Thinking about Lent

Ok, so I have been thinking about The Season of Lent. Today is Fat Tuesday, Madi Gras, a time of festivals all over the world. Last year in Seattle there were drunken riots that ended up in deaths. All this debauchery is basically due to the fact that tomorrow, Ash Wendnesday, everyone is supposed to give up the bad habits and observe some form of abstinance for the 40 days until Easter. In rememberance of the suffering Christ went through.
Regardless of your religious affiliation, I think this is a good time to put yourself through a mental challenge. Every year that is in large part why I get excited about Lent. The challenge of giving up something that is hard to give up for 40 days. And the related challenge of committing yourself to something new and positive and selfless during that same time. I haven’t figured out what I will do yet (gotta hurry up), but some of the ideas include:
- giving up refined sugar
- giving up junk food (pizza, deserts, etc.)
- giving up caffine
- committing more time for family over work.
I have done all of these before in past years. Right now, I think Caffine is in the lead. I have been drinking too much coffee and diet coke lately.