What are you giving up for Lent?

wifeofadam · March 2014

I gave up sugar and all grains last fall, so there isn't much left in terms of food for me to give up, plus that's getting too easy for me and I want it to feel like a sacrifice. I guess I could do cheese, since it's one of the only pleasures left in food for me, but meh.

I'm thinking about trying to give up gossip. I keep finding myself talking about/comparing myself to other people, especially with DH, and I don't like it.

What are you guys giving up?

wifeofadam · March 2014

verovladamir said:

I saw this beautiful blog post about veiling at Mass, but since I don't go that wouldn't apply to me. I keep thinking something along those lines, but more of a personal growth type sacrifice, since I'm not terribly religious. I still think Lent is a great time to reflect on what we do and don't need in our lives, you know?

I'm not Catholic, but I can identify with her feelings in the post. When I started covering for church I had many of the same insecurities. I am the only woman at my church that covers.

I did a personal growth one last year. I gave up complaining for the entire Lenten season and it was really good for me. I started looking on the bright side of everything instead of wallowing in the negative. I should probably do that again.

I love your family's idea of giving up something collectively. The kids are too young to really give anything up on their own, I think. It might be fun to do something together. I'm going to have to think about what we could do.

Drea926 · March 2014

May I share?

I'm not participating in Lent, but as I read a lot about Buddhist traditions and practice yoga and in general do a lot of self work, I can relate to personal growth.

I keep an intention journal. Every morning I set an intention for the day. A lot of times it to have more patience (especially when I'm going to work!), sometimes it's to be mindful of my actions, sometimes it's to focus on the present moment or to have gratitude. I actually also create gratitude lists as well.

(I like to chime in on these things from time to time so you don't think I'm a one trick pony.

)

kelly321 · March 2014

I'm debating wine, but am still on the fence about it. I'm also considering adding something like 30 min of devotional time immediately after the kids are in bed and the kitchen is cleaned. That should be a regular part of my routine, anyway, so Lent would be a good time to make myself mindful of it and hopefully establish it as a routine that I continue after Lent.

Before kids, DH decided to give up TV one year without consulting me. And then he expected me to turn off the TV whenever he came in the house /:) I think TV needs to be a collective agreement, not an individual one.

What I really should give up is taking on new jobs (translation and teaching, so freelance) that sound interesting but which I don't have time for and only stress me out. Maybe I could make it a practice to stop saying yes.

Dannysmama · March 2014

I'm debating giving up mindless time wasting - not TB of course - but the other useless stuff like silly apps or tv. I love me some junk tv at the end of the day, but 2 Bravo tv shows and its late evening. Throw in my perpetual insomnia and DS' predawn waking of late and I'm totally beat. Maybe giving up time wasting will help me get back on track with better sleep, working out, and just generally being more productive. Maybe my house will actually not look like a bomb went off for the first time in over a year...

SidraJedi · March 2014

I'm giving up sweets because its a daily habit that i picked up during pregnancy that I need to cut out and lent is a good time to start.

I am also not religious, though spiritual, and do not have a church or spiritual family to belong to. I would love one, but it is so hard to find a place where I feel accepted. I was raised with one foot in the Anglican Communion and one foot in Eastern beliefs similar to Zen Buddism. Subsequently, where I am now is hard to relate to a large group such as a church especially where I live in "the South". Maybe if I were still living in SoCal I would have an easier time finding a church that fit?

Lent is one of my favorite observances! I am sure that I appreciate it so much because I am a minimalist at heart in a society where excess is the norm. Also, the story of Jesus fasting in the desert is one of my favorites.

Poppy523 · March 2014

Growing up my family gave up our time up as a group. We always devoted our time to a charity during Lent and it just so happened that March of Dimes campaigns around that time so every year my mother and I would stuff envelopes and help put together mailings informing people about the organization and how they could help. It was a nice tradition and instead of giving something up as a diet trick (like I am tempted to do sometimes). Personally, I like giving something up, but as a family I like the idea of giving something to others.

I really like the idea of giving up complaining...I need to do that, except that I would really like to complain about my morning sickness sooo....

Gftf7 · March 2014

I dreaded Lent as a kid. Grew to love it as an adult. I started giving something up for Lent as an adult. The first year was ice cream, then chocolate, then caffeine, then 'bad sugar'. I've not done that in a few years. Thanks for starting this thread. I think it is time for me to get back into this and I like time to contemplate and prepare.

ally2011 · March 2014

I am not sure about this year, but one year I read the New Testament in 40 days using this reading plan: https://catholic-resources.org/Bible/Reading-40DaysNT.htm

I might do that again. I am also seriously behind on our church study so need to catch that up too and not sure adding more reading is wise.

Still thinking.

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