Gene’s Blog: What are you giving up for Lent?

I don't pretend to speak for God.

As Lent approaches, we of a certain religious bent are instructed to give something up–maybe several somethings, if so inclined–in the spirit of a season of sacrifice. 40 days worth, to be precise. Fasting is part of the drill if you're Catholic. 

I have plenty of bad habits that my body and mind could use a respite from–more than a month and a half's worth, if we're really being honest here. That said, there's a lot of folks who depend on my poor life choices to stay financially afloat, so I worry that my “sacrifice” may cause a lot of innocent folks (read: bartenders) plenty of undo hardship. 

It's been suggested in some circles that one could ADD things to the daily routine during Lent in hopes that they'll crowd out bad behaviors. Instead of giving up chocolate, for instance, you promise to work more salads/veggies/healthy stuff into your diet. Maybe, just maybe, a bowl of lettuce works its way into your life, not just for 40 days but perhaps beyond. Perhaps you take the time doing something that isn't all that productive (computer games or, in my case, trying to rule the digital NFL via Madden on Xbox) and use it for, oh, I don't know, something involving the hundreds of community service groups desperate for just an hour with your mind, heart or hands?

I'll give up some bad things (plural) starting Wednesday, but I'm also going to add one thing for sure in hopes of bettering my web relationship with the five or six of you who make this website a destination. My thanks is deep and eternal for those of you who do, and I apologize for the lack of frequency. I have lots of things to say and am flattered some of you want to read them. Starting this week, I vow to write more than a once-a-week post. In fact, my goal is to toss something up here on a daily basis–it may be a long screed on something that's seriously chapping my butt or it could be as simple as a website that might be eye-worthy. 

And, I don't want this to be one-way thing. Please let me know what you think. This is a better endeavor when it's a conversation instead of a one-way thing. You know where to find me. If not, here goes:

Via emal at: [email protected]

Or, you can follow me on Twitter: @genemueller

Let the convo begin. If you have ideas, I want to hear them. Criticisms? Fire away. Thoughts? Always welcomed.

Winter doesn't seem like it's going away anytime soon (future blog subject: “Why Do We Pay Attention To Groundhogs?”), so it's not like I'm going to be spending time in the garden/yard or racking up the miles on the bike. What better way to spend another dull, mind-numbingly cold and snowy March day than here, behind the keyboard, sharing with the web-scape the crap that spills from my mind and flows onto the nearest screen via my fingers? 

Let the change begin.