First Iteration
My first serious go at Secular Monasticism was in the early 1990s. I didn’t have a computer, cellphone, or internet. Back then, I turned off my radio, cancelled my phone service, and listened to a handful of ancient music CDs available at the Public Library.
Times are different, but my goals are the same. My habit before this dive back into Monasticism was the following:
- follow the news cycle compulsively through the day
- While scrolling mindlessly, also post 3-5 times daily on Facebook including political rage, ‘smart’ snarky memes, and adorable pictures of animals.
- Youtube for SNL and melodeon music
- Streaming music for background in the house. Renaissance, Gregorian Chant, folk, blues, and jazz.
- The internet for answers and ideas for creative projects, shopping, and living.
My adjusted program will be as follows:
- Reduce news to a morning scroll of the headlines and reading 1-3 compelling articles.
- Reduce Facebook to once per month, near the end of the month. Post an informative and personal update to friends, and check the profiles of a handful of close, supportive friends and my son.
- Reduce the streaming music’s scope to pre-industrial revolution compositions and music that relates directly to my accordion playing. Much of more modern music is a reflection of the unproductive stressors that I am attempting to filter, or romanticizes codependence and neediness in social interaction. Maybe I’ll allow myself some Chopin if I’m feeling moody.
- Regarding my use of YouTube, I’ll keep up with using at a resource for my melodeon playing. Regretfully, I think the political satire that I enjoy on SNL, although validating, fires me up and contributes to some unhealthy cortisol levels. There’s a historical food and cooking channel that I will continue to watch. I think drawing upon that in my kitchen can help me feel connected to a deeper history.
- I’ll continue directed, purposeful use of the internet, but will be more mindful of clickbait and surfing. My online shopping habits tend to be functional and keep me home, so I don’t need to adjust there much.