I’ve spent a lot of time the last week, contemplating Lent and what to “give up” for it.

Did you know that today is considered “Fat Thursday?” I didn’t until I searched “lent” on Twitter. Which of course sent me to Google. And the only real information I could find on it was from Wikipedia.  According to that page, it is a Polish and German tradition. It’s not to be confused with “Fat Tuesday” but its not all THAT different, as best I could tell. Apparently you’re supposed to eat a lot of donuts today. Which isn’t going to happen for me, despite having a German heritage. But if you partake, rock on and enjoy. Have a cinnamon and sugar covered one for me.

But like I said, I am thinking a lot about Lent and I had a few ideas. Feel free to throw ideas out at me, or take some of these for yourself…

• Stop eating when I’m full… not when the plate is empty. I used to be GREAT at this back in the day. I need that habit back, and I think a LOT of things would straighten up behind that. I can make a conscious effort to do this through Lent, and hopefully in doing so, turn it into a habit.
• Give up alcohol. Or at the very least, cut it back dramatically. (I don’t mind a glass of wine here and there, or a beer now and then. But save them for “special occasions” within Lent.)

  

• Pretend I never found Lactose Intolerance pills. I think some of my sinus issues could be curbed if I cut out milk products for awhile. And I am sure I’d lose at least a few pounds doing so as well. So I am seriously considering cutting out/back my milk product consumption through Lent and see what happens.
• Photo-A-Day. I’ve skipped doing a Project 365 for this year, but I do miss that challenge of a photo a day. I thought maybe I could up the ante a bit. Four photos every day for Lent. A selfie, the sky/weather, something I am grateful for, and then photographer’s choice. How’s THAT for a challenge to improve some of my skills?  Of course, I can take more than that, but definitely do those four every day.
  
• No soda.
• No chocolate.
• Spend money only on necessities and not on “wants.” (Good thing the new Eli Young Band CD comes out on Fat Tuesday! Oh wait, I could possibly justify that as a necessity. Right? Ha!)
• Eat out less. Cook at home more.

  

• Say a rosary at LEAST once a week.
• Say my prayers every single night of the week… even if it means forcing myself to stay awake to do so.
• Cut back Facebook time.
• Take a deep breath and curb the road rage.
• No procrastinating. (Maybe I can do this one next year…) (Oh I know that’s an old joke, but admit it… you laughed.)
• Get up earlier.
• Go to bed earlier.
  
• Put the cell phone in my purse when at a restaurant instead of on the table.
• Blog every day. Even if its just the prior day’s photos. (See what I did there? Multitasking.)
• No cursing. Or at least curse less. Ask myself if the statement REALLY need that extra oomph of point?
• Exercise more. Don’t just ride the couch all evening. Get up and move around! Even if its just straightening up the room. MOVE.
• Try new recipes. Healthy recipes.
• Drink more water.
  
• Cut back on the caffeine.
• No gossiping.

No, I’m not doing ALL of these. But maybe I can take a bit from here and there on this list. Maybe I should just resolve to “do better” and “make fewer excuses.” No matter what, I want to better myself.

What ideas do you have? What are you planning to do for Lent this year?