Sarah Doherty

Always thinking. Always dreaming.

  1. Cupertino Symphonic Band Concert in the Park

  2. Paradise in Tulum

  3. Lent and Amazon

    Lent is the forty day period of the liturgical year leading up to Easter.  This is a time of prayer, reflections and sacrifice.  Each year I try very hard to find something to sacrifice during Lent but to no avail.  I remember my mom telling me how she gave up the using the backs of chairs for Lent as a way to constantly remind herself about what Jesus endured for our sins.

    A few weeks prior to Lent I had a friend tell me I would never be able to survive living outside of the United States because I wouldn’t have my “precious” Amazon.  Although I used Amazon in college, since moving out to the Bay Area over four years ago and signing up for Amazon prime which bundles free 2-day shipping for all packages, I have become quite addicted.  Tooth brush heads, mascara, books, CD’s, undergarments.  You name it, I’ve probably purchased it on Amazon.  And therefore it seemed like the perfect sacrifice over Lent.

    First thing, I made it.  I allowed myself one purchase on Amazon through Lent, which was a digital camera for my sister’s birthday.  All other items were either canceled or not purchased.

    This exercise taught me a lot about my consumerist habits and the changes that I would like to embody moving forward into April:

    1. I can buy things in physical stores.  It’s not scary.  Meeting people is wonderful  and I can endure the CA  tax hike.
    2. I don’t need most of the things on Amazon.  I  have too much as it is.
    3. I spend a lot of time on Amazon just perusing random products that I don’t need and/or don’t really want.  It’s an Internet addiction and phenomenon, dare I say similar to Twitter or Facebook.
    4. We are very blessed to live in the United States where prices are low and we can get relatively anything we want within a few short days notice.  There are many countries that do not have these benefits and instead are taxed with high shipping charges and import fees.  Be thankful.

    So what will come next?  I think I’ll still buy things on Amazon.  With family and friends dispersed all over the United States (and the rest of the world) the ability to ship items directly is a wonderful feature.  I do think I will try to embrace my local community a bit more and lay off some of my consumerist habits.

  4. Paella

  5. Just Another Wednesday Night

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