|
|
EMERALD
Posts: 1254
  
Location: Mississippi Gulf Coast. | For those of you who are not familiar with Lent, it is generally a Catholic holiday, ( I can't think of a better word atm. lol)
where you give up something for forty days. (ie caffeine, television, fast foods, etc.)
It is supposed to be in recognition of Christ's forty days in the wilderness.
I think you are supposed to read your bible or pray instead of doing whatever it is that you are giving up.
but I'm not sure, I've never been catholic. lol
for more information see the wikipedia article :)
Now, I'm not really religious or anything, but I thought I might try to go the forty days SI free.
The forty days start Wednesday, February. 17th. (or Ash-Wednesday)
and end Saturday, April Third. (or Holy-Saturday)
Yes, that is actually forty-six days
Sundays, don't count usually but I'm gonna count 'em
my thinking was that if i had a goal of some sort,
it would be easier to stick to it.
I thought I'd post it on here to see if anyone else wants to try with me.
who knows, maybe we'll be able to go longer!
-rachel. |
|
| |
|
Platinum Member
Posts: 646
Location: Australia | Ok Rachel I'm in!!!!
I grew up in a Catholic household and we didnt really follow Lent but this sounds like a good one.
I know its a really long time but its not impossible. I have one sharp razor at home that will get thrown out tonight! After that i will have to go out of my way to cut.
Now traditionally Lent ends with a celebration Easter! So as a child Lent would be giving up chocolate and then getting a whole lot of egg on Easter to eat :)
So everyone has to post online what they are going to reward themselves with when they get to the end. Every goal has to have a reward :)
Though just in case i dont make it all the way i will make mini rewards for each week, such as letting myself the time to have a deep luxurious bath, or to buy a new dvd. (Neither things i have done lately)
Claire |
|
| |
|
Platinum Member
Posts: 646
Location: Australia | My reward will be buying myself a digital camera so i can take photos of myself because i can get past my ED Self Image crap and enjoy not having fresh cuts. |
|
| |
|
Veteran
Posts: 240
Location: lost in my head | Good luck to you both, i really want to but i am not in a good place at the moment and so i am going to give up clothes shopping and alcohol! Ill be thinking of you and wish i could join you in doing it!! |
|
| |
|
Veteran
Posts: 235
Location: Sometown, USA. | I think I'll give up trying to not drink and see if I can drink for 46 days straight!...That sounds like a great idea. |
|
| |
|
EMERALD
Posts: 1254
Location: Mississippi Gulf Coast. | janedoe - 2/16/2010 3:44 AM
Ok Rachel I'm in!!!!
I grew up in a Catholic household and we didnt really follow Lent but this sounds like a good one.
I know its a really long time but its not impossible. I have one sharp razor at home that will get thrown out tonight! After that i will have to go out of my way to cut.
Now traditionally Lent ends with a celebration Easter! So as a child Lent would be giving up chocolate and then getting a whole lot of egg on Easter to eat :)
So everyone has to post online what they are going to reward themselves with when they get to the end. Every goal has to have a reward :)
Though just in case i dont make it all the way i will make mini rewards for each week, such as letting myself the time to have a deep luxurious bath, or to buy a new dvd. (Neither things i have done lately)
Claire
that's a great idea!!
ok, hmm... well my mini rewards will probably be like doin my feet or somethin girly i don't do very often. :)
and my 'woo-hoo-you-did-it' reward will be.....a trip to the book/music store. (:
uneven curls, no worries. good luck on your goals!
just because they are different, doesn't mean they will be any easier!
-rachel. |
|
| |
|
Platinum Member
Posts: 568
Location: USA | I'll try. I'm hardly religious, either, but...it sounds like a plan. I'm in. :-)
Umm...reward, huh? I'll...hmm...I'll maybe be able to wear short sleeves by April, if everything is healed up enough. That would be pretty nice. |
|
| |
|
Silver Member
Posts: 308
Location: Australia | Haha, totally wrong religion but it sounds like a great idea. Count me in.
errr motivation, riiiiight. I'll be able to wear my bikini to my friends party in April without worrying about hiding anything XD
All the very best of luck to everyone
Arlette |
|
| |
|
Veteran
Posts: 240
Location: lost in my head | How is everyone getting on?
I have not had single drop of alcohol pass my lips! Thats 2 days and i am proud of my self, feeling positive! |
|
| |
|
EMERALD
Posts: 1254
Location: Mississippi Gulf Coast. | that's great!! :)
last night was a bit rough, but i was able to distract myself with origami. lol.
haven't SI'd since friday!! :)
-rachel. |
|
| |
|
Platinum Member
Posts: 646
Location: Australia | Awesome work on the distraction! thats my biggest failure, talking to my psych last night she suggest laminating a business card size list of things to do if i wanna self harm. Things like go for a drive, go for a walk, listen to loud music, watch a dvd. Because there is always a split second decision where i decided that im going to self harm or not!
I havnt self harmed since Tuesday. So doing well, im a little itchy from the old ones though. they are healing and very tempting to give them a good scratch!
Unevencurls- good going on the alcohol! cant say i know the addiciton side of it but i am aware of how much my drinking has increased recently. It taking all my money these days! You must be saving heaps of money by not drinking :) |
|
| |
|
Silver Member
Posts: 308
Location: Australia | Well done people :D
Nope, not a single mark since Wednesday, although it seems so tempting I'm trying to find ways to keep myself busy so i'm not left alone with my thoughts.
Keep it up everyone |
|
| |
|
EMERALD
Posts: 1254
Location: Mississippi Gulf Coast. | Claire: thanks! :) great job at not self harming! I don't know if I could have done the same in your place!
Arlette: yeah that's probably the hardest part! keeping yourself occupied. If you look online there of tooonns of lists with things you can do, or you could do origami like me! lol. although sometimes the damn paper can be aggravating. but then you can tear it up into itty bitty pieces. very satisfying. lol.
hmmm..this thread should have been in cut it out, must of hit the wrong button. opps!  |
|
| |
|
Veteran
Posts: 240
Location: lost in my head | how fabulous everyone!! That list of distractions is such a good idea, i am going to do that later! But i went out this weekend and did not drink! Yay!! Although a nightclub is not the same with out been pissed! Infact nothing is the same without been pissed but hey its all good!!
I have already thought of ways to spend my evenings next week to keep my self busy, i bought a recipie book of how to make lots of different sweets so ill be becoming a domestic goddess for the next week, i hope!!
Claps to all of you for doing so well!!
- Clare :) |
|
| |
|
Platinum Member
Posts: 646
Location: Australia | Hows people doing?
Still going good, so 10 days down. I think its mostly due to the fact that im extra busy with uni. I accidently cut myself shaving this morning, it hurt like a b***h! Its wierd that when i do it on purpose i feel no pain...
Hope your doing ok!
Claire |
|
| |
|
EMERALD
Posts: 1254
Location: Mississippi Gulf Coast. | I'm doing pretty good. 13 days! (:
I'm pretty proud of myself. Had a couple of times where I decided i didn't care anymore about lent,
but in a moment of forethought i put all my blades and such in the top of my closet and pushed it to the back
so it wouldn't be easy to get to. :)
stay strong!
-rachel. |
|
| |
|
EMERALD
Posts: 1254
Location: Mississippi Gulf Coast. | oops sorry. page. :)
Edited by suitemadameblue 2/26/2010 5:14 AM
|
|
| |
|
Veteran
Posts: 235
Location: Sometown, USA. | good going, proud of the lot of you.
keep it up. |
|
| |
|
Silver Member
Posts: 308
Location: Australia | SomeAnonDude ~ Thanks, it's great to know that someone cares about how much of a big step this is for us :)
Doing really well so far, 10 days clean and counting. You should all be so proud of yourselves, you are doing great. I think it's easier to do it when you know that other people are doing it with you, I know for me it feels as though it's another incentive to try harder.
Had rough patch a couple of days ago where I had a massive fight with a friend and loads of stress about exams and it was really tempting to give in. Really proud 'cos i went and got my blade looked at it and put it down :) I think I'm going to use Rachels idea about putting it away though, might make it easier.
Good luck everyone and keep strong, keep going and never give up :D
~Arlette |
|
| |
|
Veteran
Posts: 240
Location: lost in my head | The no booze thing is going well! I am finding it so hard, all my friends are drinking around moi and i found my self this weekend just walking off and going outside to smoke by my self and ended up walking home by my self early feeling really down, and spent all day in bed but my boyfriend came around with mcdonalds which cheered me up!
I hope this gets easier!! It super tough so well done to all of you for doing so well and getting over the little struggles!!
- Clare |
|
| |
|
 
Location: UK | I recently quit smoking and so thats what i am giving up for lent. Tomorrow it will be 3 weeks without a cigarette!! |
|
| |
|
Veteran
Posts: 240
Location: lost in my head | ^^
Well done you! Are you all patched up or just will power? |
|
| |
|
Veteran
Posts: 240
Location: lost in my head | i screwed up and got wasted :( |
|
| |
|
Location: UK | UnevenCurls - 3/1/2010 8:37 PM ^^ Well done you! Are you all patched up or just will power? Thanks. i wore parches for a couple of days and they annoyed, so its all been willpower :) |
|
| |
|
Silver Member
Posts: 308
Location: Australia | ^^ Wow, thats really impressive willpower. Keep it up :)
Oh no Clare, did something happen? Maybe you can keep going and see if you can make it the rest of the time without doing it again. You did so well to get so far.
I'm not sure many people are doing this but I was wondering how everyone was going? I'm clean going on 20 days now and I'm finding it really hard at times.
Good luck to you all. |
|
| |
Main Menu
Lent-forty day challenge. (or actually forty-six...)
