OK, this made me laugh.
I am giving up something that will be very difficult for me, something that I love unconditionally, something that is an everyday part of my life:
cheese
Wish me luck.
mmm
Dear God, MMM, I’ll be praying for you.
StG
Well, my first thought is “Oh crap, does this mean I’ll be hearing that stupid McDonald’s Filet-o-Fish song for the next month?”
My second thought is I’m not sure what makes sense to give up. I’ve already cut a lot of “bad” things almost completely out of my life. I rarely drink soda anymore, I don’t eat potato chips except at other people’s parties (and I don’t go out much!), and I’ve been pretty good about avoiding desserts. I want to give something up for a reason, not just to prove to myself that I can deprive myself of something.
The only thing I can come up with is coffee, but that might kill me. I’d be ok most days, but when I have to work the weekend and wake up at 5am (instead of my usual 9am), I’m not sure I could survive the drive without some caffeine to keep my eyes open.
Many participate in Operation Rice Bowl
Last year, my SO and I gave up meat/dairy/eggs for Tuesdays and Fridays during lent. It was an interesting experiment, and the bit you mention was certainly the hardest for both of us. It might be easier to give up garlic.
Antigen, can you take up a good habit instead of giving up a bad one? Maybe daily flossing? An hour a week reading to old people?
Last year I gave up chocolate - that was TOUGH. I thought about giving up diet coke this year (Lord help me) or perhaps sweets altogether. Yeah, I’m thinking sweets. And I’d like to take up doing 20 minutes per day either: meditating/yoga/reading/journal writing, etc. Something for internal nourishment.
The past two years, I’ve given up alcohol. I would allow myself an exception for St. Patrick’s Day, and on a good friend’s birthday party (always seems to be on a Saturday in Lent) I would watch the clock and wait until midnight so I could say, “Sundays don’t count!” and have a drink. I’m giving up alcohol again this year, but no cheating. For me, it needs to feel like a real sacrifice.
This year I’m thinking of adding cigarettes to the list. I’m a social smoker, and one thing I realized I was doing in Lents past is sitting in the bar with friends, drinking diet Coke and smoking way more than I ever do. Giving up cigarettes will be doubly hard, and is something I should do anyway. Kind of like ‘sweat lodge’ mode for 40 days.
I’m trying to think of something spiritual to add, too. Lately I’ve been trying to learn more about the saints, so maybe I’ll work on that. I also want to try to get to confession more often.
I’m not sure yet. My wife is going to give up chocolate, but chocolate’s not a big deal for me, I can easily do without.
I may give up soda, or switch to diet.
One year I took up doing extra housework instead of giving something up. I took up doing extra housework cheerfully. It was interesting and very good for me. Last year our housemate gave up getting mad about petty things. Lots of options. You can also take up acts of charity or mercy, volunteer somewhere or try to get to daily Mass or decide to hold doors for everyone or smile at people on the bus (they then get the benefit of telling people, “There was this weirdo on the bus who was grinning at me…”).
LiLi giving people a “weird person” story to tell. Now that’s an act of kindness! 
This year I will say Morning and Evening Prayer (Episcopal here) every day, attend the Friday Lenten services at church and make use of Anglican Prayer Beads (Episcopal for The Rosary) to meditate two or three times a week. I am also stepping up my donations to a local charity that runs a soup kitchen/food pantry and am encouraging friends to donate as well. In additon I’ll do the usual meatless Fridays.
I actually read a Caryll Houselander quote about acting a little nuts as an act of charity because it might brighten someone’s day. I can do that.
Well, I’m all “ashed up” and ready to go.
There was a big crowd, as usual, this morning.
I’m giving up donuts, cake, brownies, etc. You’re not supposed to use the Lenten fast to diet, but I do feel that I’ve been overdoing those items a lot of late - maybe not to the point of gluttony, but perhaps somewhat gluttonous – and so I’m doing it more for the mental, or spiritual, if you prefer, benefit. If I shed a couple of pounds in the process, so much the better.
I have just a little more than an hour to cheese up.
Goodbye, gouda. Ciao, cheddar. Adios, adelost. Bye-bye, bleu.
See y’all in 40 days.
mmm
Ok, here we go…don’t say anything fun while I’m gone
Since I’m going away for a conference tomorrow morning, I’m probably not going to goto Mass on Ash Wednesday, unless I make a frantic B-line from the airport to a local Church. Which I feel mildly bad about.
But I digress. I’m giving up coffee and caffeinated tea. Strictly tisane for Lent. Although, since I’m told you’re allowed days off on Sunday, I may indulge on coffee on Sunday morning. Frankly, since I have anxiety issues and easily get the shakes anyhow, this move is probably for the better, anyhow! But I am going to miss my lattes. 
My wife has decided she wants to try and give up meat the entire period.
That means I’m going to have to as well. It’s going to be a fun 40 days.
I’ve always treated both things as unrelated. I’d been pondering the question of whether it was because all those years where the money being saved (if any) wasn’t saved by me were followed by years where I was living on bologna sandwiches and their ilkl and had to come up with something else to give up - if I’d been able to find anything to give up which meant significant savings, I would have done it year-round.
But the subject was mentioned in last Sunday’s sermon and the priest didn’t link the two notions of “abstinence and fasting” and of “doing more charitable work”, either.
Short answer, I don’t and hereabouts you’re expected to do more charity works than usual but the expectation is not directly linked to the fasting.
OK…I’m going to try giving up mindless surfing. I spend way too much time procrastinating by going through a bunch of sites, looking for new stuff. We’ll see what I get done instead…
Also, for those of you who are going veg for Lent: try the Meatless Monday site for recipes. Some sound odd to me, but some sound really original and good.
Thanks, gardentraveler! I was just telling my husband that I want to come up with something other than spaghetti with marinara sauce this year!
My desire for Lent is to show more patience with my kids. Not sure how that translates to something specific, though.