What are you giving up? #Lent

Sometimes giving up things or making a change requires a little motivation. Change does not always come easy, sometimes we need a reason.Tomorrow happens to be Ash Wednesday, which is also the beginning of Lent. So what is Lent? In the Catholic Church, Lent is the season of preparation for the resurrection of Jesus on Easter Sunday. It begins on Ash Wednesday and ends on Holy Saturday, the day before Easter. 

Honestly, I have never been good with remembering when Lent began. I normally happen to be doing something online and see that is starts during whatever week I am in. Maybe it is some kind of sign that I need to be participating in it each year.  I do know what it is about and I remember when I was younger we did celebrate it in my family. 
I think alot of people tend to take the easy way out and give up something like chocolate, sugar, or some form of their social media. I think those are simple. Then once Lent is over they go back to whatever it is they gave up. Doesn't that kind of lose sight of the meaning behind Lent? I think so. Think of something that is in your life that you have been really want to get rid of, something big that will actually make an impact on you and your life? 


Here are some random ideas to maybe get you started. Do the same thing over the 40 days or pick 1 thing to do each day. 
     - No negativity. I think that is a bit huge for me off and on. Some days I go about my business and let nothing bother me. Other days, not so much. I let the negativity in and with it comes doubt and questioning and all kinds of over thinking. 
     -Random acts of kindness is always a good thing. Do something nice for someone each day. It doesn't necessarily have to be anything huge....hold a door, say thank you a little more, pay for the person in line behind you, leave some change on a package of diapers in the store, leave a random note. 
     -Sugar or chocolate or whatever bad eating habits you may have. If you are going to give it up just try to make it last longer than the 40 days. Maybe this is the jump start needed for your weight loss or life change of some kind. 
     -Donate. Donate 40 things from each room, 40 items in total, or for 40 days. Whatever your family feels comfortable with. 

I am going to add a challenge to Lent this year. Another photo challenge to get me to finish things I start more often. I have a tendency to start things and then the day to day gets busy and I get distracted. 

There are also ideas flying all over the internet. Of course on Pinterest. I have found a few to share from there as well. 
I love this first idea with the rocks from The Paquettes. We do something similar on New Years Eve so this caught my attention. We write 1 thing we want to get rid of for the New Year and then throw it into the water. 

Create a bowl of black stones and write 1 thing you wish to give up everyday. At the end of Lent keep the bowl around to remind you of your goals. 

A little more of a traditional way to keep track of Lent. 

A Lent Calendar to keep track of things to do daily.