Ash Wednesday, Lent and eating fish

I can't believe it is Ash Wednesday and Lent already. It seems like we just finished with Advent and Christmas and here we are. But the good news is despite Easter being early we are heading in the right direction....towards spring and warmer weather. And as I write this a soft, gentle snow is coming down. It's rather pretty if you like snow. But remember we have ZERO control over the weather! Just go with it.

Lent as a kid meant mandatory things at home that you gave up and did. Our usual evening snacks of popcorn or ice cream along with all candy and pop were all off the table. In addition, we said the rosary as a family every night. Can you tell my parents were very devout Catholics? As an adult my mom still refused to believe Sundays during lent were not part of lent. I can't remember the reasoning here but we got no reprieves from our lenten sacrifices and as kids they were sacrifices! Nor did lent end at noon on Easter Saturday as it is believed. It's a small wonder none of us kids, or my dad either for that fact, ever ended up sick by the time we'd get to church on Easter Sunday! We would gorge ourselves on chocolate and marshmallow peeps before heading off to church in our Easter outfits! Talk about a sugar overload! : )

But lent is not all about giving up what is difficult or a reminder to sacrifice but it's also about doing better, even if it is a small thing. The saying goes it takes 21 days to make a habit and 21 days to break a habit, so technically with 40 days of lent you can make some big time changes or improvements in your life.

Regardless of what you do for lent, making the effort, and yes we all trip or fall off the wagon but making an effort is a start and the beginnings of better things. I used to have a cousin who would "give up" smoking and watermelon for lent! He never smoked a day in his life and this was back when watermelon was only found in grocery stores during the summer months. My mom found a watermelon during lent one year and when my cousin was over she served it!! This brought lots of laughs and we all enjoyed the rare treat, even my cousin!

But my take on lent is that it does not matter what you do, give up or change about yourself during this time, but rather making the effort-just do it! And everyone does not need to know what you are doing. That 21-day take on habits, changing them or developing them is a good reminder-don't give up if you fall off the wagon. That means to keep the hope and faith and that in less than a month you can make changes and improvements to your life. Also being the private person I am I don't like to advertise what I am doing or giving up for lent to make it a sacrifice unless you need the accountablility. I love this:

Yep, this pretty much sums me up! So here's to day one of lent 2016. Whatever you choose to do, give up, change or improve on don't give up if you falter or forget, just get back up, cheer for yourself, say a prayer and keep going!

Positive thought of the day: Eat fish...it's good for you and it's not so difficult to take some red meat out of your diet!