Lent

So those of you who are Facebook friends with me will know that I have given up Facebook for the period of Lent. From Wednesday just gone, to Easter Sunday, I won't be poking, writing on walls, 'liking', commenting or posting anything on my or anyone else's Facebook pages.
Why am I doing this? What will it achieve? How am I going to keep in contact with everyone? What if I lose touch with people?

OK, firstly, I admit that Facebook has it's advantages. I have managed to stay in touch with friends who are overseas and interstate. It's been a good way to see peoples photos and .......ok, I'm out!

In all honesty, Facebook, while fun, hasn't enriched my life all that much. I have "reconnected" with people, sure....but in all honesty, I lost contact with many of them for a good reason and the only reason I have clicked on "confirm" in many cases, is purely through guilt! I feel as though if I ignore people, it will adversely affect my karma! Which is not a very good reason to be 'friends' with someone.

It's a time waster! I got home from work last night, logged on, checked a couple of sites that I regularly check, then logged off again. I put my laptop down and the world was my oyster! I could read a book, go for a walk, do some housework or chillax with Andy. I did most of those things (no walk, seeing as I went to the gym in the morn) and it was fantastic!

But the most important reason I have given up Facebook is that it negates the requirement of genuine, warm, personal human contact! Nobody posts letters anymore, people don't catch up for coffee as much (why, when you can chat online?) and I feel we are starting to lose an important element of human relationships though 'social networking' sites. In the last 2 days, I have sent 3 emails to people I haven't seen in ages, arranging face to face catch ups, which will no doubt include real hugs, piping hot coffee, meaningful eye contact and flowing conversation....that's if we remember how to converse in full words! Today, I received a letter in the mail (that is that system that puts bills into that little box on a pole down the end of your driveway, it can be used for personal correspondence as well, who would have thunk it!?) from my friends Mum who was also one of my high school teachers and one of my first Facebook friends. She wrote to commend me on my decision to give up Facebook. Receiving a hand written letter drove home the point that I am going to enjoy the next month and a bit!