What do you give up for Lent?

124

Replies

  • sgmorgan312
    sgmorgan312 Posts: 10
    I am giving up stuff, as part of de-cluttering, I want to get rid of 1 un-needed, or un-used, or un-loved object per day.

    Perfect - think I'll join you in this endeavor.

    I am not a Catholic, but you do not have to be to observe Lent for the purpose of preparing yourself to celebrate Resurrection Sunday. Each time you crave the food you gave up or take an action you committed to is the perfect time to reflect on the purpose.
  • Gingerjoanna
    Gingerjoanna Posts: 46
    Religion and all its misogynist and child-abusing trappings......not just for Lent......for the rest of my life.

    This is an odd message board to look at when you you know Lent is a Christian observance and you seemingly don't like the religion....and not having a go as I consider myself a lapsed Catholic but I think Lent is one of the positive things about Catholicism/Christianity and I don't think it should be restricted.

    Anyway....@Theyoungretiree...this is an amazing idea...and I fully intend to copy it and share it with my friends....all credit to you though :)
  • chell53
    chell53 Posts: 352 Member
    well I can't say smoking since I have stopped 6 years ago, i don't drink much so i guess that is out.....so what I really crave a lot candy...........that is what I will give up.
  • TierZ
    TierZ Posts: 2
    I have bitten my nails for the first 30 years of my life and so this Lent I am going to give up biting them. Just before Lent is over and when my nails have grown out, I'm going to treat myself to having a professional manicure. I've only had one manicure in my life and that was the day before my wedding day!!


    wow!! me too, i cant remember a day when i didnt bite my nails and i cant imagine anyones nails looking worse than mine do.
    im going to try and do this too
  • Leigh_b
    Leigh_b Posts: 576 Member
    I'm giving up 3 things:

    1. Being late for work... I have a fairly flexible job so can come in a bit later and stay later in the afternoon. For Lent I'd like to try not to take advantage of that and get to work "on time" so that I can leave "on time" as well. Because I have two young children at home I have very much appreciated this flexibility, but would love to figure out a better morning routine so that we can get out the door a bit earlier and as a result have more time together in the evening.

    2. Eating out for convenience... There are often times I end up buying lunch at work because I didn't take the time to pack it or we stop and pick up dinner on the way home because it is late and I don't want to/or my girls will completely melt down if I do take the time to make something once we are home. Sticking to the first idea should help me with the second. More time in the evenings to make dinner and pack my lunch :)

    3. Sleeping through my workouts... also related to first idea. I PLAN to workout every morning... however, at least once a week, sometimes twice, I turn my alarm off and go back to sleep until the girls wake me up. I justify doing this with things like... I didn't sleep well, the girls woke me up several times in the night, I can work out this evening, etc. etc. But... this is also what leads to me being late for work as waiting until the girls wake me up usually puts me at 7:00 am and it is absloutely impossible for me to get myself and the two of them dressed and fed and out the door in an hour. Impossible! I've tried it. Several times. I continue to tell myself I can do it, but really, I can't.... and then, I'm late for work AND I haven't worked out not to mention that I am now going to try to squeeze a workout in sometime in the evening, which is all the more difficult because I will be getting home later because I went to work later...

    And so the cycle goes... which is what I hope to use this time during Lent to undo... and in the end I will gain a better morning schedule, a healthier lifestyle, and more time with my family!
  • KippyBee
    KippyBee Posts: 26 Member
    I'm not a believer in Lent per se, but 40 days of discipline is a good challenge and enough time to create new habits so, I'm going to give up the "white stuff": wht bread, wht rice, sugar, wht pasta, wht potatoes. I'm pretty good already with the pasta, bread, potatoes and rice aspect, but giving up sweets and junk will be the real clencher. I've done it before, so that means I can do it again right? :smile:
  • mbrou28
    mbrou28 Posts: 132 Member
    I'm giving up diet soda. I'm SO addicted to it, which I always thought was ok since it has no calories. But I've read a few different studies that say diet soda increases sugar cravings - I have enough of those with out inviting more. So I'm going to do my very best to not even have any on Sunday (Sundays do not fall within the 40 days of Lent).

    I'm also going to try to go to some weekday Masses - something I used to do in the past but feel out of the habit.
  • MissedStar
    MissedStar Posts: 19
    unhealthy eating habit? seems like a normal reply
    maybe splurging, thats it i won't splurge, gorge myself on doritos, crisps and biscuits like normals
    I'll try replacing that with fruit... i'll let you lot know if that works :)
  • naseak
    naseak Posts: 98 Member
    I'm not Catholic but as a Christian I like what Lent stands for. Giving up something that we enjoy to remind us what Christ gave up for us. I am giving up Tim Hortons ice caps (I have a slight addiction) I like the idesa of giving to charity so I'm going to give the money I would have spent to a charity. I think if I put the change in a jar evey time I would have bought one it might be a bit scary how much I spend over 40 days.
  • boyslie72487
    boyslie72487 Posts: 181 Member
    I'm not religious but a co-worker is giving up sweets for Lent so I figured I'd join in to support her along the way :smile:
  • cydnugent
    cydnugent Posts: 3
    I'm not really giving up anything, but I am being more responsible for my own health and also going to Mass twice a week and attend the Stations of The Cross on Fridays!!:happy:
  • cydnugent
    cydnugent Posts: 3
    Oh and biting my nails, though that's been part of mine since I was a kid!! Still biting (and I'm 37) Let's hope I succeed this time!! lol :tongue:
  • New_Atti2ude
    New_Atti2ude Posts: 114 Member
    I'M GIVING UP CURSING. MY MOUTH IS WORSE THAN ANY OF THE MOB WIVES. I HAVE BECOME SO USE TO IT THAT I DON'T KNOW I'M DOING IT ANYMORE. I USE TO NOT EVER CURSE.
  • amyotte1992
    amyotte1992 Posts: 39 Member
    Love this idea!!
  • Joyja1075
    Joyja1075 Posts: 18 Member
    my diet LOL
  • WhittRak
    WhittRak Posts: 567 Member
    My husband and I have decided to give up being over-weight. I have been dieting now for some time, and now he wants to join in. I know it's a life changing thing..but...it's great that Lent got him started :)
  • msfit777
    msfit777 Posts: 9
    I am giving up nail biting. Thought it was about time at 36 years old... :)

    I am 34 and my new year's resolution was to stop biting my nails. I would argue that this is harder than giving up any substance because what you are trying to give up is literally ALWAYS at your finger tips! But it's not impossible and I have done pretty well with it (I actually have nails now)! I chew a lot of gum and play with my hair more. Hope you are able to find healthy alternatives. Best wishes!!
  • Chrissle
    Chrissle Posts: 46 Member
    Alcohol, cigs (easy bc I only smoke when I drink) and cheese. I think cheese will be the hardest, by far. I'm not Catholic but I participate in Lent every year.
  • pazzap
    pazzap Posts: 9
    I have decided to make a list of 40 people who have touched my life in one way or another. Each of day of Lent, I will write a letter of thanks to a person on the list for how they touched my life and I will pray for that person on that day. :smile:
  • jms1985
    jms1985 Posts: 58 Member
    Last year I gave up chocolate & alcohol. I succeeded! This year.... cheese. Wish me luck!
  • katien1221
    katien1221 Posts: 2 Member
    I think I'm going to give up swearing and chocolate--in all forms--syrup, ice cream, candy, coffee, etc...and I'm going to do the quarter in a jar every time I swear--I'll donate it to my favorite charity--St.Baldricks when I'm done!
  • gettinthere
    gettinthere Posts: 529 Member
    I have decided to make a list of 40 people who have touched my life in one way or another. Each of day of Lent, I will write a letter of thanks to a person on the list for how they touched my life and I will pray for that person on that day. :smile:
    I love this idea!!!! How very meaningful!!
    I have given up WINE and sweets
  • Dbow0207
    Dbow0207 Posts: 220 Member
    Wow after reading this is kind of funny, well first I want some of these folk to stop being ignorant, you do not have to be Catholic to participate in Lent, and whoever gave that generic Wikapedia definition of Lent need to do a little more research, Its about change and refraining from the luxuries of life that have us so blinded feeling like we cant live without them, the purpose is for us to do a complete 180 from cetrain things that have us bound and we should probably not go back to them anyway. As a Chrsitian I fast all the time, and I've been fasting since January so becase Lent is here I dont really have anything extra to give up but just to keep doing what I'm doing but adding to it. With that being said, for Lent I'm adding more workouts to my regimine. SELAH
  • WilliamsPeggy
    WilliamsPeggy Posts: 440 Member
    Soda
  • Mom0fTwo
    Mom0fTwo Posts: 326 Member
    What is the purpose of Lent?

    Lent is the Christian observance of the liturgical year from Ash Wednesday to Easter Sunday.

    The traditional purpose of Lent is the penitential preparation of the believer—through prayer, penance, repentance, almsgiving, and self-denial. During Lent, many of the faithful commit to fasting or giving up certain types of luxury as a form of penitence

    Technically it is a catholic observation
  • naseak
    naseak Posts: 98 Member
    I have decided to make a list of 40 people who have touched my life in one way or another. Each of day of Lent, I will write a letter of thanks to a person on the list for how they touched my life and I will pray for that person on that day. :smile:

    I love that idea! I think I have to borrow it.
  • TeeferTiger
    TeeferTiger Posts: 136 Member
    This year I have decided to give up Lent for Lent.

    Amen to that. I've given up on Catholic hypocrisy and rules. I've been burned to many times by those who treat me like crap in the name of the "God of Love".

    Ah, but is Lent really a Christian tradition? The answer, like all their holidays, is no :smile: "Lent" or 40 days of fasting before the resurrection, was being practised by the Babylonians before "Jesus" was supposed to be around. And I say supposed to be around, because the early Christian leaders decided to placate the ignorant masses by historizing stories that had been around for thousands of years, and then passing the ideas off as their own.
  • laurensohn22
    laurensohn22 Posts: 163 Member
    I gave up Nutella Haha so good yet so not good for me
  • _Khaleesi_
    _Khaleesi_ Posts: 877 Member
    Candy. I tried to last year too and failed. The biggest issue is the Mini Eggs... darn them!!
    We're doing it full force this year though!!
  • mgmlap
    mgmlap Posts: 1,377 Member
    The girls and I were thinking about this. The whole purpose of Lent is to be obedient to God...so instead of giving up something..we have decided that every morning..we are going to write a list of things that we are going to do which will be for the glory of God and advance his kingdom...I figured its a better way to go..and to teach the girls that every day..you have to Glorify God..who has given life to them
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