Ash Wednedays peeps... its the beginning of the Lent season. When I was a kid I often confused Advent and Lent and could never remember which colored candles went when on the wreath on the dining room table. Purple and Red? or Green and Pink? I'm not even entirely sure that the red and green candles were intended for advent or if that was just what my mom had in the house!
A fellow blogger, Frugal Housewife
wrote a great blog on lent details that I never knew or if I did the Easter bunny was too much cooler!
Anyway in about high school I started to take Lent as seriously as I could at that point in my personal evolution. I decided to give up chocolate. It seemed like a challenge and others were impressed with me for doing so (again,,, I was in HS so others opinions were hugely important, sorry!) I made it through the 40 days except for one slip up, that was unconscionable (my friends mom made us cookies and I ate one before asking if it had chocolate chips in it (I couldnt see any) and apparently there were and my friend was like STOPPPP,, which I did).
Since then I've tried various forms of self torture and positive out-givings.
Usually food tends to be the main thing. I have tried (and failed) potatoes, cheese, soda, sugar, chocolate, wine. All in an attempt to push myself outside of my comfort zone. Some worked, most did not.
I do very well with abstaining from Meat on Fridays, and Ash Wednesday. I forget sometimes on these days to fast in between meals, but when I do remember I stop my actions so its all in the effort of trying and being sincere right?
This year my lenten promises are intended to kickstart some better choices that I have had difficulty with this year. I am giving up chocolate again, as I feel it is something I can handle and is worth continuing. I am giving up soda, as everything you read/watch describes how bad it is for your body chemically (the best is when they refer to soda as a 'chemical s%$#show"... I feel like it something I need to reserve for really rare occasions and not leave for mindless consumption and 'filler'. The last thing I'm giving up is Donuts. Its sad but at my office it is very common for donuts to be brought in by others (and often bought by myself too!), and I believe that sometimes the sugar kick from the donuts actually makes it harder for me to make good eating decisions later on in the day/nite.
This year I have also decided to let lent push my workout goals into a commitment and not a 'when I feel like it' (mostly cause I NEVER feel like it). So I'm requiring myself to go 3-4 times from Sun-Sun (per week). Hopefully this will help me create a good habit so that I am healthier and can then help others and give my best person outward to the world!:)
Thats the plan! What is your lenten plan.
Do you celebrate or not?
D
PS.... pic added from my cousin,, lil molly on her first Ash Wed (last year!)
7 comments:
Hey D!
Yes we do celebrate Ashe Wednesday, although this year the mass our church is doing is at 7pm and that is too late for us to bring Molly. But I will miss it, because going to church on his day and getting the ashes always put me in a good mood. I like the full circle that the ashes represent. As you probably know the ashes this year come from the burned palms, from "Palm Sunday" of last year. I like that we remember today by wearing the ashes of days past. That is meaningful to me.
Also, All day long I'd see people with ashes (especially in NYC) and think- they prayed today! Thats kind of neat to know. They are trying to be good people, they are people that want to honor something besides whats real, or valued in this world. And that always gave me a really peaceful feeling.
Speaking of peaceful feelings... wanna see a pic of Miss Molly from last year?
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v304/randomgreenland/Feb-20-25_2009021.jpg
That pic is so cute!
Good luck with your give-ups!
Though I'm a Christian, the churches that I've attended have never talked about giving something up for Lent. So, I never have.
That is the cutest pic ever!!!
awwww little Molly looks so cute and tiny!!! :) I think its great at any time for someone to give up soda, like what you wrote above, its no good!! I heart chocolate so freaking much, especially hot chocolate, I don't think I could give it up, but good luck, you can do it! I think its great too to make a goal of working out 3-4 times per week, its very good for you to keep the body moving, with the winter and the cold, I've been very lax on that and when it gets a little warmer I'm determined to work out to a sweat. Re: lent, I'm not catholic but I did try it once. I went to St. Pats with a friend from work who is Catholic and got ashed, I gave up wine, which was really difficult for me!! but I did it and I found doing the act of getting ashed before as a great motivater for staying away from wine, and man did that first glass of red wine after the 40 days taste delish!! this year I'm not getting ashed but I would like to in general give up stress. I think it is annoying and a habit that provides no good for the self and no positive effect on the world, so although I'm not ashed, thats what I'm giving up...hopefully for awhile, or at least until my sisters wedding:)
I'm not a practicing Catholic, but I do love that lent helps so many people focus on positive changes they can make. My wish is that lent was less about giving up and more about giving back. What better way to celebrate the incredible life of Jesus than by giving back to the communities in which we live...like he did so well. We could, instead of giving up chocolate, hand out chocolate to people on their way to work. We could volunteer to pick up trash on the side of the road, we could pledge more money to the work done by our respective churches - or pledge more to our favorite nonprofit/organization, we could, instead of fasting on Friday, volunteer at a soup kitchen or food bank and provide food to those in need....and really connect with those around us. I may not qualify as a Christian, but I do believe that Jesus set an awesome example for us through his actions. Giving things up just didn't work for me - it didn't help me feel connected to the greater good...I felt committed to the act of making a sacrifice...but I think I would have felt it more meaningful for me to be giving back in some way (and I could have just done that...but I was in HS and it didn't occur to me that I could change the focus for myself). I hope I don't sound too preachy or anything..that's definitely not my intent...I'm just saying what would work better for me LOL...and honestly I could be missing the point of lent entirely given how long I've been away from the church. But all lenten things aside - I'm super glad you're giving up soda!! That's awesome...no matter when you're giving it up or for what...it's just awesome that you are :) You're so right...that stuff is yucky (although I do cave from time to time for the sweet bubbliness). Good luck with everything!
Shannon-I LOVe seeing people with ashes and knowing they prayed and feel good and warm.
Nikki-I havent decided if I'm concerned, upset or amused that you refer to it as being ashed,, and that you were ashed. Not sure.
Laura- I want you to make that a list and then start completing it.. Remind me to give you my address to send me chocolates that I wont eat till Easter!! promise!
Ps... I'm going to work at the food bank cause I agree it should be both giving and witholding,, but its all about finding an inner peace!:)
buffalo catholic, ay? i like, i like.
i always do chocolate and sweets. this year i'm also making sure that i see someone ive been out of touch with at least once a week. there are so many ppl that i've failed and this is a good opportunity to make ammends and start over.
email me. i want to know what you do, where you live etc etc. we might even know eachother (or have ppl in common!!)
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