It's Ash Wednesday and I'm Christian, sooo

[threadwalker]

I've got all the baggage and scars from being raised by an East Coast Irish Catholic mom who was not tempered by her West Coast Catholic husband. So all the fire and brimstone and none of the hand-holding happy-sing-song stuff.

The current thought bugging me in the back of my brain: What should I give up for Lent?
Years and years ago my parish priest commented on how people give up chocolate or other indulgences for Lent, but don't really give up something that forces them to experience hardship or empathy for others. They end up doing something that's actually good for them and even though they might experience some discomfort, they don't really "lose" anything or have to struggle with anything besides temporary discomfort. This hit home with me. So each year I search for something to give up that will change something about me or give me greater empathy for those who have less than I do.

It's not easy because I'm trying to avoid the trap of using this as a vehicle to improve my health (like giving up chocolate).

KLWilliams already had the best (IMO); she's giving up eating worms. I think that's a LOT harder than it sounds and I know I'd have to spend some time everyday on this - you can't be lazy when you give up worms. (My kudos to her).

One year I gave up cattiness. It's a long story and it started out as a joke, but it changed my life. And, according to some, made me a lot less fun to gossip with.

So I'm pondering. I'm pondering things like using only public transportation for work. But I already do that 3-4 times a week and giving up my car entirely would be unpractical.

I thought of not eating out during Lent. But eating out is not a lifestyle of mine and I pretty much gave it up anyway.

What to give up? I've already given up shopping (clothes, books, fabric). I've trimmed eating at restaurants down to almost nill. I don't watch TV anymore. I hardly play computer games anymore. Giving up fitness is NOT on the table. I've altered my diet and cut out most sweets, salts, deep-fried stuff, and alcohol. I already cut soda down to one-a-day. I cook from my own pantry most of the time and have trimmed grocery shopping down to bare essentials. Giving up protein is also NOT on the table - protein builds muscle and I have issues carbs. I invest most of my "free" time in the kids, in the house, and in fitness, so it's not like I can quit doing any of that in my free time.

Have I painted myself into a corner? Maybe I should give up being frugal? heh. Or give up being a hermit? wait! I'm working on that. heh. Anyway... I'm stumped and still pondering. Maybe I need to consult the 7 deadly sins.... although I won't give up bathing for the sake of vanity. Bathing is a public service activity. Maybe I should just do the fasting thing on Fridays... Although I've never done it before, so I'll have to see what the rules are for staying hydrated.

Any ideas out there? What are others giving up?

Comments

[theiadora.livejournal.com]

I'm not Catholic but some of my freinds that are, decided on giving up caffeine....Or is that to dangerous for the rest of us?

[thread-walker.livejournal.com]

hahaha! I think it might be dangerous for 2 weeks. Then, after Lent when they are back to drinking coffee, it would be dangerous for a week.

For my purposes, that would fall under the category of:

Something that I should do for my own welfare,

so it doesn't count towards "empathy towards others or personal insights"

I'm going to run with the service idea below this post. First up: coffee for missionaries and homeless singer in BART station.

[ermine-rat.livejournal.com]

Maybe you could get a pair of favorite shoes and burn them on the Barbecue to fulfill your need to sacrifice something for your faith. I thought the bead game was interesting from a number of points in how some people used it.

[stealth-1066.livejournal.com]

Giving up chocolate is not an option, it's a food group! Try giving up taking on more projects than you can reasonably complete in 6 months!

[joycebre.livejournal.com]

if you don't think there's things in your life to give up, you could work on the empathy for others part - volunteering at a shelter or food bank, making quilts or blankets for homeless people, that sort of thing?

[thread-walker.livejournal.com]

good ideas. I'm going to run with the "service for others". I can do that for 5 weeks without burning myself out. (Or estranging my family).

[loup_noir]

I'm done with the Catholic guilt. I spent a few years meditating on God, faith and the Church. Not that that addresses your Lent thoughts, but here's a different spin:

Jesus wanted to help people. Why not dedicate the forty days of Lent (and beyond, if you wish) toward helping, not depriving? Whether you take a bag with you every day you go to work and pick up trash, or volunteer to do one positive thing a week, or offer to help someone learn how to read, or sew something or other for a charity, or whatever. Pick something -- it doesn't have to be the same thing every week, day, month, or other time interval -- and strive for a positive effect on those who need it. Look outward, not inward.

[thread-walker.livejournal.com]

This is excellent! I like the idea of making it changeable, too.

Just last week I was thinking of making a thermos of coffee for the ladies that sit in the BART station at Ashby. They are these 2 grandmotherly types handing out paperwork on doing missionary stuff. And more for the old man who plays blues guitar and sings. It's freakishly cold in that BART station...just one big wind tunnel and unprotected from the outdoor cold. And I was thinking it would be nice to do something sympathetic.

[loup_noir]

I was raised on the New Testament, and the Jesus preached to me was the sort who gave and worked. It always seemed to me that the forty days of self-deprivation really didn't touch on the message of Jesus, which is giving, touching, helping, and loving. Every small gesture helps, if only to convince people that there is hope, they are seen, and someone cares.

[dizzyblonde30.livejournal.com]

That's a nice idea, maybe instead of coffee as gifts to these people maybe something to help with the freakishly cold in the Bart Station ?

Maybe a family service project could be done too?

Oh I haven't thought of Lent in a very long time..

Oh, Scott says maybe you could give up your competitiveness?

[thread-walker.livejournal.com]

give up competitiveness? Easier for Scott to become a woman than for me to give up being competitive. You can pass that on for me. lol

[dizzyblonde30.livejournal.com]

hehe I'll pass it along to him :)

[klwilliams.livejournal.com]

Last year I gave up speeding. This may sound funny, but it made my driving much safer and it helped me work on my patience. (Patience? How long does that take?) I've gone back to speeding, but not as much or as often, and I pay a lot more attention when I'm driving.

You could also go the opposite route and think about what you could give others, instead.

[catagon3.livejournal.com]

I see other folks have beaten me to it, but I've also had many clergy-folks recommend doing something positive instead of giving something up.

And it's perfectly OK if whatever-it-is is good for you. That's what spiritual discipline is supposed to be about!

Changing for the better

[dame-cordelia.livejournal.com]

I am about to embark on taking care of my health long term through fitness. You are one of my 2 LJ friends who are serious about it, and reading your journals has helped me to do get to this point.

As far as Lent, since I became an adult I've thought of it as a time for introspection about how I can become a better person in some way, and just giving up a bad habit doesn't have the impact it did when I was growing up. Giving to a less fortunate person takes a lot of thought - at least for me - about how to do or give something that will help him or her without taking away that person's dignity. It should never be done in expectation of gratitude or applause.

[thread-walker.livejournal.com]

That's great news. It's one of the few things in life that you have to do for yourself and no one else can do it for you.