Wel,l folks, it’s that time of year again: Lent. The time where we reflect, pray and fast in preparation for Easter. And it can get hard sometimes...If you’re Catholic (or Christian) you most likely have experienced one or more of the following:

Eating like it’s your last meal on Fat Tuesday.

Fat Tuesday = ALL YOU CAN EAT PANCAKES!!!!!



Receiving ashes on Ash Wednesday and then comparing cross sizes after mass is over.




Forgetting that you received ashes and then going about the rest of your day with dirt on your forehead.

Bonus points if you’re with your buddies who also received ashes and you get weird-what-cult-do-you-belong-to looks from outsiders.




Fasting, man. Two small meals and one big meal and no snacking in between. It can get hard. S/o to point #1 about Fat Tuesday.




Trying to decide what you should give up for your Lenten Sacrifice and asking everyone what they’re giving up.




When you finally decide on what you’re giving up and are pumped about your sacrifice.




Three days in, realizing that it’s about to be a looonnng 40 days without your sweets/soda/social media/whatever you gave up.




Accidentally eating meat on Friday.




When you forget that it’s Friday and you order a burger but right as the food comes it hits you and you feel so many emotions towards this dilemma.




Trying to assemble those dang rice bowls...they should really come with an instruction manual.







Filet-o-fish and Shamrock Shakes are the quintessential markers for the beginning of Lent.




Using St. Patty's Day as an excuse to cheat a little (especially if it falls on a Friday...like this year).




The hymns at church take a very sudden, very solemn, very Latin turn in respect of Lent.




Accidentally saying the "A" word




If you go to the Easter Vigil service, sitting, standing and kneeling your way through three hours, a mass baptism followed by a mass confirmation ceremony, five gospels, three separate candle lightings, and the naming of every single Saint that’s ever been canonized ever.




Finally, when Lent is over and you can finally indulge in whatever you gave up! *Eats all the chocolate bunnies*

So whether you gave up social media, candy, soda, or something else, I challenge you to give a little extra during this season. Be a bit kinder, volunteer at a soup kitchen, do something that gives back as well observing your Lenten sacrifice. The chocolate is at Easter is worth it as well as the feeling of giving back! Happy Lent everyone!!