I usually practice giving something up for Lent. This year, it occurred to me that rather than just giving something up, I could well, give something, too. I have decided that I will give up sugar, but I also want to be more generous. It may be with my time, with a sincere compliment, with my attention, with a smile or with $, maybe finally muster up the courage to buy someone behind me in line coffee. I’m honestly not entirely sure, but I think that if I approach this time with being mindful of how I can be more generous, the fact that I have no sugar in my coffee may be that much sweeter.
Anyone else?
I haven’t decided for this year, but last year I wrote,”Lenten letters.” I wrote 40 notes (one per day) to someone who was special to me that let them know why they were special to me.
I had not practiced this tradition until more recent years. My best experience was the year i gave up worry for Lent.
Glad to see this post and realize i need to think on this and make a decision quickly.
Lenten letters sound charming. I think I prefer random acts of kindness over giving things up. We shall see.
My new relative in law gave up alcohol and discovered he felt A LOT better so he’s mostly given it up for good (except rare events).
@Hoggirl What a wonderful idea!
@powercropper Yes, Wednesday March 6th this year is upon us. Worry is most definitely something I could give up, too. What to replace it with? Meditation? Prayer? A walk? That could really be a good 40+ days!
@HImom - I gave up alcohol one year and am contemplating doing that again this year.
Yes, my New Years resolutions .
@Meddy Giving up worry made me more intentional to “police” my thoughts. Not “do not worry” but more of “if I start to worry, I choose to reframe my situation”. For me, prayer and rethinking worked well. I was not perfect, but allowed myself to be more aware of my worry and stop it more quickly. That, to me, satisfied my intent to give up worry.
I have only done this once. I do like the idea of giving up bad traits instead of denying oneself sweets or something. I gave up gossip, that was hard. I also like the idea everyone is discussing about doing good for others, which I suppose is being less self involved. I think I might do that this year.
As a family we are giving up complaining and negativity. If we slip, we are keeping the equivalent of a swear jar and then donating the money.
I gave up Lent.
@Hoggirl Great choice!
@conmama Gossip has to be one of the harder ones I would bet. Good for you. That eliminates something and does good at the same time!
@momofsenior1 Complaining. Wow. I’m impressed you have teens that are willing to do that without complaining! :))
@meddy - It was my 18 year old’s idea! Maybe thinking that spring break will be more pleasant with no one complaining ; )
Yeah, I gave up lent when I gave up Catholicism some years ago. I prefer random acts of kindness myself.
I’m giving up all forms of social media, including CC (see you all end of April, or not; I’ll see how I function without it).
It will be painful not seeing my kids’ updates, but I have to believe I will benefit overall. The dirt to gold ratio is pretty high on most sites, giving up time in exchange for advertisements and misinformation for the occasional nugget is wasteful, and my need to search college options is gone completely.
If you want to contact me you have until tomorrow :).
@magnetron you will be missed and I hope you will be back after Easter, even if it is in a limited form because you are enjoying your time in other ways.
I was going to give up College Confidential. But I would probably relapse, have to go to confession and lie to the priest, swearing this site off.
Rinse, repeat.
I am thinking of giving up reading the news. I feel like my mood would be brighter and I would have more mental energy for other things (like reading books).
I am not religious, however, for the last 4-5 years, I’ve taken the challenge to give something up during Lent. Usually, it’s alcohol.
I’m not sure about this year. I’m intrigued by the idea of giving up gossip. Years ago I listened to a Dharma talk where the speaker challenged the audience to stop speaking ill of others (gossip) and to stop trying to “figure people out”. He made everyone in the audience laugh when he said something like, “I know what you’re thinking! There’s going to be nothing to say to one another!”
Gossip seems hard to define!