It seems it's that time of year again; today is Ash Wednesday . . . Perhaps you recall last year's harrowing tale of my dependency issues with sugar. In the end, I made it through my Lenten promise to forgo my fix of choice, however, not without some serious withdrawal symptoms and stockpiles of dried mango. I'm due to make another sacrifice for the next 40 days, and I could use the astute feedback of my readers. Any suggestions? Will you be giving up anything for Lent? Not Catholic? How about supplying the straight dope on how you're faring with last month's New Year's resolutions?C'mon friends, give up the goods on giving up your vices. What habits have you successfully kicked? How did you do it?
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Well, I'm a refugee from a catholic childhood (I still shudder at the sight of nuns).
For some reason I tend to do a good bit of spiritual cleansing around this time of year. It's not truly adhering to the concept of Lent but I generally like to relinquish the things that have bothered me. Start Spring anew without anger or regret. If there's a sacrifice to be made then I offer up my demons so to speak.
-mostly I'd like give up guilt but there's that catholic background...
So I am somewhat familiar with those whole giving something up for lent- or at least have heard about through people I used to work with.
Now, given that my job as a nutritionist is essentially to tell people to give something up for a period of time (and it is usually something they love cause we all crave our worst poisons)- I have found it to be far more effective to go with the positive instead of the negative. Instead of "No More Coffee", how about "Drink more green tea". Instead of no more sugar crisp cereal, more oatmeal. Instead of no sugar, eat more greens. The positive always works better.
It is in our nature that as soon as we are told (or tell ourselves) that something is off limits, it becomes all we want.
Though adding something in, may go against the giving something up tradition around lent- just seems a more positive spin on it.
Our priest gave a great bit of advice. He said that Lent is a tool to help us wrestle with our personal demons and faults. One year I gave up swearing (in theory). I think I now swear less (or maybe not). I have done the sugar and cheese deprivation a few times, with various degrees of success, none of it permanent.
This year, I'm giving up resentment. This one will be a mighty struggle, on par with Jacob and the angel. I'm adding regular exercise, trying to establish it as a habit. I'm also taking piano lessons, to feed my soul.
Adding something is just as good - the idea is to use Lent to polish ourselves, to take an actual allocated time to do some of the things we've been feeling we "ought" to do. Is sugar holding you back? Anger? A sedentary lifestyle? Do you need to go back to school - now's the time to apply! Have you been wanting to do some kind of public service? Why not go ahead and do it now.
I'm giving up people pleasing.
Anonymous- that's brilliant. Although you don't care what I think, nor anyone else- ha! Bravo! Good luck.
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