40 days ... and a random update

Let the Lenten season begin. I am a firm believer that Lent is not all about what you give up, but what you do to better yourself. So, I will be trying to do a little bit of both by doing the following:

• Cutting back on soda - hopefully to nothing :)
• Drinking more water
• Cutting back on Caribou and Starbucks... allowing maybe one a week
• Taking my vitamins and supplements on a regular basis again
• cutting back on sweets - no baked goodies, bars, cookies, donuts, etc. The work place is consumed by it and I need to stay away!
• doing more yoga

Are any of you giving up or doing anything to better yourself?

Other random updates:

• Maybe I should be giving up running for the next 40 days. After my okay 6.4 miler on Sunday, I attempted to run today and the shin/ankle was bothering me again. It's weird and I am afraid if I keep running on it, it will get worse. Maybe time to see the doc?
• I got engaged over the weekend! Time to start planning a wedding!!!
• It's been snowing like crazy here and I can't wait to leave for Las Vegas tomorrow with the fiance and another couple. We will miss the cold weather and yet another storm system rolling through on Friday/Saturday! 70 degree weather will be greatly appreciated for 4 days!

Reflection & Repentance

Lenten season has begun and with the week I have had I didn't make it to Ash Wednesday church service. At first I forgot it was Ash Wednesday and then when I did come to the realization, I wasn't able to make it to service because of my chat session for grad class. Stuff happens.

Many people who celebrate the lenten season try to find things to give up for 40 days. Most the time I do so myself. If I decide to give something up, it's usually something that I really have a hard time parting with - kind of my own personal sacrifice.

This year, my Lenten season will be two-fold:

1. I am giving up sweets. Now, this is pretty broad, but for me it will include the following: candy, chocolate, soda, and all baked goodies. *sigh* However, this will not include my coffee - but I will be cutting back significantly.


2. I find it to be a great time to reflect on life in general and to help myself become a better person all around. Nuff said, right!?

Have a great weekend everyone!

Absolutely Insane

I don't know what had come over me yesterday, but I think the guilt of not attending church services for Ash Wednesday had caused me to think irrationally. I mean, really. No alcohol? For 6 weeks?

When did I realize this was probably an irrational decision? A part of me realized this right after clicking "publish post". The rest of me realized it this evening after a 13 hour day at school with an evening of conferences. All I want right now is a cold beverage.

Dumb.

I might have to just work on being a better person, because there is no way I am going to be able to go 6 weeks without a single sip of beer. Let's just be realistic here.

40 Days and 40 Nights

What better way is there to start off the 1st of 40 days of Lent than to attend Ash Wednesday service? There is none, right? Right. But I am extremely disappointed in myself for not going to church today. I thought I would list my reasonings, but please don't judge me :).

1. I wasn't able to attend the morning service due to an early morning meeting at work.
2. I had all intentions of going at 5:30pm, but was starving.
3. The 7:30pm mass is still an option, but (a) I don't want to go by myself, (b) I am very tired and comfy on my couch, and (c) My Tarheels play Duke at 8pm.

Pathetic excuses, I know.

Growing up, I was always under the impression that we always had to "give something up" during Lent. When I got older and teased my Mom about not giving something up, she would reply with "it's not always about giving something up ... it's about being a better person." She always says she is "trying to be more patient"... which is funny because I view her as the most patient person in my family. I can almost bet my Dad is giving up chocolate, but somehow there are always "buts" and "ifs" in there..... "if it is candy coated, it is okay".

In the past I have usually given up chocolate or soda. But since I really don't drink soda anymore and I find that chocolate is a necessity in keeping my sanity with my work conditions, I feel like that is just not an option. It's just safer, not only for me, but my co-workers and students if I don't give it up. The same goes for coffee. Not happening.

I then began to think about what my Mom always says and was brainstorming ideas of how I could be a better person ... greet everyone (not just the ones I really like and not for the only purpose of driving crabby people bonkers) with a warm smile and a postive attitude, possibly throwing in there a "good morning, afternoon and if I don't see you again, good evening" type of comment; have more patience with my co-workers and students (which I am usually quite a patient person at work); etc. I really couldn't think of anything that would be justifiable for Lent.

So I was back to thinking about what I could give up. What is it that I really could and should do away with for 40 days and 40 nights? Then, boom! Like a bolt of lightning, it just hit me square in the face. Alcohol. Yep, folks, you read it correctly! ALC-O-HOL! None. Nada. Nilch. For 40 days and 40 nights. I had been telling my friends that I am going to cut it out soon, to aid in my half marathon training and they just laughed. But, Lent couldn't have come at a better time, or I couldn't have chosen a better time to train for a half marry. It's going to be hard, but I am okay with that. If I survive, maybe I will wear a shirt that looks something like this ....

Happy Hump Day!