a week without reading, blogs, or even facebook!

i am currently reading a book with a friend called the artist's way.  it is about reconnecting with the creativity within us with the understanding that creativity is a gift for each of us from our creator.  each week i have certain tasks that i can choose from in addition to my weekly routine of an artist date (something to feed my artist child) and daily morning pages (three pages of stream of consciousness writing that i write and don't look at again).

this past week the main part was reading deprivation.  the theory is that reading can be life-giving, but can also be used to take up time so that we don't do other things to nurture our creative selves.  so, this week i took a break from reading.  i still read email, as it comes with my job, but i took a break from reading books (at the gym, before bed, at home, on my day off, etc.), reading blogs (news and friends'), and reading (or even just seeing) anything on facebook.

i think the biggest difference was honestly the blogs and facebook.  i realized this week how much i rely on a few blogs and facebook to keep up with the news and to keep connected with other people.  i had gotten into such a habit of checking my emails and automatically checking facebook, that i found myself about to open a new tab for facebook on several occasions.  as i got used to not opening a tab for facebook, i had more time.  i had so much time this week that i already have a draft of my newsletter article and my council report for this month done, in addition to having started on my three month report and project proposal for candidacy.

i also have limited internet in the parsonage, and since i didn't have much need for it without facebook or blogs, i found myself not even trying--no longer spending the wasteful minutes to see if the internet was strong enough.  instead i listened to music, colored, knitted, and went to a movie.

my saturday was wonderfully free so that i could spend time having coffee with a friend and doing what i wanted.  the break was much needed and while i can't stay away from facebook forever (it is a good way to keep tabs on the people i care about all over the world), it was a welcome sabbath and i look forward to doing it again from time to time.  have you had a sabbath lately?