Today’s Ash Wednesday. Lent begins again and it’s the time for penance and reflections and praying. Fasting for today and followed by forty days of abstinence.
Traditionally, the practice is to abstain from meat, which is represented by flesh and organs of mammals and fowls, in honour of the passion of Christ on Good Friday. And which practice I only realised today that the limitation of abstinence extends to the soup and gravy containing meat. No more mommy's soup for the next few weeks!
Like many others, I too keep vigil of such practice. Since it’s up to individuals to give up something one enjoys during this Lent period, I also tried to give up something that I have been doing for more than a decade. I gave up smoking for Lent two years back. It worked for me then and the experience made me understand that kicking die hard habits is all about focus and determination; mind over matter. I am going to try again this year. Stop smoking, this time for good. I have been meaning to quit, just that I have given myself tons of excuses not to. Abstinence during this Lent period is a great way for me to kick the habit for good, no more excuses. I look forward to having sparkling white teeth and be able to confidently say that the smell of smoke permeates me no more!! :)) So the time has come for me to bid goodbye to my final pack of ciggy!
Traditionally, the practice is to abstain from meat, which is represented by flesh and organs of mammals and fowls, in honour of the passion of Christ on Good Friday. And which practice I only realised today that the limitation of abstinence extends to the soup and gravy containing meat. No more mommy's soup for the next few weeks!
Like many others, I too keep vigil of such practice. Since it’s up to individuals to give up something one enjoys during this Lent period, I also tried to give up something that I have been doing for more than a decade. I gave up smoking for Lent two years back. It worked for me then and the experience made me understand that kicking die hard habits is all about focus and determination; mind over matter. I am going to try again this year. Stop smoking, this time for good. I have been meaning to quit, just that I have given myself tons of excuses not to. Abstinence during this Lent period is a great way for me to kick the habit for good, no more excuses. I look forward to having sparkling white teeth and be able to confidently say that the smell of smoke permeates me no more!! :)) So the time has come for me to bid goodbye to my final pack of ciggy!
