Complaining will now cost this blogger $1 per incident...
Yup, for every complaint that comes outta my mouth, a $1 bill goes into a jar! Reason being? It's Lent time baby!!! And after a long hard week of trying to come up with something, I did what every man has to do once in a while - I stole someone's idea ;) So thank you much Kaitlyn, my dearest blogger friend! I now have a game plan to put into action.For those who don't know, every year during Lent (40 days preceding Easter), us Catholics give up something on behalf of the Good Man upstairs. And this "something" is supposed to be challenging as you're basically sacrificing for a while. So giving up something like beets or radishes, or anything else you don't care for doesn't count...although as a kid i may have done this (shh...)
Usually I give up something physical like sodas (VERY hard to do at first, but def. do-able as I found out 2 Lents ago) or even Shopping as i did last year! Which, I gotta say, REALLY makes you realize how much you spend on a daily basis - i highly recommend trying it. In fact, I came close to choosing that one again this year, but it's a lot more easier and less challenging now, so I figured it was time for a new one.
So now comes the No Complaining Rule! Not only will this help me become a better person (hopefully), but it'll give back to the church as well. Every time the Mrs. catches me complaining, or i catch myself, or even if YOU catch me complaint-blogging, that jar will fill up with $1 bills. And at the end of these 40 days - on Easter - I shall tithe all this money to our church :) And at the rate i've been going lately, it'll be a hefty amount!
It's a Win-Win situation all around, and I'm very excited/nervous to get started. I've already slipped once and it's been less than 24 hours! haha...But I'll be damned if I don't come outta this much better than I came in. Anyone wanna join me? Anyone give something different up?
Labels: challenges, life, religion
posted by J. Money at
10:47 AM
25 Comments:
I'm actually not Catholic, but started observing Lent while I was in college because most of my friends did (they are Wesleyan, so they observe). This year I decided to do a "Daniel fast" from the book of Daniel in the OT. So for my 40ish days I only get to eat fruits, vegetables, nuts and grains and drink water. Other years I gave up fast food (that was really hard for me but nice on the wallet), soda and going to the movies. So far I haven't messed up yet- and I even got through a birthday party on Saturday night with no cake and ice cream!
Good for you! This could be really cool... and probably not as expensive as you would think. I bet once you get out of the habit it will come easy.
I gave up juice and red meat (that takes care of Pizza and Subway sandwiches...ouch).
If I had to do your dollar challenge I think I would run out of money this month because it is exam time and all my students are CRAZY!!!!!!!!!
That is a great choice for Lent. It really helps one realize how often one does complain. I hope it goes well for you and you don't 'make' too much money. While we are not Catholic, I have given up cheesecake (which is very hard), my older has given up gum and my younger has given up pop and chips.
I'm working on my cursing habit this time around. Last year I gave up chocolate and peanut butter...and it was TORTUROUS!
The cursing thing..its going ok. I need to work much harder though!
Oh, this is a good one, and not just for Lent. I read somewhere that it takes 45 days to break a habit. Not only are you doing something good to contribute to the church, you are improving yourself. Good Luck!
I'm not Catholic ... more buddhist ... but whenever lent, ramadan or gay pride week comes along, I'm tempted to join in and do the thing. Problem is, I usually find out too late (aw, crap ... the parade is Saturday? you mean I could've been gay all week and missed it??) ..
Anyway, my cohost is catholic, so I got the heads-up for lent .. and I think I'll try giving up cinnamon buns. It's been pretty easy so far, since they're out of cinnamon buns at the diner downstairs. The problem with my rules is that my commitment did not include small chocolate cakes.
this is creative and i like it!!! i never even thought to give up an action/behavior. this year, i'm giving up McDonald's which is super hard for me. it's so bad that their employees know me and know my order based on the time of day. thanks for sharing such a cool idea.
I also participate in the season of Lent and this year I am giving up shopping for clothes & shoes for myself. This is one habit that is very hard to give up, but I know that I will benefit from it and save a bit of $$. Thank you for all your interesting and helpful posts.
Yeah lent-shment. Nothing whatsover to do with Biblical Christianity, just an excuse for the self-righteous to self-flagelate in public, in private or wherever.
In my book lent means you've lent something to someone and ought to get it back!
@Laura - holy moly, that would be quite impressive if you could pull that off! no way in hell i can - like my meat too much ;)
@Ashley @ Wide Open Wallet - Thanks! I sure hope so...I think remembering not to do it while blogging is going to be the hardest part.
@lulugal11 - haha, yeah i hear ya. but juice AND red meat? dang you are on fire over there.
@Jolie - it'll def. be an interesting adventure, that's for sure :) you all have some great items too.
@Brandi - now THAT would be hard! i did it a few years back and got use to it, but then when i started cursing again it felt so strange?! although it's probably a good thing - right, bitch ;)
@erika's funny farm - thanks! 45 days, huh? sounds about right.
@bigasssuperstar - you should start one of your own too. say like, "Big Ass Week"?! haha...i'd totally help test it out for ya too.
@from the desk of ....me - That IS bad! Although that's the same with me and Starbucks....
@Kimberley - Ooooh very hard, but MAN are you gonna like it once you see how much you save! ever since mine last year it's been sooo much harder for me to shop again. I don't think I could ever go back to the "old days"...which is both good, but also a bit sad - i enjoyed shopping like a wild man sometimes.
@Gledwood - huh...well that's certain one way to think of it. unfortunately I'm not versed enough to argue this with ya, but religion aside it's hard for me to see how this could be a negative thing...if it helps you and/or someone else, i have no problems with it. I take it you don't like Xmas or Easter either?
I'm not Catholic, but for my own reasons I am making March a no spending month challenge. I admit, I was completely inspired by your lent of giving up spending! So far I am off to a good start, but 2 days in is pretty easy.
Good luck! I don't think I'd be able to go more than a couple days without grumbling about something. Heck, that's like half my blog!
I'm tempted to give up something for lent but have no idea what. I'd say chocolate but I'd like to make it to my first anniversary without my husband divorcing me. (I get a little testy without chocolate.)
I am also tempted to give up being so hard on myself in general. But how do you do that? Emotions occur. It'd have to be allowing it to keep going rather than shutting it down. Hmmmm...
And I'm with Mike about grumbling. Maybe if things were a tad different I could do that. Maybe I should put it to the readers of my blog? Could be interesting...
very nice
This year for Lent, I gave up eating out. What a challenge it's been so far! It's definitely opened my eyes to how often I do it and how much I'm addicted to it though. Taco Bell and Chipotle are definitely the hardest.
Ha, I know you're following through with it when you blog about it!! I find myself most tempted to complain when I'm at work (I work with customers, so it can get a bit frustrating). It helps me to have a tally (literally, on paper) or I would forget what I "owe".
Good luck! Hopefully this will change not only how much we complain, but give us hearts of gratefulness :)
Whoo, I don't know if I could do that one. But it's funny that this post came up today, because as I was walking to work this morning, I had that very same thought--putting a limit on my complaining! ...And maybe adding a gratitude tally as well.
Complaining is venting to me, and I feel so much better afterward. I sure seem to 'vent' alot, though!
I think I'll start by just trying to be more aware of when I am complaining. Maybe later I'll work up to NOT complaining when it won't help me feel better.
yeah, it's certainly a hard one to catch yourself doing too. i told all my co-workers about this in hopes they can catch me so i know ;) i did notice that today's talk about the economy had me holding a LOT in! my co-worker literally asked me if i was complaining in my head....i said yes, and that is allowed ;)
I was raised Catholic, but I think the first time I heard of this practice was in high school when some friends were doing it! I kind of just lump it in with New Year's resolutions - something I don't do. :) I'm a believer in constantly improving yourself though, so I've pretty much always got some little habit I'm working on changing. For a while it was not interrupting people - that was pretty tough actually. In my family, we all just talk right over each other! I still do it, but not as much, and I'm a lot more aware of when I'm doing it.
this is a great idea! one thing i have working on for complaining/negativity is i wear an extra hair tie on my wrist and every time i complain or judge someone for no reason i move it to the other wrist, it is kind of depressing noticing how mean I am sometimes, but it helps!
i gave up pop this year for lent, it is a lot harder then i thought!
I gave up sweets for Lent. Pretty plebian but it's a tough one for me. I did the 21-day complaint free challenge and it was a breeze. I'm not much of a complainer so that one is too easy for me for Lent! Good luck!
yeah, "pop" and sweets are def. the favorites out there, but only cuz they're so hard to give up! i'm glad i don't have to try that this round ;) but i'm digging that "extra hair tie" way Anonymous - if i were a girl i'd totally hook that up.
@Slinky - oh hell yeah, NOT interrupting people could be hard! But very good to watch :) oh man...
I'm trying to get out of the house and walk during Lent. Good for exercise, you know. Good to enjoy a beautiful area and thank God for creation. I even walked around the local Catholic convent and enjoyed their outdoor religious art.
And well, umm, weather has not been cooperating so I'm behind on my efforts.
oooh that's a good one! helps you get healthy and enjoy the weather (when it's nice out)
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