A week from today is Ash Wednesday, which marks the start of Lent – 40 days of sacrifice leading up to Easter. And despite what it may sound like from some of the stories I share here, I do consider myself fairly religious. Therefore, come next Wednesday, I’ll be giving something up. I’m just not sure what yet.
Now, I’m a WASP to the max, so I have it a little easier: I don’t have to fast at all, or give up meat on Fridays. And if I do mess up, I don’t have to go to confession. (Which really works out fine, considering I already carry around an ample amount of guilt – vestiges from my grandmother’s guilt trips, you see.) But every year I try to sacrifice something different, with varying degrees of success.
- There was the year I gave up chocolate – and had hot cocoa by accident on a Girl Scout retreat.
- Once I gave up beer, but not alcohol in general. (Let me tell you, playing flip cup and beirut with mixed drinks…not the best idea I’ve ever had.)
- Another time I gave up trash-talking/gossiping about a specific person (who totally had it coming), and my friends celebrated with cake and a party when I was done.
- And another, I gave up T.V. – which made it awkward when I walked out of the room while someone else had it on.
- One year I even pulled a “40 Days and 40 Nights“. We can talk about that later.
But this year? I’m out. I have no idea what to give up. I asked Cla about it and she said, “Don’t do alcohol! We’ll be in Argentina!” Duly noted.
That being said, I’m open to suggestions. Regardless of your religious or non inclinations, what would you (or have you) sacrifice(d) for 40 days and nights? (Or even a week – I’m not picky, I just need ideas.)
I really can’t do chocolate again. It might be better for my waistline, but it totally makes me cranky.
as long as you don’t give up blogging for lent!
Never! At least, not this year…
Um, give up prunes?
Way ahead of you. I’m going on 24 years of giving those up. The sacrifices I make…
I tried to stop gossiping for my New Years resolution. Jan 1st I was talking about what happened on New Years Eve. I suck at this stuff.
There have been maybe two or three times when I’ve made it the entire 40 days. It’s not easy.
Work?
Ha. Yeah, I think that’s the equivalent of trying to give up homework when I was a kid. The teachers always saw right through me.
Dignity.
I’ve been giving that up for 28 years. It’s not that bad once you get used to it.
Talk about long term commitment, my friend.
Cabs? I tried that once to save money and I guess good for the environment, but I didn’t think about that until I failed. I lasted about a day, but I may try it again.
Oooh, that’s a good one. I never even thought about that.
I gave up fried stuff for February. TORTURE. Although, it’d probably be a lot easier if you were in Argentina. Fresh food and all that.
So, drunken munchies…what do you eat then?
What about reading gossip rags? My biggest vice is reading Perez Hilton several times a day…and I kind of hate myself for it.
I’ve never gotten into Perez, but I’m a sucker for US and OK! and all the other ones in the grocery checkout aisle.
When I was younger Lent was supposed to be about self-denial and resisting temptation (just like Jesus resisted temptation for 40 days in the desert) my successful ones – curse words, salt, meat and then there was one year where I gave up shopping for non-necessities (e.g. clothes, shoes, make up etc.) which was hard for me. We were instructed just to pick something that is an indulgence or a bad habit… But it’s been years since I have given anything up for Lent. I am amazed at how much I remember from Sunday School….
junk food period…..there is nothing satisfying about snacking on carrots, drunk at 2am.