We need to learn how to garden.  

Self-sufficiency is underrated in the modern millennia. With seemingly endless resources and options, food is cheap (in quality) and expensive in itself. It’s no secret that our favorite food brands are poisoning us with unnecessary and harmful ingredients and preservatives, so why don’t we take things back into our own hands?  

Not only that, but while buying all your food at the grocery store or ordering it online is convenient and a triumph of human industrialization; I am growing fond of the opinion that we don’t appreciate our food anymore. We lack the perspective of what it takes to foster the growth of healthy produce, and what we need daily to survive. Additionally, food waste today is excessive. According to the American Farm Bureau Federation, “A whopping 40% of all food grown and produced in the U.S. is never eaten.” Perhaps it might be helpful for us to scale back these more corporate food productions and take on more independence in producing our own food. If you produce a portion of your own food, you are able to focus realistically on what is necessary to sustain your family, rather than living a life of excess and buying three different types of chips when you could opt for something healthier and enjoyed frugally.  

I think that if we directly had a hand in tending to a garden and were responsible for growing at least some of our own crops, that we would appreciate our food more. Nothing takes away meaning and gratefulness like convenience and greed. Caring for a garden relaxes us. Humans rely on nature for grounding and health whether we realize it or not. Spending time in nature and getting your feet wet or getting some mud on your hands are ways of engaging with life in a tangible, whole, and fulfilling manner.  

Irish playwright, George Bernard Shaw, said it well when he wrote: “The best place to find God is in a garden. You can dig for him there.”  

Granted, not everyone lives in some place where they can grow some of their own food.  What are some simple herbs or indoor veggies that one can grow at home in even the smallest of spaces?  

• Herbs (Parsley, Basil, Oregano, Mint, etc.) 

• Lettuce 

• Strawberries 

• Microgreens 

• Peppers 

• Peas 

I deleted Instagram and YouTube for Lent 

I deleted Instagram and YouTube for 40 days as a part of my 2025 Lenten journey, and I came out of the other side of the tunnel with a few thoughts. The first being, I should have done this sooner. Deleting the two apps made me realize how much time I spent mindlessly using the apps. I realized how I felt tethered to utilizing them (before Lent), even though I had been feeling more like this “addiction” was a burden, and not something I actually enjoyed. Not only was I staring at the screens with no purpose before lent, but during Lent, I realized how many times I opened random apps like my camera roll or the news, purely out of habit of opening Instagram and YouTube so frequently before Lent.  

Deleting the two apps was a weight off of my shoulders. I had an obligation to myself to fill my time with prayer, crafting, or other fruitful experiences like reading and going for walks. Practicing this limited asceticism during Lent gave me guard rails for happier living. By removing these apps from my life temporarily, I was able to understand that they genuinely made me overstimulated and unhappy. This last point is interesting because I have consistently tried to make sure I only followed accounts with purpose, mostly keeping it limited to cooking, farming, or teaching content. Regardless, I discovered that the overstimulating and engaging nature of the two apps were frustrating and boring—despite the constant captivation they present.  

I have so many hobbies and passions that I was able to dedicate more time to because I deleted these two apps. I hope that these quick thoughts may encourage you to consider deleting your own time-suck apps and return to reality.