Today I learned in OCIA that Catholics are supposed to give something up every Friday. It can be a food or food in general. It can be social media or another idol of the heart. But because Christ died for us on a Friday, Fridays we must sacrifice something too.
I’ll probably do a mix of all of the above, but I think I’ll start with a social media fast on Friday. I don’t know whether it’s supposed to be from sun up to sundown or for a twenty four hour period. I might break myself in by just abstaining from sunrise to sunset. But I’d like to aim for midnight to midnight. I think I check my social media too much. I often only stay on for a minute or two at a time as I do other things, but I still think it takes too much time from me. I also think likes on Instagram can build up your dopamine baseline tolerance. When I lived on the continental US and posted at popular times, my posts got at least twice the likes. As soon as I moved here and my day was everyone’s nights, my likes fell dramatically. Although I don’t do my trad account for likes, I admit the falling stats hurt on my art therapy page. I shouldn’t need to check Instagram.
Facebook is poisonous more often than not. I am only on it for local groups. I don’t think I’d miss it, so just blocking that app is not enough of a sacrifice. I have to block Instagram on Fridays. And then as that gets easy I will give up other things.
I like the devotion Catholic Christianity requires. Many Protestants don’t even observe Lent. But this is a year round devotion. I got a study guide to the catechism I’m excited about. I plan to get my other rosary blessed next week. The Hallow app will hopefully help me pray it more.
Life at Home 