Wednesday, February 25, 2009

Giving Up

About 10 years ago, I started working with a man who gave up something for Lent every year. Big things, like smoking, potato chips, bread, pizza and pasta of which he ate copious amounts of all those things. (And he never had a weight problem other than being too thin!) I admired his strength and will power. He never waivered in his conviction to follow the rules of Lent. It astonished me.

He died a handful of years ago and now, in honor of him, I have given up something for Lent every year. One year it was soda, another year cheese but this year, I’m needing suggestions of what to do. I’ve given up soda for good, I’m on a no sugar kick right now so giving up desserts is out, I don’t eat that much meat and I don’t smoke. I was thinking of bread, but to what extent? Would that mean no, pizza, no hamburgers and no veggie or chicken burgers?

I’m taking all suggestions of what you think I should give up for the next 44 days. I’ll take all into consideration so hit me up in the comments my friends.

18 comments:

Mickey said...

give up the TV?

Tony said...

How bout all junk food in general?

Tina said...

I'm not giving anything up this year. Instead I'm doing 30 minutes of exercise every day. Even if I have to run in place at my desk! I'm in a positive frame of mind so I wanted to keep it positive :)

SL said...

Similar to Tina, I've gotten the idea from fatbridesmaid to give up laziness and exercise (she's doing 30 minutes) every day of lent. I'm not Catholic so don't really commemorate Lent, but I like this idea.

new*me said...

I'm kind of with you. I have given up so much ........the only thing I have left is my morning coffee.........contemplating it. I have also thought about not eating after 6 pm............

I am more about wanting to DO more. I was thinking about volunteering once a week.........or taking my sister's kids an extra day a week......more about the giving.....what do you think?

M said...

I love Tina and Sherre's idea, give up laziness. Or give up eating after a certain time.

~closed~ said...

Here's a spin on the Lenten endeavor....I'm going to post about it later...how 'bout instead of GIVING UP something, you do something for yourself, your family, or for others. A former priest suggested this one year to me - to put the focus and energy on something good. If that doesn't interest you, then how 'bout a favorite TV show, a favorite restaurant or activity? Good luck!

Lynn said...

I'm all about giving back instead of giving up.

Today, hearing my next door neighbor yelling at her kids, I decided rather than stay home and be mad about it, I'd go next door, bring her a cup of coffee and offer to bring her daughter over to my house for cookies and juice with my child.

I swear, the woman almost cried with gratitude and it made me feel 10 feet tall.

Give blood, volunteer at your local animal shelter, help a neighbor bring their groceries in, ask your local library if they have a reading program. I did that for a while, spent 1 hour a week reading to a blind woman.

Aleta said...

Giving up time - if not to yourself (for exercise) then for a charity to help someone else. If you want more ideas, read up on Lent and then listen to what your heart is telling you....

Cammy@TippyToeDiet said...

a friend of mine gave up the snooze alarm for Lent one year. :)

Wonderful way to honor your friend.

GFS said...

I was just having this debate myself...i can't think of anything that i do obsessively worth giving up... good luck!

ptg said...

I did end up giving up candy. It's gonna be a HARD ONE!

The spirit of Lent is to do something that is difficult for you - give up swearing, volunteer your time, give up bread, focus on positive visualization for 5 minutes every day, etc. :o)

And what a fantastic way to honor your friend!!

Unknown said...

Like a lot of these people, I gave up my excuses not to exercise.

Day 1 wasn't so bad...

Gigi said...

I gave up pasta one year. It almost killed me. I lurve pasta.

I like the idea of doing something more than less - like exercising every day. And God bless Lynn for helping out a stressed out mom. I wish you were my neighbor back in the toddler days.

Anonymous said...

Wow, your nutrition situation is so impressive.

That's really sweet that you do it to honor him.

Anonymous said...

Im not chiming in (Jew in the house :)) except to say Im always fascinated by Lent. By what people choose to give up and not to give up.

Anonymous said...

Being Jewish, I don't do the Lent thing but I'm liking the idea of giving up your time and DOING something. Sometimes that's the hardest thing to 'give up'!

The Merry said...

One year I gave up thinking negative thoughts about the @#$%^! who cut me off in traffic. Tried to think up reasons for their behavior instead. (Late for work, raised by a Pop Star, simply not paying attention...)