Some years, I’ve given up CC for Lent, but I don’t spend as much time here as I used to, so it wouldn’t be such a big sacrifice.
This year we are trying to de-junk our house. The idea is to get rid of 40 things each day (6 of us in the house right now, so 6-7 items per person, per day). Donated, re-cycled, or into the trash. Sounds like a lot of items, but there is a lot of stuff in our house. Doesn’t have to be done each day–just total number of items out of here before Easter.
The other thing I’m trying to give up is saying negative things. I have a bad reputation as the Debbie Downer of the family, so I am trying hard not to SAY anything critical–especially to H. I made it through the first day! Waiting to see how long it takes him to notice–if I can keep it up.
There is a hoarder inside every human, we have to find ways to keep him at bay. Good luck to you, may true happiness fills up the space that stuff occupied.
atomic, I like your way of thinking. I call that “doing something for lent” which I think is
much more impactful than the “giving up chocolate” promise.
a friend sent this as suggestions for “doing something” for Lent:
- Fast from hurting words and say kind words
- Fast from sadness and be filled with gratitude.
- Fast from anger and be filled with patience.
- Fast from pessimism and be filled with hope.
- Fast from complaints and contemplate simplicity.
- Fast from bitterness and fill your heart with joy.
- Fast from selfishness and be compassionate to others.
- Fast from grudges and be reconciled.
- Fast from words and be silent so you can listen.
And enjoy chocolate…
I really like this as I’m more a critical person. I also read it takes 30 days to form a new habit, so it’s a win-win. I always thought the chocolate thing wasn’t really the type of sacrifice that is requested.
Yes. Lent is not about making another New Year’s resolution. As an Episcopalian who observes Lent as an important period of our church year, the whole giving up chocolate by people who have no idea what Lent entails bugs me. But I argue that every year and one thing I am doing this year is limiting the stress debating things on the internet causes me because I can be a better person without it.
I am trying to declutter as well. I am aiming for a grocery bag a day. Yesterday I did my shoes, today I will do my hanging clothes, then a drawer at a time in my dresser, then the bathroom, desk, kitchen, etc…
I’m giving up dessert, candy, baked goods, and trail mix.
I’m already surprised by the powerful tug I feel to seek out “a little treat”.
I’m hoping to observe and note those tugs while abstaining, and give some thought as to what other things I can direct my thoughts & energies towards instead of the pursuit of sugary comfort.
I’ve been so sick this past week that I haven’t been able to focus on what to do this year, but I’m feeling a bit better today, and hope to spend some time reflecting about what to give up. Daily prayer has always been such an important part of my life, but since my sister died, it has been too hard to focus on prayers, and I’ve added other commitments to keep my days way too busy to spend time praying. I guess I need to see what time-wasters I have in my daily life that I can remove in order to get back to spending quality time in prayer and reflection. And maybe declutter the garage too so that isn’t weighing on my heart and thoughts.
Thank you for this discussion - it has given me a nudge to participate in Lent, and not find a way to avoid it.
I don’t exercise and am in excellent health despite it (physical last week and I have beautiful bloodwork!) so for Lent I am doing 40 exercises a day - so 40 crunches last night, 40 leg lifts this morning . . .40 of something, anything, to get the ball rolling.
Good discussion topic. Each of our children, my husband and I are clearing one unecassary thing out of our rooms each day. So far, we have brightly colored sunblock, a princess dress, tiara, and ear looker-inner (not sure what that is called) and two watches. We will donate items of good, reusable quality to a local non-profit organization. That’s our almsgiving piece.
We are using praying and abstaining with an effort to grow our relationships with Jesus. In the afternoons, we are praying a Rosary ( we will switch to the Divine Mercy Chaplet about four weeks from now) before any of us engage with electronics, and we are each making some sort of written reflection from the daily Mass readings.
If you are interested, I highly recommend a daily e-mail subscription from Matthew Kelley through the Dynamic Catholic website. The video clips are less than four minutes. He is so motivating.
I’d like to give up Lent for Lent. As a full time pastor who moonlights as a home health aide and does two days a week of chaplain internship I don’t especially like having two added worship services a week.
I don’t give up stuff for Lent. I add things like increasing random acts of kindness and then try to become more self aware in order to avoid sarcastic comments or negative thinking. The point of Lent is to focus less on temporal stuff and more on eternal stuff (which is why I smeared ashes on everyone last night and reminded them they will die).
The current study for our Bible study group is talking about discipleship and forming good habits - reading scripture, memorization, service, prayer, silence/meditation, kind acts, journaling, etc. We all decided to try and pick one of these that spoke to us and to be more intentional about forming this habit during Lent. So I’m wtih @KKmama on this one.
Giving up chocolate is not as sacrificial as giving up gossip or negative thoughts or selfishness. Although if giving up something concrete adds meaning to Lent for you, then that’s what’s important.
My wife is giving up cursing. I have been unable to decide.
I give up wine for Lent. (I rarely drink hard liquor and don’t like beer.) Having a glass or two of wine is something I enjoy, so giving it up is a sacrifice.
I try to go to Stations of the Cross on Fridays during Lent. I usually make each one but have had a time or two when something came up and I just couldn’t.
So, I’ve got one giving up and one doing extra.
I am giving up playing Cookie Jam on my computer. I do allow myself to go to the site once a day and get the free spin for free stuff, but I am not going to play on my computer. I also have it on my I-pad. I will only play that when we go on long trips and I am bored. I am also giving up desserts.
Giving up chocolate is not really about the chocolate (or whatever treat) it is about doing something that helps you remember to feed your soul instead of your body. Typically, in our tradition, giving up treats is more for helping kids learn about sacrifice.
Things I have done in the past…tuned my car radio (my commute each day is over 2 hours total) to the Catholic radio station rather than the Sports or Talk stuff that I usually hear.
Given up meat for the entire Lent. Mrs. T has outlawed that practice in the future. Apparently it makes me grumpy.
Recently, I have just been trying to be the me that He wants me to be. Every day try to deny myself a bad habit or harsh word. Try to forgive the driver that cut me off in that moment rather than weeks later.