Lent, what if anything are you giving up?

I’m with you Hetty. Given up too much in my life already , to mostly ungrateful people…..so now I live on my own ….no more giving up what I want.!

I dont give up anything unless it serves me in some way. Everything I have I have earned.

Even for the non religious it's no bad thing to either give up something that you are a bit addicted to or cut it down, or take up something that does good to you, your community or family. Doesn't have to be choc or booze etc, it could be a commitment to eat a more frugal meal, so many times a week, if you put the amount not spent, if it is a thing that costs, into a piggy bank you could donate to a good cause of your choice come Easter. You could take up going for a 20 min walk or studying something or even as I did one year, declutter the house using 40 bags, I used supermarket carrier bags but other sizes are available if you have loads of decluttering to do. I don't know what project you've been putting off that really you ought to do, maybe 20 mins weeding or doing a random act of kindness every day, or putting by 40 items for the food bank.
Remember, Sundays don't count even if you are not religious!

I've heard some wonderful ideas here, and many of you are thinking about giving up things that I'm giving up or have given up. You'd be surprised how easy it is to give up alcohol once you just decide to do it. For all the worriers out there, there is a book about St Teresa of Avila and her constant prayer and struggle to surrender her life to God. She has a nine day novena, a very short prayer for 9 days, in which she prays always to let God handle things. I'm a worrier and a plan B person, and I'm trying to give up my fretting ways, and let God do it. I'm trying to have more faith. I have the faith, it's just that I really think He needs my help, but in truth, He seems to be doing well on His own. Lots going on in our household, so it's a bit of a trying time, but every day I do pray that after I've done my bit, I can let go and give it to Him. I don't think of it as a religious thing. I think of it as a thing that we do to commemorate the sacrifice God made, and to practice a little self-mortification is not a bad thing.

I am going to try fasting from using the internet on phone or iPad on Wednesdays and Fridays and engage in more spiritual meditations in RC faith. I think not using internet will be harder than fasting from chocolate or cake, neither of which I should be eating anyway due to diabetes. 🙏