And unto dust I shall return

[apple_pathways]

Tomorrow is Ash Wednesday. Though I'm a lapsed Catholic and an atheist, I still believe in the ritual of fasting/denial. I think giving something up, denying oneself, focuses the mind and forces you to examine yourself. And so I want to give something up for Lent.

I'm thinking of giving up meat, but I'm not sure if it's entirely practical. (I've given up meat for a week at a time before, but certainly never for 40 days (46 with Sundays) before. Perhaps give up red meat? Or use the christian definition of meat and give up everything but fish? I'm not sure.

Does anyone else plan on denying themselves? Have any tales of fasting to share with me?

Did anyone eat a Pączki today? I forgot to get one. Hmm, perhaps I'll get a discount if I seek one out tomorrow...

Should I give up sweets instead?

Comments

[housemaid79.livejournal.com]

This is something I've been thinking about myself. It would be my first time participating in Lent, and I'm still trying to decide what to give up. I do have one idea, but I'm pretty reluctant to give it up...which is probably a sign that it would a good thing to pick.

Also, the Pączki? I admit, I had to Google the word, but wow - they look delicious!

[apple-pathways.livejournal.com]

I forget that pączki aren't common Fat Tuesday/Mardi Gras fare all over the country! Where I live, they're inextricably linked: in fact, a lot of people call it Pączki Day! (And if you're wondering how to pronounce it, it's poonch-key!) Michigan has a big Polish population, so that's probably why.

Yeah, it's hard to decide what to deny yourself! You want it to be difficult enough to make it meaningful, but not so hard that you're miserable and cave a week or two in.