I am not currently a very good or practicing Catholic, but I do like the concept of Lent. I like taking the time to try to deprive oneself of something important and valued and to test one's will-power. I believe it makes us appreciate how much we have available to us on a regular basis.
Having said that, I should also note that I am absolutely terrible at giving things up for Lent. Awful. Last year I tried to give up cheese. I don't think I made it one day. Not ONE day! I really am not sure how I would live without cheese. I was insane to try. I've heard of people giving up sweets (or--heaven forbid--sugar all together!) and I cannot imagine. Especially since now is the prime-time to pick up my favorite candy: Easter Egg Peanut Butter M&M's. A girlfriend of mine gave up fried foods (& another one gave up Mexican) but, though I love both of those things, I don't indulge in either very often. It wouldn't be a sacrifice.
Things that would be very hard for me to sacrifice:
Coffee/caffiene
Sugar
Drinking/Wine
Cheese
Meat
Things it would be moderately hard for me to sacrifice:
Dining Out/Happy Hour
Sushi
Panera
Subway
Vapiano
One specific type of Dessert: Nutella, PB M&M's, etc.
Things it would be easy for me to sacrifice:
Hard Liquor/Beer
Crab Dip/Crab Pretzels
Chinese Food
Mexican Food
Sex (should be a piece of cake if my dating status continues as placidly as it has been.)
What I usually do, to ensure complete and total failure, is to try to sacrifice everything on list 2 & 3, to make up for not sacrificing anything on list one. This will most likely be the outcome this year again....If anyone out there is actually vigilantly sacrificing a beloved treat, I applaud your efforts and your willpower.
Finally, I stole this from Mark Shea's blog because it made me giggle:
