I have heard this question more times than I expected this week.
Note – I grew up Catholic and spent 20+ years in Catholic schools, so I am no stranger to Lent.
But I am surprised to hear so many non-religious types having the discussion. However, I think that perhaps we can go about it a different way.
Sure, you can give up soda for 40 days (Do you still drink it on Sundays? Sundays don’t count in the 40 days, after all). But if your plan is to just go back to drinking soda on Easter, then what’s the point?
At some point during that 20 year education (likely somewhere in the first 9 years), I was told that instead of just giving something up as a sacrifice, try to do something to better yourself or someone else. Start a new habit, one that you plan to stick with.
If you’re health minded, maybe that’s no eating after 8pm or taking 10,000 steps a day (which now that I type that, seems like a good idea). Maybe you think you could be a nicer person and so your goal is to be nicer to that really annoying coworker. Maybe you’re going to clean off your desk at the end of every work day.
Sure, the idea of giving something up for Lent is one of sacrifice, but why not make it a positive change?
I love the idea of starting a new habit and that is actually the direction I was leaning but I have also been wanting to kick my coffee habit a bit so I went with taking out coffee…ugh…I know it is going to be tough, next year I choose to start a new, positive habit. 🙂
I gave up sweets once for lent in college, but then I thought that the reason I did it was for my own health, not for Christ, so then I figured that was pointless! I was not raised Catholic, so don’t really even know the ins and outs of lent, but I do believe in God and Jesus, so I think I am going to try to do something to better my relationship, like read the bible more or something like that…and of course try to keep it up after the 40 days too!
Sarah (Shh…Fit Happens) recently posted…A minute is a long time, or is it?
I am planning to give up snacking on unhealthy things during the day — since I work from home there’s sometimes more um..crap in my space than there should be. So not buying/eating it in the hopes that 40days will make a habit.
Also more walking the dog – I’d been slacking a LOT lately since I was injured and it was just too painful to walk him!
More working out.
And so it’s not all about me, I read this this morning, I am going to find 40 ways to do good for someone else – donating items or time, helping outside, carrying groceries…another thing that I hope becomes a better habit.
Anne recently posted…Wine and Dine? Yes Please!