When I was growing up as an Assemblies of God pastors kid legacy major, I had no idea what the idea of "Lent" was. That's for Catholics, I thought. We had 40 Days of Purpose (newsflash evangelicals, its the same. thing.). I only started "giving up" things once I moved to a United Methodist church about 5 years ago. (About the time I started taking communion using intinction rather than taking it from a prepackaged cup at my seat and it completely changed me.) I usually give up fried food, cursing, booze, meat, or the inevitable chocolate for Lent. I end up giving up about 8 days later and never think about it again.
Last year my best friend Emma posted this blog about instead of giving something up for Lent we add something that would change our views. Like, maybe we should try to eat chocolate every day for lent. We aren't all in the same place! Who is to say that I should give up eating french fries and focus on God's grace in the time I would be eating said fries. It just doesn't make any sense to me.
Last year for Lent I decided I would do one thing a day just for myself. Buy myself flowers, make myself cookies, clean my bathroom, go out with my 2 girlfriends, make a homemade margarita, talk to my mom for 2 hours on the phone, have a date with my husband, and while I'm doing such things I would thank God for my ability to do these things. I was in a very dark place this time last year and it only got worse as the year went on. I do remember though, feeling like I loved my life a little more during this time.
Recently I have really realized my struggle with self image. It is something I will always struggle with I've come to understand. So, naturally, my first thought was to workout and diet every day this year for lent. Essentially, lose weight for God and if I don't it will not only be a defeat against myself but also my faith. Obviously a horrible, and selfish, idea. I just want to not feel like I am obsessed with how much I weigh.
So I have decided to give up weighing myself for the entire lenten season. If you know me, you know I'm weighing myself every single day and beating myself up over .6 lbs I've gained, lost, or maintained. During my obsessive habits, freak outs, work outs, etc. I'm going to instead give my God thanks for giving me the ability to choose how I deal with different things and for the pretty awesome life I have. Like while I may live my life, take communion, pray, and go to church differently then some (and differently than I would've thought 6 years ago), I know that the faith, grace, and love God has for me is all I need.
Here's to a new perspective! Happy Lenting!
xxLesley
Monday, February 20, 2012
Friday, February 17, 2012
Update on 12 in 2012
I thought I would give a quick update on how I'm doing this year on my 12 things to do in 2012!! It has been a pretty amazing 2012 so far!
1. Live on an actual budget. Well, I signed up for www.mint.com and really tried the budget thing. It may or may not be looked at. Ever. I really should've thought this one out. :)
2. Read a book a month. Well!! I actually have read 4 books so far this year! I finished Water for Elephants, The Hunger Games Trilogy(Hunger Games, Catching Fire, Mockingjay) and Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me by Minday Kaling. Any suggestions on my next one??
3. BUY A NEW COUCH. Hopefully this will happen soon.
4. Go to the BEACH. Never again will I not let my feet hit the sand and water with my friends. Flights BOOKED!!! April 9th cannot come soon enough.
5. Start playing the piano again. Well, I really don't have a piano. Must figure that out.
6. Lose 20 lbs by my birthday, April 6, and maintain it all year. I really have rethought this one. I don't want to have a particular set amount in mind. I want to change my lifestyle and just be more healthy. I have thrown out my scale, and hopefully this will help give me some freedom from my obsession with weight without having some crazy diet keeping me down.
7. Spend more time with friends that live elsewhere. I have set some dates to go back to Dallas AND Shreveport! Huzzah!
8. Actually watch ALL the movies nominated for Best Picture before the Oscars. I'm getting there! Only 3 left!!
9. Go to a Bulls game. I think we're thinking about the end of March. Denver Nuggets game??
10. Buy my DREAM Michael Kors watch. THIS WEEKEND!!!!!!
11. Decorate my apartment EXACTLY like I've been picturing and keep it CLEAN!! I have really been good about decorating it but keeping it clean? I may have to wait until Kaci Kimball is here :)
12. Cook 4 nights a week. Eh? Hopefully I'll just start cooking again.
Really in the past 6 weeks of 2012, I have come along way. When I wrote all of these down I wasn't thinking about actually doing something on all of these. I'm glad I'm mostly keeping up with these things and hopefully the next 10 1/2 months will give me time to complete the others :)
xx Lesley
1. Live on an actual budget. Well, I signed up for www.mint.com and really tried the budget thing. It may or may not be looked at. Ever. I really should've thought this one out. :)
2. Read a book a month. Well!! I actually have read 4 books so far this year! I finished Water for Elephants, The Hunger Games Trilogy(Hunger Games, Catching Fire, Mockingjay) and Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me by Minday Kaling. Any suggestions on my next one??
3. BUY A NEW COUCH. Hopefully this will happen soon.
4. Go to the BEACH. Never again will I not let my feet hit the sand and water with my friends. Flights BOOKED!!! April 9th cannot come soon enough.
5. Start playing the piano again. Well, I really don't have a piano. Must figure that out.
6. Lose 20 lbs by my birthday, April 6, and maintain it all year. I really have rethought this one. I don't want to have a particular set amount in mind. I want to change my lifestyle and just be more healthy. I have thrown out my scale, and hopefully this will help give me some freedom from my obsession with weight without having some crazy diet keeping me down.
7. Spend more time with friends that live elsewhere. I have set some dates to go back to Dallas AND Shreveport! Huzzah!
8. Actually watch ALL the movies nominated for Best Picture before the Oscars. I'm getting there! Only 3 left!!
9. Go to a Bulls game. I think we're thinking about the end of March. Denver Nuggets game??
10. Buy my DREAM Michael Kors watch. THIS WEEKEND!!!!!!
11. Decorate my apartment EXACTLY like I've been picturing and keep it CLEAN!! I have really been good about decorating it but keeping it clean? I may have to wait until Kaci Kimball is here :)
12. Cook 4 nights a week. Eh? Hopefully I'll just start cooking again.
Really in the past 6 weeks of 2012, I have come along way. When I wrote all of these down I wasn't thinking about actually doing something on all of these. I'm glad I'm mostly keeping up with these things and hopefully the next 10 1/2 months will give me time to complete the others :)
xx Lesley
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)