually get a decent amount of sleep every night with time to exercise during the day! Totally NOT wishful thinking.

What I do know is that this is going to force me to use more personal means of communication than blowing up a facebook thread with blue dots galore or clicking a motherfucking thumbs up to say “I like this.”

Hello, Lent. I’m going to appreciate you. Maybe I’ll even stop purposely eating meat on Fridays. Maybe.