What I'm doing during Lent

[rjblue]

So this year I'm trying to consciously be more positive for 40 days, and seek out inspiration.

And on that note- here's my favourite news story of the day.

My new music for the day.

And a nice quote from the author whose book (More Than Human by Theodore Sturgeon) I'm currently reading:

There was so much that you could do, instead of looking for things that you couldn't do.

[Holley Calmes]

Wow...that was fantastic. My very pedestrian giving-up items for Lent are pathetically less poetic. But I am doing without any carbonated beverages, and I'm trying not to snack. Woefully inept in comparison, but still a small sacrifice....Why do I feel like Hugh Grant right now?

Seriously....rjblue...that was a fabulous a sweet touching news story..my heart goes out to that young person.

[rjblue]

I gave up drinking coke once for Lent and I lost about 20 lbs, and I've never gone back to drinking it. So now, if I think about giving up junk food treats, I always feel like I'm using Lent as an excuse to diet, which is a shame, because it really is a good experience making small deprivations as a spiritual exercise.

[Angelskates]

Great, rjblue!

I'm already vegetarian and don't drink soft drinks (ew) but I am supporting a friend fast meat and limit to two coffees a day. I'm fasting coffee, chocolate and cheese.

We're also adding in daily conversation and reflection/meditation/prayer and we're cooking together five times a week, because we're really trying to make a conscious effect to know what we're putting into our bodies and take care of ourselves. We'll probably make it long term, with "restrictions" on the things we're fasting now.

We've also started a swear jar. 10 kuai for every swear word.

Eta: forgot to add that I'm also giving up alcohol. I don't drink much, but the fact I'm fasting it will meet I want it more!!

[Marge_Simpson]

I gave up diet soda for Lent last year, and on Easter morning I discovered I had totally lost my taste for them. I had a 20 oz Diet Doctor pepper waiting for me in the fridge, and poured it out after one sip. It tasted gross.
During Lent I usually do the readings and the recommendations for "Fasting through our clutter", which you can read here:
http://www.americancatholic.org/News.../CU/ac0108.asp

[Angelskates]

Marge, thanks for the link, it's great. I think I'm going to make it part of my daily routine.

[sk8pics]

Nice links.

I have given up chocolate (again) and so of course I already want some. Hopefully I can make it through the whole season without slipping. I also am going to church more --my friend has a 6:30 Mass at his church weekday mornings and it's on the way to work, so I'll stop then. And, a couple years ago I did the 30 day retreat in daily life (Ignatius), and so I am going to take a couple of days a week to do the same sort of prayer. I think once I get into a routine it will be okay, but I'm having trouble working up the momentum to begin with.

[mkats]

My friend has given up talking/posting on FB/obsessing in general about Jeremy Lin.

[PDilemma]

My friend has given up talking/posting on FB/obsessing in general about Jeremy Lin.

A friend of mine gave up her cell phone and the internet last year for about a week before she realized that no one could contact her since she doesn't have a landline. I guess she initially thought we would all be sending her smoke signals. It was really annoying.

[Wyliefan]

So this year I'm trying to consciously be more positive for 40 days, and seek out inspiration.

And on that note- here's my favourite news story of the day.

That is so sweet!!

I'm giving up late nights for Lent. In bed every night by 11 unless I have an unavoidable conflict. I did it last year, and while I hate it, it is good for me!

[Holley Calmes]

Well...I am adding two additional Lenten studies which I read every morning now in addition to my usual devotional books. They're Episcopalian. I was born and raised a Southern Baptist, but left that church many years ago. I do like the idea of giving up something you like a lot as an act of sacrifice and faith. But if I lose a few pounds, that'd just be icing on the cake! No pun intended.

[Marge_Simpson]

So this year I'm trying to consciously be more positive for 40 days, and seek out inspiration.:

I did the "complaint free" thing for Lent one year; following this book, which I would recommend for any time of the year:
http://www.amazon.com/Complaint-Free...0198697&sr=1-1

Craft Hope's latest project is still going on (until March 12) and would be awesome to do for Lent. If you can't knit hats or sew tote bags, you could send goodies to fill the bags. Info here:
http://www.crafthope.com/2012/01/pro...lest-warriors/

[rjblue]

I'm attending a three day self-improvement seminar through work, starting on Monday. Usually even an hour of one of these psycho-babble speakers makes me want to either laugh or cry, and I just want them to go away. This time I'm going to try to overcome my disdain and discomfort, and try to get something out of it.

My happy news story of the day-The longest kidney transplant chain in history.

Some (rare) happy music from my favourite artists. The Civil Wars singing I've Got This Friend.

And this quote from Margaret Atwood made me smile.

If I were going to convert to any religion I would probably choose Catholicism because it at least has female saints and the Virgin Mary.

And on that note, I'm going to go on the internet and look up the lives of a few of the female Saints.

[Cupid]

I've given up wine for Lent.

[KatieC]

I give up chocolates for Lent. Note the plural - too many times I've accidentally had a drink of hot chocolate because my hands were cold. It's the only hot drink I actually drink. Since I don't drink a lot of it, nor do I eat too many chocolate cakes or cookies, I just leave it at chocolates, which to me does include bars and individual. It does include chocolate ice cream - which doesn't fit my scenario at all!

[Angelskates]

And on that note, I'm going to go on the internet and look up the lives of a few of the female Saints.

Be sure to check out Australia's only saint, Mary McKillop, Saint Mary of the Cross. She did a lot of work in my home state

[Louis]

I gave up diet soda for Lent last year, and on Easter morning I discovered I had totally lost my taste for them. I had a 20 oz Diet Doctor pepper waiting for me in the fridge, and poured it out after one sip. It tasted gross.

I don't do Lent or anything religious any longer, but I'll echo this. Diet soda tastes so good when you're drinking it every day. When you stop for 2-3 weeks and start again, it tastes like you're drinking chemicals. (Yet I still drink it. ) It's amazing how much our brain can trick our tastebuds.

I find that candy is like this, too. I have a terrible sweet tooth for sugary candy, like Mike & Ike and Starburst. If I can make it a few weeks without having any, all of a sudden it tastes like disgusting plastic. But if I give in every few days, I keep craving them.

This isn't really for Lent, but I'm giving up Splenda packets and not putting anything in coffee or tea. For years, I poo-pooed the research that artificial sweeteners trick your brain into craving sugar, but now that I'm giving it an honest chance, I think there may be something to it.

[Marge_Simpson]

Oh, Louis, just admit it: you ARE giving it up for Lent!
Before I stopped drinking diet sodas, I used to have wicked headaches several times a week. My coworkers were well used to seeing me pop Advils like they were candy. I had a horrid headache for 3 days straight after stopping the soda, but I haven't had a single one since. Not one. I'm sure it was the artificial sweeteners that was causing them. (It isn't the caffeine because I still drink coffee)

[Lacey]

I gave up chocolate, note the past tense, DH had birthday and we had fabulous dinners 3 nights in a row...including chocolate...I'll restart tomorrow, it has to happen.

[rjblue]

I did get something meaningful out of the seminar. I'm going to read Viktor Frankl's book Man's Search for Meaning. I really would like to embrace his way of thinking.

The one thing you can't take away from me is the way I choose to respond to what you do to me.

And for a feel-good laugh out loud experience- I read The Blogess's entry in her blog about Nathan Fillion, Brian Boitano, twine and spatulas.