Lent. By definition the lenten season is "an annual season of fasting and penitence in preparation for Easter, beginning on Ash Wednesday and lasting 40 weekdays to Easter, observed by Roman Catholic, Anglican, and certain other churches" (http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/lent). I grew up in what I would consider a religious family - we went to Church every Sunday, were involved in Sunday school, I attended a Church camp every summer, and participated in Church services by performing or as an usher.
Every year around this time I've always viewed Lent as a great season to spiritually refocus or reset. In the past, I've always given something up that's not too hard but not too easy. Essentially, I engage in said behavior time and again but giving it up isn't a true sacrifice. But not this year. This year I've vowed to give up something that's actually going to be a challenge. What may this be? Alcohol. Yes for the next 40 days I'll be passing on all alcoholic bevies. However, I"m allowing myself 2 "cheat weekends" -after all in the definition of Lent it does say "weekdays." The first is the weekend of my sister's 21st birthday, I mean come on I have to participate in the festivities and I refuse to be the DD (sorry sis). And the second is when I'm on my family vacation in Florida, which is right at the tail end of Lent so I figure on the last weekend or so I can indulge. Other than that I'll be sipping on some H2O...maybe fruit infused.
And I don't think Lent should be limited to giving something up, but should also include giving something a try that's beneficial to my life. So what am I trying for the next 40 days? Limiting Screen Time. This includes no phones or social media once I get in bed because I find that to be my worst habit. Just mindlessly scrolling for hours in bed and then not getting a restful night's sleep. The second part to this is limiting TV time to 4-5 hours a week. This is going to be a huge challenge because A and I have that amount of TV just on Tuesday night's (I may be exaggerating). When I share this with people they usually ask, "What are you going to do?" Well...read, blog, engage in social activities that involve face to face interactions, exercise, work, get involved in an organization - the possibilities are endless!
I'm sure there will be hard days, weeks, heck this may just be a really hard month! But I won't know all the benefits both of these things could have on my life without giving it a try. So whether you do believe in a higher power or not, this is still a great time to just reset and do something to challenge yourself. Besides since everyone else is doing it you might as well, right? Peer pressure.
So what will you give up or give a try for the next 40 days?
xoxo,
B.
No comments:
Post a Comment