What are you giving up for lent?

[chchchia]

I’m still trying to figure it out, thoughts, ideas?

[jewel]

I try to give up one thing and add one thing.

I usually give up soda, chocolate, or fast food. Last year I added the bag challenge (get rid of 1 bag of stuff per day - sell, donate, or trash). In the past, I’ve added various other organizational goals, exercise, house projects, and work stuff.

This year, I will somehow incorporate yelling at my kid a bit less. I have a newborn (not the kid I’m yelling at, lol) and am nursing, so I’m not really interested in any kind of food restrictions. Maybe less TV or phone time for myself, or more outside time.

[minionkevin]

Practicing Catholicism. I’m only partway joking. I don’t want to go meatless on Fridays (low carb diet and I don’t like fish), I haven’t gone to church in ~6 months, and DH is completely over it.

[bugandbibs]

I always do the 40 bags in 40 days. Some of it is getting rid of stuff in my house, some are bags of food to the food pantry at my kids' school, and some are service projects we do with Homeless Connect. For me, Lent is about focusing on others and giving of myself. I do follow traditional Catholic food restrictions.

[fumbalina]

Complaining. It is harder than it sounds. I have done it before, but I prefer to do something that actually makes a difference. Giving up a food, meat, etc. does not really give you time or energy for reflection which is part of the idea behind giving something up. I have considered adding something, but I don't have any ideas of what that might be at this point.

[kayl84]

Alcohol. Ok that’s a lie. I’m actually going to give up boredom eating. I think it’ll help me a lot. Or just buying junk food. I’m also trying to eat pescatarian, so it’ll help cut out a lot of meat. I just need to figure out a healthy and affordable way to do it. I think only the wealthy are skinny. Ugh.

[redheadk]

DD is really into riding her bike and we have an entrance to a beautiful trail through the woods literally 2 houses from us. Instead of giving something up, we're going to start taking a 30 minute or so walk/ride in the afternoons on the days she doesn't have activities after school. I think it will be nice to spend time together and it's also a good opportunity for quiet reflection.

[dianecourt]

I try to give up the snooze button and I like the idea of 40 bags in 40 days. Maybe I'll try that this year. Once in a truly dedicated moment I went to mass for each of the 40 days. Thank goodness for St Peter's in the Loop where mass was like 30-35 minutes max! It was a very peaceful and reflective time during my day.

[livinitup]

When my DD was doing her 1st Holy Comunion year, she gave-up sweets/desserts. She was really serious about it. My mother thought I was a monster.

This year, she is giving-up a particular brand of chips. Oh, how the Catholic loop-hole slide starts early.

I am going to take her to services and ashes before school on Wednesday. That was always interesting to me, as a kid. Since itsValentines day, H made a reservation for Sushi. I don’t think he made the lent-no-meat-connection, since he mainly thought it’s a treat for DD and me. I am looking forward to it. And oddly guilty at the lack of sacrifice. Technically.

[Jillaroo]

Last year I gave up facebook, and I think I will give that up again.

I'm not even Catholic, but the month or so I didn't facebook felt really good. I had more time on my hands to get other stuff done and I spent less money.

[SomeNights]

I'm less of a "give up" for Lent person, and more of a "take up," but one of my friends posted about how she does these practices for Lent and it looks interesting.

www.thecommonrule.org/

It has both daily and weekly habits it encourages, and seems like it has some cool potential. One of the habits it encourages is limiting yourself to 4 hours of streamed media per week, which will definitely be a stretch, but I'm hoping will be a good "reset." My Netflix watching has gotten a bit out of control.

[insominac]

I’m going to give up bad snacking food - chips and popcorn. Ugh - that is going to be really hard for me - maybe even harder than my first lent when I gave up all forms of liquid except water.

I’m going to add journaling/prayer and do an act of service a week.

[Eagles]

Chocolate. It's my biggest weakness.

I'll miss HRH Queen Dick I, Orphan when she leaves us.

[broadsheet]

I give up Target each Lent. Harder than it sounds!

[venice2007]

Chocolate and Diet Coke

[lilafowler]

GBCN

[ellipsis]

Amazon (new this year) and taking the elevator/escalator (I do this every year). I'd love to give up processed sugar, but my birthday falls right in the middle of Lent, so I don't see that happening.

[VillainV]

Chocolate, soda, and swearing. And maybe social media (that one would be the hardest for me).

[esdreturns]

I'm an atheist but I really like the 40 bags, 40 days idea. I might give that a try.

[cabbagecabbage]

I’m agnostic but I’ve been contemplating a social media/phone play break for a while and it scares me. So it means I probably really need it.

[wambam]

The wrong answer: this is my first time not observing Lent. It’s weird, but I’m glad.

[HRH Queen Dick I, Orphan]

Feb 12, 2018 6:53:59 GMT -5 lilafowler said:

GBCN

[salsaverde]

diet coke and red med. also downloaded the best lent ever app for the first time last year and i enjoyed the videos, etc.

[atlas]

I'm doing a Thanksgiving to New Year's Day type thing and running at least 1 mile every day. Running means faster than 14 minutes. I work out a lot, but I need to get myself back to running regularly.

I will probably try to keep alcohol low too. But that is more just an extension of my February goal.

[zaneyzoo]

I also try to add/remove something in my life.

The past 3 years, each day during lent, I write a note to a female who is important in my life and just tell them that and mail it to them. Who doesn't like mail? I say a little prayer for them too.

I think I may add going to the gym an extra day to see how I do - I go 3 days/week now.

I am going to work on being more positive in general and not yelling, which I feel like I've done a lot lately

And cutting out frivolous spending

[BaliHai]

I'm non-practicing, but I am going to try to give up frivolous shopping since I really need to do that anyway.

[wambam]

Feb 12, 2018 12:51:08 GMT -5 salsaverde said:

diet coke and red med. also downloaded the best lent ever app for the first time last year and i enjoyed the videos, etc.

My mom dragged me to a Dynamic Catholic (the group that created this program) event on Saturday night. I sat in a wood pew for 4 hours and couldn't turn my head the next morning, my neck was so jacked up. That's besides the point. The guy speaking had some good things to say, even though I am not religious anymore. You know, if you could get past his frequent pokes at mental illness, which were really uncomfortable.

[miso]

Nothing.

I'm simply looking forward to discounted Filet o' Fish sandwiches.

[tacokick]

Feb 12, 2018 13:02:34 GMT -5 miso said:

Nothing.

I'm simply looking forward to discounted Filet o' Fish sandwiches.

LOL. I was just thinking that. Hello, $2 FO’F.

[gummybear]

I usually don't give something up, I try to do something good. And I always forget about meatless Fridays. I'm the worst.
I'm going to try to yell less and have some reflective prayer time every day.