Lent

I'm not Catholic and I'll be the first to admit that I really don't get Lent. I mean. . . I guess I get it, but I don't really know all the rules, the reasons, and the who/what/why/when/where/how behind it. I know that you're supposed to make a sacrifice (I think) that begins on Ash Wednesday and ends on Easter Sunday. I get that growing up, most of my Catholic friends gave up sodas, candy, chocolate, or swearing. I get that a lot of those same "sacrifices" apply to my adult friends.

I've never "given anything up" for Lent before. It's not required of my faith and I don't (usually) feel personally compelled to better myself for a short period of time. New Year's resolutions do that for me and they tend to stick. In 1997, for example, I gave up sodas. In 2010, I still don't drink sodas.

This year was a bit different. My "sacrifice" isn't really a sacrifice at all, but more of a new perspective that might take some getting used to. On Ash Wednesday, it was (indirectly) brought to my attention that I'd been using Facebook to vent, whine, cry, and otherwise be obnoxious. Who wants to hear/read that? Not me. No time like the present, right? Let's "give up" negative Facebook status updates for Lent (read stop using Facebook to whine).

Do I honestly believe that by making this "sacrifice" that I'll better understand Christ's sacrifice for me? No. Do I believe that it will get me closer to God? No. Do I believe that it will potentially improve my attitude, thus making me a happier person, a better friend, and a less whiny wife? Heck yeah. So far, I think it's working. It's helping me to focus on the silver lining, so to speak, and it's forcing me to shout joyous things to the world rather than beat myself up over Daniel's naptime. It might not fit the rules and it might not really be considered a sacrifice, but man - it sure has helped.

So thanks, world, for bringing this obnoxious habit to my attention at the right moment for me to do something about it. I feel better already.