To give up:
• Soda.
• Sweetened iced tea.
• All sweets (desserts, candy, etc.).
• Swearing.
• Swearing in the presence of my daughter.
• Watching questionable movies before Tink’s bedtime.
• Wearing yoga pants outside the house after 10 a.m. when no exercise had actually taken place.
• Losing track of time while searching for jobs online and then putting Tink to bed an hour after her regular naptime, thereby pissing off a 3-year-old who thought she had pulled off the ultimate naptime con.
• Asking my husband what I should make for dinner when I am not working for a regular paycheck, making “making dinner” really the only job (other than raising a child) I have and I can’t even handle that.
• Staying up late following all the “How to Make Your Posts Go Viral” and “5 Steps to Becoming a Six-Figure Blogger” links on Twitter and then, since I already blew the chance to get to bed early, staying up later, just in case I haven’t already seen one of the back-to-back episodes of “Will & Grace” that start at 11 p.m.
To do:
• Get up an hour earlier.
• Work out every time I pull on those yoga pants.
• Eat a breakfast with protein every morning.
• Print, fill out and follow a daily agenda.
• Tackle one offbeat cleaning task a week (eg., vacuum the sofa cushions, wipe down blinds or, you know, dust).
What I decided on:
• Give up soda.
• Give up sweetened tea.
• Give up all sweets.
• Get up an hour earlier.
• Eat a protein-filled breakfast.
Lenten resolutions already broken since last Wednesday:
• The soda thing.
• The sweets thing.
• Getting up earlier.
• Healthy breakfast.
For those keeping score at home, that leaves:
• No sweet tea.
The very model of discipline.
Read the day’s other lists over at Anna’s:
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{ 16 comments… read them below or add one }
Sue G. 03.02.09 at 10:41 pm
That is EXACTLY how I went about doing it way back when – when I USED to actually give things up for Lent. But my life, and my beliefs have changed a bit since then. Now being a Mom, I give up so much (gladly of course), but I don’t feel I ever need to remind myself what sacrifice is….now instead of taking things out of my life, I’m trying to put the good things in it more often (like patience and understanding!)
Kathleen 03.02.09 at 10:52 pm
Ok…That really made me laugh! My soda sacrifice lasted 2 hours
eliz 03.02.09 at 10:54 pm
@Sue G. – Putting good things in is a great little gift to yourself. I’m constantly on a self-improvement jag – how can I clean the house quicker, be more organized when it comes to planning meals, fitting in more exercise, etc. – so I naturally see Lent as a second-chance at those new year’s resolutions from two months ago.
eliz 03.02.09 at 10:57 pm
@Kathleen – I can think of nothing but a Diet Coke over ice. My torment these past six days is unequivocal proof that soda is as addictive as cocaine.
suburbancorrespondent 03.02.09 at 11:00 pm
Way to lower the bar! Thanks!
But, seriously, should Lent be about self-improvement? I don’t think so, so you’re off the hook. I think it’s more about putting God at the center rather than other things like, say, where your next box of Trefoils is coming from.
But then, what do I know? I’m Jewish.
suburbancorrespondent’s last blog post..All The Good Post Titles Are Taken
eliz 03.02.09 at 11:11 pm
@SC – I live to serve. My motto: Lowering the bar since 2006.
You’re right about Lent, sort of. There is an element of sacrifice (whether Diet Coke or Trefoils) to it, but, no, it shouldn’t be about starting some new workout so you can lose 10 pounds in 40 days. Perhaps what I really should be giving up for Lent is making it all about me.
abdpbt 03.02.09 at 11:53 pm
Giving up soda?! You crazy. I need to do that printing up list of stuff to do thing, but I keep forgetting. Probably need a list. Also, lucky I’m not Catholic and am not really even clear on what Lent is.
abdpbt’s last blog post..18 Baby Gift Ideas For Your Neighbor Who Just Had Octuplets
Emily 03.03.09 at 12:05 am
I’ve tried to give up soda several times (but not for Lent, as I am not Catholic– I have earth-centered spiritual beliefs) and it is SO difficult! Take Diet Coke for an example. The caffeine… the bubbles… the pleasant taste… mmmmm. Aspartame. Never mind that aspartame isn’t good for you at all, it’s been deemed a poison, actually. I’ve come to a compromise between me and soda– water almost all of the time and soda as an occasional treat. It seems to work out well, and I end up appreciating the deliciousness of it even more than I had before.
Emily’s last blog post..Top Five Pieces Of Art I’ve Created
eliz 03.03.09 at 12:07 am
@abdpbt – Well, as you can tell from my exchange with suburbancorrespondent, I’ve co-opted Lent for my own narcissistic purposes, so I’m sure as hell not someone who can explain it properly.
I’ve been using this list sporadically, and I think it fits my needs. I didn’t want to link to it on the post, because, well, you know:
http://simplemom.net/daily-docket-free-printable-to-do-list/
eliz 03.03.09 at 12:09 am
@emily – I can’t stop at one Coke, either diet or regular. I can’t relegate to occasional treat status. Pretty much the definition of addiction, no?
Emily 03.03.09 at 12:19 am
Yep. I agree– I think you’re addicted. I used to drink tons of diet coke… six or seven cans a day when I was in the worst of my anorexia because they would fill me up and prevent hunger pains. By the way, thanks for commenting on my blog! I am doing much, much better now and am in recovery from my eating disorder. I’m not recovered yet… but I’m getting there, slowly, step by step.
Emily’s last blog post..Top Five Pieces Of Art I’ve Created
Charlotte 03.03.09 at 12:30 am
Eliz – I love *your* blog! You use the snarky voice I don’t totally let loose over at my blog because I’ve made the blog mostly Catholic-ish. Your blog is fulfilling a need in me to be WHOLE – as in a WHOLE adult that used to enjoy things. The truth is, I have a completely separate and valid other voice that doesn’t get aired on my blog. So for now, I’ll take some inspiration from you!
Charlotte’s last blog post..Char’s Memories of the 80’s – Volume 5
eliz 03.03.09 at 12:51 am
@Charlotte – You HAVE to e-mail me. Shoot me a hey at eliz@tinksmom.com so I can thank you properly!
Liz A. 03.03.09 at 2:22 pm
Um, I ask my husband what to make for dinner almost every night. That’s bad? Crap, I’m a bad housewife. Well, I knew that anyway. I swear there isn’t mildew on my shower curtain.
I’m dieting, so I’m not giving up anything else in my 1200 calorie a day. I like the protein for breakfast idea. I do it some days with a fried egg and colby. The incredible, edible egg…
Liz A.’s last blog post..Not too bad overall.
abdpbt 03.04.09 at 2:41 pm
@eliz, I was going to ask if you were using that! HAH! I have thought about printing it out and then I keep refusing to. I need to just swallow my pride and give credit where credit is due.
abdpbt’s last blog post..A DAY IN THE PARK
eliz 03.04.09 at 4:51 pm
@abdpbt – I like the smaller version that is two to a page, but I do wish I could customize it a bit. I’m sure if I spent some time fiddling around I could make the perfect one for me.