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I'm actually looking forward to it. I'm quite good at not doing something if I have a reason. Ghavrel Send a noteboard - 16/02/2010 05:48:34 AM
There's absolutely no way I can make myself give it up normally, but I feel like I'm going to be able to do it!

I have sometimes in the past. I once gave up ice cream, and that was really good for me - I still like it and eat it once in a while, but now I am content with a spoonful or two. It's not like I binged on it before; I just enjoy it more now.

*gasp* That's one of the things I'm giving up! Well, actually, I'm giving up food whose purpose is to give pleasure, but ice cream falls into that.

On a complete aside, I just looked up "whose" and apparently I'm using it correctly there. Weird.

I think it's good to challenge yourself, to exercise restraint and practice moderation where you would normally overindulge. Willpower is like a muscle; the more you employ it for trivialities, the stronger it is when facing the big stuff.

Goodness gracious I hope so I am such a slacker.

Oh, and religion... well, I've been drifting for quite some time now. There's a gorgeous Episcopalian church near my house, but it's almost a little too old school for me. (Never thought I'd say that!) I would like to start attending church regularly again, but I don't want to be surrounded by stiff-necked old parishioners. I'd like to have it be more of a social venue. If I could get involved in some projects that help the community (Habitat for Humanity, things like that), that would be even better. Problem is, I don't know how to figure out which churches in my area are both liberal and socially conscious.

Visiting helps. ;)

Seriously, though, every single Episcopalian church I've ever been to gives out bulletins that detail upcoming events. I think every church I've been to, period, does that, but I'm solid on those of my denomination.

I usually give something up, but I could try to take on weekly church attendance this year. (I had that for the first seventeen years of my life, so it wouldn't exactly be hard.)

It's so hard for me to go to church when I go back home. There's something about driving that just is such a turn-off. And of course the whole getting-up-early thing, unless I want to go to the no-frills, no-hymns 5:30 PM service. And that has neither frills nor hymns! Terrible.

I became vegan one year. It was difficult - and ultimately not good for my health.

Veganism... I have strong feelings on that. :P

Well, adding church is one idea... I'm not sure I have too many shallow pleasures that I can reasonably give up right now. My body has been rejecting food anyway, and I'm so not abstaining from sex. Maybe Diet Pepsi, but I feel like I'd fail very hard at that. Hmm. Ideas?

I has none, sorry. :( My only advice is that Lent is supposed to be a simplification of life, and practices should both reflect that and be helpful. It's not self-flagellation.

I have sometimes done this, sometimes not. It always felt like cheating to me - giving things up isn't exactly very hard if you can tell yourself, "In just six days, you can have it."

That's true; it isn't hard. But I think it makes the challenge more realistic and ultimately more rewarding. Certainly more rewarding than if you slip up on a Wednesday.

Apparently I think so too, since I used it in my last answer!

Great minds! :D
"We feel safe when we read what we recognise, what does not challenge our way of thinking.... a steady acceptance of pre-arranged patterns leads to the inability to question what we are told."
~Camilla

Ghavrel is Ghavrel is Ghavrel

*MySmiley*

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/Survey: Lent approaches! Anyone giving up anything? - 16/02/2010 04:28:08 AM 892 Views
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I'm actually looking forward to it. I'm quite good at not doing something if I have a reason. - 16/02/2010 05:48:34 AM 675 Views
possibly - 16/02/2010 10:12:41 AM 649 Views
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<3 *NM* - 16/02/2010 08:44:41 PM 363 Views
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Re: /Survey: Lent approaches! Anyone giving up anything? - 17/02/2010 02:49:49 AM 479 Views
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Nyet! - 17/02/2010 01:02:01 PM 611 Views
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Sort of. - 17/02/2010 04:22:03 PM 975 Views
The question that comes to my mind is.... - 17/02/2010 06:19:46 PM 578 Views
I'm giving up - 20/02/2010 05:21:08 PM 580 Views
Sounds good. *NM* - 21/02/2010 08:18:40 PM 345 Views

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