I am another non-religious type that has participated (??) in Lent the last 5 or so years. I consider it a nice will-power challenge and the finite period is already preset for me.
Every year (until this one) I’ve given up salty snacks and one year I gave up salty snacks and diet Pepsi. I’ve proven to myself that I can do this, and easily, so this year I wanted to really challenge myself.
So, I gave up cursing. I do this as naturally as breathing, so I knew it would be a challenge. I did make it longer than your Grandboss. I made it a full 24 hours before dropping my first F-bomb.
I’m putting a dollar in the Lenten Swear Jar (security envelope) for every time I curse (or until my bank account is drained) and will donate to a charity at the end.
I did not know that - thank you!! I’ll still try not to curse during the whole 40 days, but I’m giving my wallet a break if I slip on a Sunday.
Fail. Not total fail, but fail. I went to a party on Saturday and had a 1/2 glass of wine without even thinking about it. When I realized I was holding a now-empty wine glass, I washed it and put it away.
I’m doing good on the no-meat and reading the psalms.
Making an honest mistake like this will be my downfall more than a loss of will. Already I’ve caught myself reaching for cottage cheese and blue cheese dressing. All it takes is a moment of not paying attention to what I’m eating.
mmm
Here’s your remedy. Today is the Feast of the Assumption. Swap out last Saturday for today (which is not a fasting day, just like Sundays), and you’re in good shape! Me, I didn’t know it was Assumption until just an hour ago, and I forgot to make it to Church, so I’d best head off to confession this Saturday.
Any psalms in particular give you any special insight?
I think I will work hard to give up soda again. I managed it last Lent but then slowly slipped back into my evil ways.
As a way to cut cholesterol, I am seriously considering giving up cheese. I’m not sure I can face it permanently but I should be able to make it through Lent.
My wife and I went vegetarian last summer. We still let our almost five-year old have some meat, but she still carps about some of the meat substitutes. We asked her if she would give up meat for Lent. Her response was no, but how about we give up being vegetarian? Touche!
It’s Tuesday of Holy Week and we’re on the countdown now. How’s everyone going with their Lenten observances?
I gave up my original plan (to go to daily mass) when it became clear on Ash Wednesday that various work issues would mean that I’d not get to mass on Thursday or Friday. So I swapped to “eating no rubbish” instead. No cakes, lollies, biscuits, chips, chocolates…whatever. I’ve made it through so far. And, as a bonus, I’ve lost 2.5kg!
We had a very rough time with our oldest in hospital and everyone getting Nrowalk virus and we’ve broken the veggie rule a few times, but on the whole we did okay. We’re looking forward to Easter- I’m planning on cooking lots of meat.
Prayer and general spiritual reading increased slightly. It’s been a good Lent.
I gave up trying to give up stuff for Lent ages ago because I’m afraid I’m just a weak-willed marshmallow. Instead I try to work on my biggest flaws and I swore this year I’d actually read the little booklets of meditations they give out at the church.
I also read the Stations of the Cross every Friday.
Our parish’s theme this Lent was “the woman at the well.” They gave each family a little metal bucket to put all your loose change in and on Holy Thursday we’ll bring the buckets back, and they will use the collected money to build a well for a village in Haiti.
I have done fairly well, but not pure on the giving up of cheese. I only did the stations of the cross once and that was to see my friend in a pagent “Living Stations of the Cross”. She put a lot of work into it.
I’ve gone all veggie for the entire Lent. Wasn’t really that hard, office pizza was the hardest part. I haven’t gone out to eat in a while, so that problem didn’t come up.
I started drinking decaf the last week of Lent, having decided that it no longer constitutes cheating. But I am happy to be reunited with coffee at long last, sans restrictions!
We had two kinds of meat yesterday, and will have at least one kind today. It’s great!
Christ is risen! Oops, I should have put that part first, because it’s more important than me eating lamb…
I made it! Sunday morning, right after singing the 8 o’clock mass, I went over to the local supermarket, and bought a cream-cheese filled pumpkin muffin. It was wonderful.
Sweet, steamy fishy goodness.