One Thousand Days of Blessings: Lent (Day 363)

How is it possible that I can't sleep?! I was up before eight, I didn't get my nap, I ate enough food to put myself into a coma, I went on a pretty long hike today, and then I ate again! My mind and body are exhausted by they still won't shut off. And since they won't I thought I'd spend the time in front of this screen.

During my usual Sunday afternoon lunch with friends the subject of Lent came up. Not being Catholic, I've never actually participated in Lent. It's not that I didn't believe I should, I just never could think of anything to give up that wouldn't take so much energy away from the rest of my day. I know you're probably thinking, "well that's the point." But what I'm trying to say is that if I have to spend all of that extra energy and time on trying to remember and keep myself from participating in something I'm usually going to be taking that time from God. I don't consider that the best trade off. So today, a friend, was talking about what she wanted to give up for Lent. She's decided on negativity. She has the same outlook on Lent as me; more time thinking about "I can't do this" and less time on Him. Her reasoning was negativity isn't a Godly action so if she had to spend ample time trying to not be negative then she would be using that time for God. My ears perked up a bit.

I've been having quite a bit of negativity toward what I like to call "my other job." You all know which one I'm talking about. I post tons of pictures about one and never any from the other one. If you still can't tell which one I'm talking about then just come up and ask, I'll let you know. Can I really change my situation with that job? Wasn't that job a blessing from God? So should I be negative about it? Should I really let it mess up my entire mood? I'll admit it has and I have a few friends that could tell you I'm being truthful. I really don't like when I'm negative, that's not me. So when I heard he explain why she was giving it up I decided I'd like to try it as well. Really, what could hurt? I'm thinking nothing. If I'm spending time trying to not be negative then I'm becoming more like Christ, and if I'm becoming more like Christ then I'm becoming more of the woman God wants me to be. My strategy is of course to pray for strength to keep my thoughts positive, but it's also me battling that negativity with positive thoughts. Whenever I think something negative, whether it be about my job, life, anything, I have to keep saying positive things about that situation until the negativity stops.

Does that sound a bit like what I was doing when I started this blog almost a year ago? It did to me as I brought up my blog at the lunch table. This blog has helped me keep my every day thoughts positive but lately I've been slacking and so has the good attitude on life. That's going to change. People at work used to ask me why I was always so happy. I really couldn't ever give them an answer because I couldn't pinpoint it, but I knew the reason. It was because I had a positive attitude. I want people to ask me those questions again. I want people to not see just another employee that's tired and overworked. I'm different and I want that to show.

So even though Lent starts on February 20th, I'm going to start this process today and see where this 40+ days takes me. I'm betting it will be a better outlook on life and a happier, more joyful me.