Ash Wednesday has come and gone, and the season of Lent is upon us.
I didn’t grow up participating in the customs of Lent, and I generally believe that one’s religious commitment to fasting or self-improvement is something personal that shouldn’t be broadcast all over social media.
Nevertheless, I’ve been thinking of the whole idea of Lenten sacrifice in a different way.
It’s inspiring, motivational, and humbling to give up things that we normally enjoy or consume in excess—whether it’s coffee, sweets, social media, meat, TV, alcohol, or something else—but as symbolic as the 40 days of fasting are, something about knowing your “sacrifice” will end after 40 (well, 47 days) seems strange to me.
Sure, I don’t eat meat on Fridays during Lent and I am once again trying to avoid alcohol (more as an experiment to see if my weeknight glasses of wine are the cause of my few-pound weight gain and tiredness of late), but I wanted to offer a different way to give of ourselves and pay respect to our faiths.
Instead of taking from your life for Lent, why not try adding to your life?
5 Ways To Add To Your Life During Lent
1. Volunteer
Some of my best memories from college involve volunteering. Mark and I started dating the day after a volunteer cleanup in coastal Mississippi after Hurricane Katrina. While finding the time to volunteer is difficult while working fulltime and raising my son, I want to bring it back to my life. Giving your time—whether it’s through building homes, serving the homeless, reading to sick children, or mowing the lawn at your community church—is one of the most fulfilling ways to give.
2. Begin (or return to) journaling or devotionals
I mentioned a while back that I wanted to start journaling again, but unfortunately I haven’t stuck to that goal…yet. I feel that Lent is a perfect opportunity to commit to self-reflection and meditation through journaling or even a daily devotional. Journaling is the best way to create a practice of daily gratitude.
3. De-clutter…and donate
Have you guys heard of the “40 bags in 40 days” challenge? I’ve seen it circulating social media, and while I don’t think I have 40 bags of stuff I could get rid of (ok, I probably do), I love the premise of it. Why not use these 40 days to clean out the clutter and reintroduce the things you love into your life? Take decluttering a step further by choosing things that are in good condition to donate to a daycare, homeless shelter, school, or loved one.
4. Fitness or Yoga Challenge
Since I’ve failed at my pseudo-New Year’s resolution (even though I don’t really make those anymore) of incorporating daily yoga and stretching into my routine, I am revisiting the idea during Lent. On days that I don’t workout at the gym or attend a fitness class, I’m aiming to spend at least 10 (hopefully more like 30) minutes stretching. If you’ve been longing to try a new fitness studio or class, use this time as an opportunity to join a fitness challenge. Then you can use that added energy toward accomplishing your Lenten sacrifices.
5. Read
If you’ve resolved in the past to read more but haven’t quite made it there, why not set a goal to read a certain number of books during Lent? Another wonderful idea is to commit to reading the Bible if it’s something you’ve never done before (truth: I’ve never read it cover to cover). If you’re already committing to a social media cleanse, then fill some of that newfound time with books that inspire or teach you something new.
Bottom line, Lent is a spiritual time of reflection, commitment to faith and to others, and being a positive light in the world.
However—and if—you choose to follow the customs, I challenge you to rethink your ideas and try adding to your life and to the world around you.
5 ways to ADD to your life during this season of Lent Share on X[linking up for thinking out loud]
So tell me…
- Did you grow up in a household or faith that followed the rituals and customs of Lent?
- What is one way you wish to ADD to your life or to the lives of others this year?
LOVE your message of adding in rather than taking away. Such a good way of reframing 🙂
Thanks, Sarah. I think there’s room for both, but ultimately it’s about the right intentions.
Great idea to add instead of subtract. I think that mindset helps habits stick better than taking something away!
Absolutely! If you’re trying to improve your habits, knowing others are making some sort of sacrifice or change probably makes it a little easier to stick with it, too.
Love reading this post. These past few years, I’ve tried ADDING things to my life during Lent, instead of just giving up chocolate or desserts or something that. Although doing so has good intentions, it’s ultimately minor when you get to eat those foods the rest of the year. Thanks for the ideas!
Thank you, Jess. I guess whatever you decide to do – give up or add – it really matters what your intentions are, like you said.
This is such a great post. I shared it.
Reading a few Bible books is one of my projects for the 40-day period.
Thanks! I don’t even know where I would start reading Bible books. I know a lot of people read it chronologically, but I feel like some of the Old Testament is so dense and harsh.
That’s a great re-interpretation of the intention of Lent, Catherine. Especially the ideas that add to others’ lives, too. Doing good for others makes us happy, too – a win-win situation!
Aside from the fact I personally find adding to my life easier than abstaining I also know a few people who have been following the rules of Lent in past years. One of my friends gave up coffee and sugar during a particularly taxing year of her life and was quite grumpy as a result. I think she might have benefited from seeing Lent the way you suggest.
I think giving up coffee would make me quite grumpy too – which is the opposite of how I’d want to feel during Lent. Sacrifice is one thing, but you don’t want to sacrifice kindness as well.
I started volunteering last year and I was blown away by how much I got out of it. I genuinely went to help others but ended up being helped so much, myself.
Plus it has taught me a lot about working with children! They can be quite the handful.
Yes, children can be a handful! I used to volunteer at my church during Vacation Bible School, and keeping up with the kids was hard. Thank goodness I just have one of my own, haha.
i didn’t grow up observing Lent, but I try to know. This year I’m focusing on serving others, and volunteering at homeless shelters and food pantries. It’s hard to call it a sacrifice when i get so much out of it.
That is such an incredible way to give back this year. I feel like as I get older, I’m more aware of the needs of my community and I want to give back as much as I can.