Those religions that practice Lent began the start of this holy season on February 10 this year. The season lasts for 40 days and prepares the congregation for Easter. This is a time for self-reflection, sacrifice, and spirituality.
Many people will choose to "give up" something for lent, usually something tangible or materialistic (ex. chips, video games, fast food). However, I was never good at choosing (and sticking to) something to "give up".
As a young child, I always knew this time to be special in my church and I thought if I "gave up" something I loved (mainly chocolate) I would be doing my part as a practicing Catholic. This normally only lasted the Lenten season for me, and as soon as Easter Sunday came around I was back to munching on chocolate because this sacrifice only lasted until Easter, right?
One day, I was browsing the internet trying to educate myself more on the topic of Lent, and I came across a post from a perplexed young woman. The post stated that she never practiced Lent before and she did not know what to "give up". She was having such a hard time deciding, it was taking her days!
This left me feeling confused. I was always taught to give up something, and I could sympathize with her because I was having a hard time deciding, too. Lent only lasted for 40 days. That is only 40 days without something, so how hard could it be to choose! This decision should never take days though and you should never feel forced to give up something.
When Lent came this year I was going to give up chocolate for the 8th year in a row. The thought seemed silly to me this time though because in 40 days when Lent was over I would go right back to eating my chocolate. Instead I wanted to do something to actually impact myself and those around me in a positive way. So this year I have decided to not give up anything. Instead this year I will try to better myself. This year I will not let society define me as a person. This year I will “try” (I have been a Debbie Downer Lately) to always keep my faith and ambition in the front of my mind, to keep learning and to never stop striving for success in myself and in those around me.
Lent is a time for self-reflection and rejuvenation. A time to quit old habits and start new, better, improved habits. So why would I give something up for a short amount of time, then continue back to where I started before Lent?
It is always good to give something up and sacrifice during the Lenten Season (more power to you if you can go without chocolate for 40 days), but it is also good to make positive changes to yourself during this time, habits you can keep after Lent is over.
So after Easter Sunday comes, I will go back to eating meat on Wednesdays and Fridays, and the fish frys will subside, but I hope to continue to better myself each day.
