PJ DeGenaro said...
This year for Lent I am volunteering to take on everyone's unwanted bad habits. I will eat your Godiva truffles and your red meat, drink your alcohol and coffee and even your Diet Coke. I mean, it's the least I can do, right? So send all your self-indulgences to me, PJ. I'll consume the transfats so you don't have to! And as for that biting thing, Doxy, I'm really looking forward to it.
::wink wink wink etc. ::
Please pray for Margaret and her possible choice of a Lenten (and perhaps even longer!) fast at Leave It Lay Where Jesus Flang It.
And last, but not least, read Elizabeth Kaeton at Telling Secrets on apologia always sideways.
Three worthwhile links. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteLapin, I thought they were.
ReplyDeleteWhat PJ was saying was probably in jest, but, this week I started off badly. I have good weeks and bad weeks as far as discipline and will power go, and this week has been abysmal at the start. Staying up late, waking up late, skipping meditation and exercise, obsessively and lazily playing video games, and, by the time Ash Wednesday rolled around, I said, "Well, this week's a wash! Might as well just have fun and kick back."
ReplyDeleteThing is, it hasn't been fun. The "fun" seems just as forced and desperate as any attempt at discipline. I'm tired all the time, smoke more than usual, find my temper and thoughts all over the map. Sometimes, indulgence can teach us as much as discipline.
Thing is, it hasn't been fun.
ReplyDeleteMark, you've seemed better lately. Get back on your regimen, please, starting tomorrow. Do not skip your medication! Instead of week by week, think day by day beginning tomorrow, OK?
I'm not skipping my medication, Mimi.
ReplyDeleteI've been skipping meditation.
What I'm saying is, we all need discipline and will in our lives, and what we call fun is bad when not in moderation. I don't think those things are true just for those of us labelled crazy.
And, I can't say I accept Elizabeth Kaeton's argument.
I'm not skipping my medication, Mimi.
ReplyDeleteGood, Mark. It was late, and I misread. Sorry about that. Not good to skip meditation either. :-)
Mark, if you are skipping your medication, can you post it to me? I could probably put it to good use, I think.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you totally that self-indulgence can be as illuminating as discipline. It doesn't take much of letting yourself do exactly what you want before you get really bored and fed up with the whole thing and wish you had something useful to do. I find that, anyway. Not that I then necessarily turn to doing something useful, however.
On that subject, I love PJ DeGenaro's suggestion - how noble of her. Alas, I have not given up any of those things for Lent, and will therefore be keeping all of my chocolate, red meat and alcohol for myself. If you speak to her, though, Mimi, please pass on to her that I do treasure her kindness.
Cathy, I'm with you and Mark. A good dose of self-indulgence is sometimes a good cure for self-indulgence.
ReplyDeletePJ, is so funny. She is a writer and teacher of creative writing and just plain writing for those who have reached college without learning how to write - if you know what I mean. I added a link to her blog in my post, which I should have done from the beginning. I've met her, and she is a delight in real life, too.
Thanks for the shout-out, Mimi. I agree with you that PJ has the best Lenten discipline evah. ;-)
ReplyDeleteMark--I also agree with you. Too much "fun" is, in its own way, just as bad (if not worse) than too much work/discipline.
I have had several Lents recently which were just as you described yours so far. "Failing" from the get-go is so demoralizing! I hope you can find a Lenten rhythm that puts you back in a good place.
Mimi--I started to write a big long comment here about Lenten practice, but I decided to blog it instead. Thanks for the push! :-)
Pax,
Doxy
Doxy, I'll just have to check out your blog post, won't I?
ReplyDeleteThank you Grandmere. Our Council is tomorrow (Saturday). I will post news as I can.
ReplyDeleteBlessings.
Margaret, do keep us posted. Prayers continue.
ReplyDeleteCathy,
ReplyDeleteMeditation coming your way through the mystical connection, the Long Dark Night of the Soul, and the Noble Eightfold Path. Transmission in 3, 2 . . . AUM!
wv: brisors - what the mohel uses at a bris.