Give it up already
Those of you not familiar with the inner workings of Catholicism (and I'm by no means an expert) might have missed that it is currently Lent. 
From what I can gather, for a period of 40 days you give up something that you enjoy...and the finer points of the spiritual effect of this lack of indulgence are a bit lost on me, to be honest.
Some contend that St Patrick's day, which falls during Lent, doesn't count. This is known as the "Pisshead Exclusion" but I'm pretty sure that it's not an exception that has been signed off on by the Vatican. Still, it's an interesting idea, denial for denial's sake.
As someone who has shown an almost complete lack of discipline in any area of self-improvement, ever, I kind of like the idea of enforced frugality. If it weren't for my pronounced atheistic bent and stubborn commitment to the use of birth control, Catholicism and I might really hit it off. After all I'm already used to regular confession (I do it here, four times a week, rather than just on Sunday at church) but alas, I fear Catholicism and I are fated to nothing more than innocent flirtation.
But back to the giving up - what, in the interests of self-denial, should somebody give up?
The obvious options are alcohol (other than imbibed during the "Pisshead Exclusion"), smoking, chocolate, sex, and coffee. Basically all the fun stuff, which I suppose is the point. Still, some of those are easier than others to do without and as long as you're not ditching all of them all at once, they're kind of doable but not very inventive.
I think that we can do better, so here's my list of possible Lent-friendly things to deny yourself for the duration.
Catchphrase begone - We all of us have regular verbal tics that we employ on a daily basis, some of us more noticeably than others. Often these come and go in phases. Just at the moment I am thoroughly overusing the word "awesome". In reality Neil Patrick Harris is entirely to blame for this situation but I've got to take some responsibility, so I will de-awesome. Starting now. Awesome. Shoot! Starting NOW.
Social networking and the "refresh syndrome" - Some days, I have a worrying Twitter problem, one symptom of which is habitual "checking" or reloading of pages. Similar issues arise with Facebook and even checking for comments on this very blog. Could it be time to wind it back a notch or go dark entirely? In short, no. I'd rather go jogging. Braless. So not a very attractive option for me, but might it might be achieveable for you?
Nude cycling - I'm going to cut down on my naked cycling. This will be of benefit to myself (chafing is not to be sniggered about - okay, yes it is) and the general public. Expect to see a drop in motor vehicle accidents in Christchurch in coming weeks.
TV - Ha, ha. Yeah, that's a joke obviously.
Buying shoes - I bought two pairs last week, so that should stave off any cravings for another week or so but by Easter we should be feeling the change of season and it might be difficult to resist some cold-weather footwear purchases. This one sounds superficially easy but may be a challenge so is pitched about right for me...except I have a wedding to go to in a few weeks. Maybe a "Wedding Exclusion" could be instituted?
So, I think I've found it. I'm going to give up buying shoes for Lent (except for wedding shoes) until Easter, just as an exercise in self-restraint. If you should see me out and about in a shoe store feel free to look disapprovingly or perhaps support me with a little "Be strong, Moata. Be strong."
So, if you had to give something up for Lent, what would it be? Do any of the above suggestions appeal?
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I'm gunna give up Lent for Lent
HAHAHAHAAA.... yeah Lent. A chance for Catholics to be *really* miserable.
Nude cycling - should not be peformed by anyone. Nude anything is usually totally fine by me (I support his gardening, walking, shopping nude even) - but I kept thinking yesterday - the horrific road rash you could get if you came off??
Instead of giving something up this year, I think I'll take up something. Thinking exercising every day. THAT'S challenging! previous years I have given up gossip and then facebook. Very hard. But quite rewarding.
What about Wiki-ing? I have a habit of looking stuff up in Wikipedia when ever the slightest question pops into my head.
I'm contemplating giving up shaving my legs for lent in protest of the rubbish "summer" we're having in Chch. Believe me this is a real sacrifice as there seems to be a code at my work which is something along the lines of "if you don't shave your legs you must be a lesbian". (Sigh), the things I put up with for a meagre salary and a fuel card...
I've never been able to understand why anyone would do Lent, in much the same way that I can't understand why anybody would be vegan. Also, I have just finished The Book of the Law in my quest to discover how I can voodoo the slack-arse who sits next to me at work into doing some actual work (any work at all would be gratefully appreciated), and Lent is incompatible with the teachings of Aleister Crowley.
I'm with Davo on this religiousness insanity, BUT I KNOW that I have to give up all the candy/choc I eat. Seriously, it's really bad. I shouldn't just give it up for Lent, I should seriously cut back on my intake forever. I will admit it. In the last week I have eaten FIVE entire king size blocks of chocolate, and an entire bag of Natural Confec. party mix in two evenings. I use chocolate as a meal replacement sometimes, and as a snack, and as something to do while I watch my stories. It's sick. Thankfully I haven't yet expanded to a size requiring new clothes, but it's fairly obvious that if my candy/choc eating habit doesn't get culled soon, I will definitely have to buy new clothes soon. And I HATE shopping. And then there's the teeth-rotting issue. Ugh. Sometimes giving stuff up is a good thing, I suppose. But, will I actually do this...? yes?
I'm a militant atheist with a particular hatred for the Catholic Church so my motto during Lent is "Do it MORE!". I'm exhausted by Easter so need all that chocolate to revive.
I need new glasses, or to make the font on my internet more biggerer. I failed to see the comma's, so at one stage during reading this blog was being impressed by how brave you were to talk about your desire for "smoking chocolate sex". This seemed like a slight overshare, but bold nevertheless.
10 Points for St Patricks day and Neil *Patrick* Harris in the same blog. Awesome. Possibly even legendary.
I'm not a great believer in being miserable to be happy. I will leave that sort of things to masochists. I suppose I could give up rollerblading? As I've never rollerbladed ever, I guess another 40 days of it wouldn't kill me.
/sidetrack : wasn't there a movie "40 Days and 40 Nights" about a guy who went a bit strange after giving up sex?
On the subject of shoes, they don't seem to make them with flames and skulls for boys older than twelve. I find this most vexing.
My friend is constantly giving up all the things he enjoys such as smoking, drinking, computer games and judging by the look on his partner's face, sex. Now he is a joyless, broken man who sighs a lot and is deathly dull to be around. Moderation is healthy, but strict self denial is just asking for trouble.
I should really give up on the pointlessly commenting on blogs.
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Being an Atheist as well (and also coming from a large Catholic family, whose members include a priest and a nun!), I don't give anything up for any imaginary friend in the sky. But....if i did. I guess I could go without coffee, sex, and alcohol for a month or so. Obviously not all of those things, but pick one and I could do it. There have already been times in my life when I have gone without those things for a month of course! And also, I would not be so sure that the Vatican havent signed off the "Pisshead Exclusion". They have certainly signed off crazier things than that in the past (immaculate conception? resurrection?).