Do tell, if so.
Self-abnegation.
Celebacy?
Okay, I’m not Catholic. But I’d take it up if it would result in getting some mack from a befreckled mic-girl.
Well, a man can dream, can’t he?
Stranger
I’m thinking of giving up beer. I’ll be giving up something I enjoy, but I’ll still be able to drink at social functions, so it’s not as harsh as completely giving up booze.
Desert/sweets and french fries. Used to be desert and booze, but booze can be good for you.
No, I’m not using my religion to go on a diet (OK, well, maybe a little…) :o
But these are things that are a not insignificant sacrifice for me. The health effects are a fringe benefit.
A trick I’ve found that makes lent particularly meaningfull is to offer a small prayer everytime you have a craving.
I don’t observe Lent, but every year I give several items up for Lost.
Instead of giving something up this year, I’m going to try to take up my prayer life again. I’d been devoting an hour a day to prayer, but I sort of fell out of it. I’ve lost my spiritual connection, I don’t know how. But I do know that there is a direct correlation between the effort I put into it and what I get out of it. And being lazy hasn’t made me feel any better. So for Lent I’m going to renew my spiritual commitment.
StG
Does giving up religion count?
what about giving up lent for lent?
or would that cause some form of paradox…
I should give up chocolate. That’d be a real sacrifice for me. But I’ve tried before and I feel even worse when I fail.
I don’t give anything up for Lent. I just try (and usually fail) to get to mass every morning.
I think for Lent I’ll finally stop reading your name as having an i.
I’m planning to give up smoking - but not to give it up as a “just for Lent” kind of thing.
I need to quit anyway, especially since my dad has recently been informed that the cancer he had radiation treatments for two years ago is back. They’re doing surgery Thursday, and expect to take either half or all of his larynx. That’s got me fairly scared, and knowing I need to quit…well, part of me figures that if I give it up for Lent, I can give it up for good.
I haven’t been attending Mass for a couple of years, so I’m also thinking about making the effort to find a church - either Catholic or Episcopalian - where I live now and getting involved again.
Usually, junk food, but not by choice. My mother, who buys all the groceries, just stops buying that stuff during Lent. I kind of pity Dad though. I’m Catholic (though I barely identify with the religion anymore), but he isn’t.
I’m living on my own now for eight months of the year, so I don’t really observe Lent myself. I will be giving up most of my frivolous spending (except for a little on food on those days I miss two meals due to classes), but that’s because I need to financially.
Nope. Just infinite recursion.
Stranger
Drinking from public horse troughs.
Are there so many of those around that you often feel tempted? 
Generally, Lenten best practice is not to talk about what one is giving up, before, after or during.
Yes. Complaining. Or at least I’m going to try to cut down.
I’m going to start doing a daily rosary again, too.
Your’re quite right. I had thought about it, but decided that the relative anonymity of the Dope was enough cover. Besides, I think this thread can be a good exchange of ideas and points of reflection.
For example, StGermain’s post really hit home for me. My prayer life has been sucky to say the least over the past year, and I’ve hardly cracked open Scripture on my own for the longest time. I think I will try to follow his(?) example and make an effort to pray and read some psalms and maybe a chapter before bed, as well.