SAMB: Lent, again.

Lent is sneaky.  

I wasn't expecting it again so soon, but there it is.  I had not even reflected on what I did last year, I had to go back and read about it refresh my memory.  Perk to blogging, reading about things I would have normally forgotten. Perk to reader comments, responding with what item I had actually given up.

This year, I am more intentional that last year. I'm thinking about Lent a whole 4 days in advance, that is planning right there.  I'm already sugar-free and thought about continuing that.  I also thought about bread again but that didn't really get me excited either.  Talking to the hubs this AM, he asked "what about adding something?" Brilliant.  Sometimes I'm so focused that the simplest thoughts do not even occur to me. So for this lent, I'm going to add something. And that gets me excited. The addition will be a practice of some sort.  An activity that will draw my attention to the state of my being. 

There are a lot of mindfulness practices like yoga, mediation, prayer, relaxation, devotion, silence & solitude, breathing, and according to the Mindfulness Practice Center at the University of Missouri sometimes bells are involved. Bells seem like too much for me and might lead me to punch someone in the face, which would be opposite of mindful.

I guess I'll just wait and see what the universe choses for me by Wednesday and go with that. 

I wasn't expecting that

For the first time in probably a decade (I do not like that I can account for time in decades), I decided to give up something for Lent. I'm used listening politely to what different people have chosen to give up for the Lenten season and then going on about my business.  For me, it has not seemed like something in which I needed to participate (kind of like watching the Olympics).  For reasons I still cannot explain, last night I felt strongly that I wanted to give up something. I had no idea what or why but I knew something had to go.  Honestly, I didn't want anything too hard. Coffee wasn't an option but things like chocolate or red meat seemed too easy because I have them so rarely.  I finally settled on the suggestion of a friend. Something that posed a personal challenge but not to the extent a week of detox was a requirement.

In the few hours that have passed this first day of Lent I have not had cravings for what I gave up but I have had an increased interest in the reason I've said no.  I'm excited about Lent 2010 because I come to it as a choice not an obligation. I'm looking forward to being a part of the conversation now and not only learning from others but having my own experiences to share.