Give It Up

It's a week into Lent, and I should give up blogging. I should be spending time on more productive and pressing pursuits (say, like learning my lines for a show less than 3 weeks away!) but blogging makes me feel a little less antsy. It gives me a sense of accomplishment and control, and my brain has hit line absorption capacity for the night (week?).

I've never, past or present, observed Lenten deprivation, but I can see benefits that aren't tied to religious beliefs. Primarily it seems like a worthwhile exercise in mindfulness, and in being more aware and conscious about what I do or consume. And giving something up, even for a while, could make me more appreciative.

I think I would also like the world to give up "Keep Calm"
posters and whatnot for Lent. And summer. And Time. 

Sound and compelling reasoning, but (at least right now) I like my "bad" habits and indulgences too much. I can even make a case that, especially as I get older, giving up life's small pleasures is a waste. I don't need to give them up, but just be more mindful and grateful for them. And yes, I could stand to add a little moderation to my life. Most of my unhealthy habits aren't inherently bad across the board, but I can get carried away. There is a time and place for everything, children, and sometimes I have a problem identifying that outside of college.

Except for diet soda. There is probably no justifiable time or place for that, but it's just too ingrained in my life, and I'm going with the "it could be worse" reasoning. It's not meth or crack. Not that I'm saying I'm a can of Diet Coke away from meth, but why take that chance?

Despite all my rationalizing, I am giving up something for Lent. I am declaring, to the whole wide interwebs so that I'll be forced to be accountable: I am giving up destroying chips bags and other food packaging for Lent. I hope this brings joy to the heart of Chad Snyder, who is usually the victim of my packaging rage. I'll try to briefly explain: when I can't easily and quickly open a bag of chips or peanut butter or any other food stuff, I totally lose my shit. I tear the packaging apart, which is fine in the short term, but makes it completely unusable for any future food storage. Yeah, if the Zombie Apocalypse happens, it might be the time and place to destroy the packing and get to the chippity goodness ASAP, but in my daily life, a little patience seems admirable.

You'll have to ask Chad in five more weeks (is that right? I don't even know long Lent is...I'm such a non-Catholic) how successful I am.