Skip to main content

Year Two, Day 258: Abstinence

I am wide awake, brewing some Earl Grey tea and getting ready for my day. It is 7:20 a.m. and I even have my face on!

At my age, I feel naked without a little eyebrow pencil on. My eyebrows started disappearing when I hit menopause.

I am feeling good this morning.  In my quest to add more time to my life by waking up earlier, my standard mode of operation has been to hit the snooze alarm several times and then grab my cell phone. First thing I would do would be to check Facebook to see what my friends were talking about.

Then I would get irritated, and annoyed.  I would then go over to Words with Friends and try to conquer my son-in-law. I have only beat him once. I would feel my adrenaline surge.  And finally, when I score a victory against a friend, I would hop out of bed and curse myself for wasting so much time.

Essentially get up on the wrong side of the bed.

This morning I decided to refrain from looking at social media or even playing an online game.  I did hit the snooze a few times. But then I grabbed my phone and looked over the breaking news.  Nothing earthshaking, so I got up, stretched, took a shower, put on my face and here we are!

Something about abstinence has always lifted my spirits. Perhaps it is my Catholic upbringing. I remember as a child, worrying about what to give up for Lent. I was especially worried that if I broke my resolve and ate that potato chip during Lent, that God would punish me.

Later in life, I embraced fasting, abstinence, celibacy. I prided myself on not being dependent on any THING to get me through life.

And as my spiritual walk with God deepens, I find giving up material things, behaviors, even thought patterns, just opens my heart up for a closer relationship with Him.

I have been focusing on the fruits of the spirit to keep me on track. When my mind wanders to negativity, I bring it back thinking of three of the fruits:  "Love, Joy and Peace".

I do not experience Love Joy and Peace when I look at posts on Facebook lately. I experience, anguish, headaches, stress and bitterness.

I am not going on a complete social media fast.  Afterall I do like my friends to read this blog!

Just abstaining in the morning. I think limiting it to bus rides would suffice. Note: I will be posting my blog link online before I leave.  Just keeping it transparent. :)

I will be leaving shortly for my church job. Today I will be alone in the office. The pastor left me her cell phone number and several contacts from church members if I need help. But I think it will be a good day to get familiar with the computer program and research how things are done. I am looking forward to some nice
solitude.

I am an introvert. I do my best work alone!

That said, I do seek balance. I love my family friends and students. But three hours alone working on a computer away from social media is probably just what I need right now!

So, I wish you all a Happy Tuesday!

I have a bus to catch and a job to do!

Love, Joy and Peace

Zita

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Year Two, Day 307: Chasing Away The Gloomy Weather...with Music and a Smile! :)

It seems to me that most of the city is depressed, tired and sick. I still have my low grade snuffly nose, along with sneezing, and itching eyes.  Low energy. It is nice to know I am not the only one. Misery loves company, don't you know! Even through the gloom, I had an enjoyable day.  I told myself several times that I really am a lucky woman. My kids are grown, I'm going to be a GRANDMA, and I love my work. My church job is a nice secure little job and it seems I am quite needed there.  I am still learning the ropes. But I am enjoying it. Meeting new people. And best of all, I have only a 1 1/2 minute commute (by foot!). I have a cozy little room in a household full of wonderful laid back people.  People who love animals and music. But best of all, my afternoons are filled with music. I basically get on the bus and travel about town, sitting at pianos, visiting with students, who are like my family. We talk. They play the piano for me. I offer pointe...
Post a Comment
Read more

Year Three, Day 110: I Like Change, But How Do I Help the Suffering?

I woke up in a bit of a panic this morning. I had planned on getting to the track by 6:30 a.m., because I thought today was the first day of school. You see, the public is not allowed to use the track when school is in session. Understandably so. But alas, I overslept! I still headed out with my hoop, hoping it was before school hours at 7:30 a.m. And I breathed a sigh of relief. The school looked vacant. And only one solitary jogger with her solitary dog was present. I got busy in case the kids were due to arrive. Got a nice hoop workout in. No sign of children as I walked back to the house. So I did what I should have done in advance. I consulted Google. And most happy am I - North Clackamas School District does not start back to school until September 6th! Portland Public Schools start today. But the elementary school next door to the track lists "student hours" as 7:45 - 2:00 p.m. So I really am going to have to get an earlier start next week. I am aiming...
Post a Comment
Read more

Year Two, Day 201: "I"

Before my first meeting with "I" I had a wonderful first date last night! We had a lot on common. The conversation flowed easily. We laughed. It was so lovely, that I think I shall not blog about him. Not yet anyway. I am just going to call him "I". I like I. 😉 Today was a long, wonderful family day. Went to church with my daughter and son-in-law. Very powerful, uplifting service. After that we went to the horse races. Had a blast. Broke even. Essentially had a free lunch and four hours of entertainment. After the horses, we had yet another Thanksgiving dinner at my niece's place. It was her first turkey. It was amazing! But thank God I had enough willpower to resist the pie! Tomorrow I go for my first physical therapy appointment. Tuesday it is back to the gym!! Happy Sunday!
Post a Comment
Read more