"Seven is the true sory of how Jen (along with her husband and her children to a varying degrees) took seven months, identifited seven areas of excess, and made seven simple choices to fight back against the modern-day diseases of greed, materialism, and overindulgence."
The theme of the months are clothes, shopping, waste, food, possessions, media and stress. I read the first couple chapters and since there is no real order in the months I chose to start with the media month. I have been wanting to to a sort of "media fast" for a while - so it was perfect timing. For the month of November I would be giving up seven things:
1. facebook
2. instagram
3. pinterest
4. tv (news, shows, etc)
5. movies
6. radio in the car (except npr, sermons, worship)
7. games (entertainment apps)
I am about halfway through and I am realizing my life is so full of noise and the urge to constantly entertain myself. At the stoplight, on the bus, when I wake up, when I go to bed. We don't know how to be quiet anymore. I loved when I was in Africa and I would look forward to quiet yoga sessions in my room and reading before bed. But this isn't Africa. And I actually went to South Africa with my mom and I couldn't do it. I coudn't just read or have a conversation for seven days. We watched a couple movies. I watched movies on the 17 hour plane ride! I've definitely failed a few times.
On top of the noise and time thing I know I find a lot of identity in facebook or instagram. Posting cool pictures of my travels, getting likes, being invited to things. Where does my value come from? Is this "stuff" that I am filling up my time with making me more loving, patient, kind? Can I hear my own thoughts anymore? When was the last time I blogged? Ha. I dont think that I have to quit facebook and movies but I want to be less glued to my phone. And have better face-to-face time with people. We say we don't have time for things but when we take away all the fillers we have more than enough time. Time to listen.
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