On multiple occasions this past weekend I was asked what are you giving up for lent this year in lue of Ash Wednesday being this week. As per usual I answered this question like I answer questions about my New Year’s resolution, with a shrug and an I don’t know. But here’s the truth I’ve given up things for lent in the past, but it never seemed meaningful to me. For example one year I gave up chocolate for lent, but yet I still received and bought chocolate, it was almost as if it was a game, like how much chocolate can I collect during lent? So had I really given up chocolate if I still bought it yet only ate it on Sundays? Sure my teeth may have benefitted that lent, but was I really being drawn closer to God that lent? Another year I tried to give up Facebook for lent, key word there is tried because not even two days into lent was I back on Facebook. Perhaps what you’re thinking now is that I shouldn’t give up things because I do not stick to it, which may be true, but the reality is that I shouldn’t give up something for lent because that’s not what draws me closer to God, it’s just a challenge that I most likely will fail. And really how beneficial is it to me to just fail on my Lenten challenges a week into the season. So this year I am taking a different approach, as of lately I have struggled with focusing on others, I have been so focused on my own feelings and problems that I have often neglected the feelings or concerns of others. Even though it is important for me to focus on me occasionally and how I am feeling in the moment, it is also really important for me to realize that others are struggling too; that others may be going through the same or even worse struggles that I myself am. In my day to day I have neglected to see the pain and misfortune that my own friends go through, let alone my family. This lent is the perfect time for me to step outside myself and become more intuitive about the struggles that someone whom I pass daily is going through. In my life I neglect to appreciate the significant affect that many people have on my life; if it’s something as simple as giving me a smile or listening to me vent for the hundredth time this week. At this point you may be thinking, wow Sami that is great, but what are you going to do? Well at least that is what I’m asking myself right now. It is one thing to be like I’m going to smile at someone who may be stressed, or I’m going to say thank you to that one friend, that’s great, but I’m thinking bigger. Those are things that are expected of me; I should thank my friends or be friendly to others. This lent I want to intentionally change my mindset daily; I want to stop making conversations all about me and make them more balanced. This lent I want to challenge myself to step outside my comfort zone in order to change my tendency to be so self centered to be more others centered. At first this may be hard for me to do because I have been so caught up in my own problems as of lately, but every day I want to take the time to really give someone my time, attention, and compassion. I want to truly add value to someone’s day rather than leaving them drained cause of my constant negativity. I want to take the time everyday to intentionally think of or pray for someone in my life that I know may be struggling; if it is something as simple as praying for them or shooting them a text telling them to have a good day. I do not want to neglect a friendship that means the world to me because I cannot take a moment to consider how they’re day is going or what I can do to lighten their burden. This lent I am challenging myself to be more selfless with my time, after all there is 86,400 seconds in a day, 86,400 seconds that I could spend loving those that need love the most. By the end of these 40 days I hope to have impacted the life’s of those around me positively and healed by focusing on others rather than always focusing on myself. Next time you see someone do not think about what they can do for you, rather think about what it is that you can do for them.