What are you giving up for lent?

[Reverend_Smitty]

I haven't decided yet, maybe one you guys could inspire me

[Midlodemocrat]

1. Associating with republicans.

J/K. Not sure yet. I often do something extra instead of giving up, like making meals for the homeless, things like that.

[elshiva]

2. Probably chocolate, again. It's stupid, but if you

have better ideas please respond.

[elshiva]

18. Saw the movie, "Chocolat" a couple nights ago.

Now that I'm a chocolate addict, I don't think I can give it up again, especially after all that chocolate porn in that movie...yummy.
So, I'll probably try to pray for Dubya and the Republicans who are trying to demolish the rights of GLBT people and/or donate more money to Catholic Relief.

[DemBones DemBones]

3. Lately, I've been thinking about giving up DU,

and I'm sure you all know why. Way too much meanness in GD and LBN.

:shakes head:

[CBHagman]

7. Well, we'd miss you.

I understand perfectly how you feel, but I would be sorry to see you leave.

[DemBones DemBones]

9. Thanks! I suppose I'll stay and just avoid LBN and GD -- and

the Lounge, according to Kleeb's post tonight. It's depressing to see people so wrapped up in hating other people. I'm glad we have this group and Irish Affairs. There are some other promising groups, too, that have kind of stalled.

[Beer Snob-50]

4. I haven't decided yet.

I am considering something tough this year but i don't know what.

[TrogL]

5. There is no requirement to give anything up for Lent

Lent is supposed to be a time of contemplation gearing up for Easter.

At best you give up some of the time you devote to something else.

[CBHagman]

6. I don't give up anything for Lent.

I guess it's a reaction to the "Alleluia" art project we had in elementary school. We got to color parts of the "Alleluia" lovingly mimeographed for all of us. If you gave up TV, candy, etc., on a particular day, you colored the appropriate section.

Some of my friends publicly give something up, and they're often tough things to give up, things like candy and watching TV.

I now believe I should take on something during Lent rather than giving up, but I don't tell anyone what the practice is until Lent is over. One year I made a point of praying for Newt Gingrich (Yes, really) each day. I don't know how efficacious my prayers were, though, since his marriage broke up afterwards. :-(

[DemBones DemBones]

11. Maybe your prayers for him made him feel

guilty about staying in a marriage while fooling around with an assistant. Who knows? We should probably all pray for Bush** and his administration. My priest talks about the necessity of praying for our enemies -- and how difficult he finds that, being Italian. ;-)

[CBHagman]

15. That's my kind of priest!

"My priest talks about the necessity of praying for our enemies -- and how difficult he finds that, being Italian." LOL!

Speaking seriously here for a moment, sometimes it's easier to pray for someone than to stop hating him. I wish it were possible to do it in reverse order.

[SOteric]

8. I have a different approach to Lent

I use the Lenten season to increase my self-awareness. I think of one thing in my life that needs change or isn't working for me, like..one year it was a grudge I'd been holding on to far too long. I write that thing down in a paragraph or so on a piece of paper, fold it up and carry it everywhere with me during Lent. I pull it out once or twice a day and ruminate over it, think about how it is affecting me and my life. Then on Palm Sunday, more than ready, I burn the piece of paper and symbolically let go of whatever is written.

[CBHagman]

10. I like that.

There's something about making some kind of physical manifestation of a spiritual issue. I'll have to try that.

[AFSCME girl]

22. Hi SOteric,

This is a great idea! Thanks for sharing it :hi:

[DemBones DemBones]

12. IMO, it's good to give up something like soft drinks, candy, drinking,

smoking, that will test your willpower and allow you to save money to give to charity.

But it's also good to commit to praying regularly for a group of people (the poor, the sick, the homeless) who need help. Or to commit to doing volunteer work, which doesn't have to be in a formal program, but could just be calling someone who's disabled or elderly and homebound or going by to visit once in a while.

[Lefty48197]

13. Alcohol

it's becoming a tradition.

[Hans Delbrook]

14. I've given up chocolate, alcohol, discretionary spending

They were all hard. I'd like to do something positive but usually that comes to nothing. Maybe I could let go of a hatred/grudge I've been carrying. So many to choose from too. I can't start w/ Bush - that's too hard. Hmmmm.. have to think about this.

edited for spelling

[Historic NY]

16. I always said lima beans.......because I hated them any way....n/t

[UrbScotty]

20. Doesn't count - it's too easy

Just kidding ;-)

[Padraig18]

17. Chocolate and beer. n/t

[IronLionZion]

19. Catholicism

just kidding....or am I? :P

Hell, I don't know either. I usually give up sweets or some other kind of food/drinks that's bad for you, but I'm avoiding those anyway.

So I don't know, it's like I'm on a year-long Lent or something. ;( I'm out of things to give up!

[pelagius]

21. I am giving up my usual alcohol and sweets...

...which are minor enjoyments but quite missed. A wise teacher told me that giving up something for Lent was one part of the practice; the other was to use the time, energy, and space to _add_ something more uplifting to one's life.

As for me, my "addition" this year is to pray the Benedictine daily office from a lovely little prayerbook called _The Glenstal Prayerbook_.

[Maeve]

23. A couple of years ago, I learned to say my prayers in Irish during Lent

And the best way to do that was to say the rosary a lot more often! :D

I usually cut back on things rather than give them up--no alcohol during the week, for instance, or less time sitting at the computer, more time devoted to my real life. I also pay more attention on gifts to the poor during Lent, a reminder that charity may begin at home, but it shouldn't STAY there.

[happynewyear]

24. I'm going to try to stop swearing

it is a horrible habit of mine - swearing. I wish I could stop. I know how disgusting it is.

Wish me luck because, believe me, I'll need it (just wrote a letter to someone with the "f" word in it about 5 times *slap* *slap*).

Time will tell how successful I am! :D

:dem:

[Reverend_Smitty]

26. I tried doing that one year...

it lasted a day and then I gave up sweets...it was much easier!

[Beer Snob-50]

25. Dunkin Donuts

Three or more days a week I have been going to this fine chain for coffee and donuts or bagels. I am giving it up for lent and giving the money I would spend there to a homeless shelter in my area.