Addiction by Katie Kimball

It’s official. I’m addicted to the Internet. I realized that I have a problem when I felt shortness of breath and heart palpitations with my panic attack when the news came down this afternoon: My dear, dear husband was toiling to remove a (small) stump today and cut through our phone cable. The Internet would be down until at least Monday. I take a Sabbath from blogging from after dinner Saturday to after dinner Sunday, but Sunday night is vital prep-for-the-week time.

I wanted to Tweet about it right away, but I couldn’t. (*breathe, breathe*) I couldn’t check my email either. Couldn’t touch my to-do list. And good thing I was making a meal for dinner for which I had the recipes on hard copy! I started composing Tweets in my head immediately.

Yup. It’s official. I’ve suspected the addiction for a while, but today I felt the withdrawal. At least admitting I have a problem is the first step toward recovery.

Here I sit, in a bar, using their Wi-fi, with the racket of a nondescript football game in the background. Right over my head, actually. I’m going to eat their French fries, too. They’re cooked in peanut oil (I asked). I think I would have ordered them anyway, but I was kind of hoping for beef tallow. Do you think I’m addressing my addiction appropriately?

I’m actually thankful for this opportunity. It’s going to force me to prioritize (not a skill I possess, unfortunately, except on paper), and I’m looking at it as a blessing to get some good writing time. I really should take an evening a week away from the Internet to write my posts. I would get more done without Twitter yakking at me and the temptation to peek at email, giveaway posts, comments, ETC.

From what do you need to take a Sabbath? Perhaps Advent is the time to give Jesus that Birthday Gift.