Ritual #2 - Addiction to Facebook

We sometimes become slaves to the computer (as I must now to do this posting). We also have this burning desire to always "be connected" to what is happening; locally, around the world, and all the goings-on of our family and friends. I check my email daily, `cuz if I don't, it fills up really fast.

Why do I need to check my email? Well, I "may" get an order in for my business (a legit reason, I feel). I also check my personal email; so mostly just my 2 email sites.

Now...enter in Facebook! Yup, I actually avoided the MySpace craze. I felt like I just couldn't get involved since I already had a business to operate. At the time, I thought, "I'm already on the computer with my business and website updates, why would I want to stay on much longer?" Well, I joined the FB family last year. I'm now hooked. It is so easy to just start reading up on long lost friends, check in with the ones I see everyday, and peer in on theo photos of everyone.

So now, along with my 2 different emails, I now need to also check my FB status.

Challenging my addiciton:

I decided to challenge my addiction while on my vacation. I decided to enjoy my vacation and connect with the people I were with. When I went on vacation, I decided to leave my laptop at home to try and avoid the need to be connected. Although that decision was made at the very last minute, I still left it behind. I also did not want to deal with worrying about transporting concerns. Besides my cell phone, I was disconnected for 5 whole days! It felt good; even though some of my cohorts were wired with their ipod, android, htc smartphones. AGH internet access! I wavered daily at the opportunity to check my email and FB status. But thank goodness for those phones because while we got lost a few times, the access for GPS was extremely helpful.

After returning home, I avoided the internet until the next day. Unfortunately, I was on the computer for 6 hours. Deleting the junk and catching up with friends.

How can I justify it? If have a bit of time in the morning, I'll get on-line. And when I began to experience less time in my days, I just began to wake up earlier to get the work done. So who does my addiction hurt? No one. My desire to get on-line doesn't interfere with my life nor does it keep me away from anything. I do not stay up late to use the internet nor do I have a desire to search for things.

I do have the ability to turn everything off and get some well deserved rest; because even though I have the urge to use the computer, I have a stronger urge to sleep.