i was talking to my older sister the other day, and she dared me to give up models for Lent. whatever. i don’t think she was joking though. even if she wasn’t, i wouldn’t. what about you? would you give up models for Lent? i know its a little late, but… be honest, and the Easter Bunny might give you an extra candy-egg in a couple of weeks! [:O] [swg] take care ya’ll
The most recent philosophy has not been so much to give something up as to do something extra, a positive, pro-active approach rather than a negative one. This attitude has the potential of on going benefits as you develop a habit of doing that whatever, instead of punishing yourself (and resenting those that would deprive you of something.) Self depravation gets you, well, depravation. Doing somethiong extra will potentially help others as well.
As someone who’s been AROUND Catholocism, but never part of it, that actually sounds kind of cool. Having been around it I understood the reasoning for it, but the practice didn’t seem to often live up to it - at least to this observer. I’d see people give up smoking or drinking, just to start again after Easter (and yes, be resentful, cantankerous and whatnot the entire time). And the whole meatless thing never made much sense to me - not just because I hate eating fish, but it seemed so many folks in the Jesuit high school and college I went to were eating skanky fried cod automatically, out of habit, without putting much thought to it. I know for several folks it’s a prayerful, reflective experience, but it seems lots of other folks just make themsevles miserable out of habit every spring “just because” and if there’s any thought behind it at all it’s often this one upmanship of who can make themselves more miserable.
The doing something good sound much better all the way around. Why not make the world a better place, instead of making me endure your bad mood while you jones for a smoke - or even worse smell that nasty fish…