I've given up something for Lent most of my life. I remember one year I gave up refined sugar - as a person who doesn't eat many sweet things, I remember thinking it wasn't all that much of a struggle.
Of course, it happened to be the one time of the year that I craved my only once a year single Wild Cherry Pepsi. I survived.
But then, at some point, I decided I'm giving up giving things up, and instead, I would do something that is actually more of a challenge for me - I would ADD something positive for 40 days.
This has taken various forms - daily readings, extra walking time, etc. It's amazing how even if you feel like you already have a routine, adding a single daily thing can be so difficult. It's much easier to do everything tomorrow, but that's not the deal during Lent, so I hang in there.
This year I decided I would add the one thing that I should be doing anyway every day, but always push to the bottom of my to-do list: mailing cards. As a person who half-heartedly - well, I guess I should be honest - doesn't even try to battle my spiritual gift of procrastination, my love language, this will most definitely be a struggle. I will be gravely tempted to stray and just do it another day. I will find it difficult, but social media will help me. Each and every day, I will post the card I'm mailing on one of my social media channels - Twitter, Instagram or Facebook. I already Instagrammed the one I mailed today.
A valuable resource I'm using to pull this off is the Random Acts of Kindness forum at Splitcoast. This forum exists solely to make people happy by sending them RAKs, or BRAKs (Birthday RAKs). Today I chose a BRAK. Hint - it was someone whose birthday is on St. Patrick's Day. If you want to see the cards I send and who I send them to, just peek at my other channels and follow along.
Now in my study of my mad procrastination skills leading up to this Lent, I noticed that I have 102 unpublished blog posts.
So this means at some point in the past (usually during challenges like Virtual Stamp Night or Hope You Can Cling To), I was organized enough to upload my cards into a draft post for future blogging.
But the future blogging never came, so I'll be trying to get that number lower as well.
So in that effort, here's a card from our Hope You Can Cling To challenge that I never blogged. This challenge was all about Elvis, so I chose Heartbreak Hotel as my inspiration.
To make the background, I used Golden Fluid Acrylics, some Delta acrylic paint and a credit card. Then I cut out the heart with the Heart Framelits. I cut that in half with the Finishing Touches Edgelit. Then I sponged the edge of the heart with Early Espresso.
So maybe a card is coming your way this Lent :). I've got 40 chances!
Speaking of 40 chances - don't forget to register for my pre-convention Unwind retreat - it's first come first served and I only have 100 seats! Register here.
Loveyameanitbye.
Giving up giving up is such a positive way of looking at things. I pray that you are successful in your mailings. I am challenged by you. I have a few cards that I need to get in the mail...I was going to say I will try to mail them and I heard "Yoda's voice in my head saying 'Do or not do. There is no try'" so I will get them mailed. I love how your broken heart looks.
ReplyDeleteI like your idea of adding something positive. And it's as much of a struggle as giving something up, but with a way more positive spin. I like it!
ReplyDeleteI also love that card! Whoa. And just think, only 101 more unpublished blog posts to go! That's like 1/3 of a year!
What a great spin on giving up. I never feel that what I (attempt) to give up is worthy enough of being a sacrifice because it's usually something I can get by without anyway. But, giving myself a shorter period of time - 40 days as opposed to 365 - would make those "New Year's Resolutions/Goals" more manageable to achieve. And in the long run it is giving something up that I too, am very good at - procrastination. Thank you for the inspiration. And thank you for posting your wonderful artistic work!
ReplyDeleteIronically, I had an old friend over the weekend tell me that she did the same thing during lent and encouraged her children to do the same. I instantly loved that idea and am glad to hear more people do it. I guess Lent started and I should figure out my own plan. That sort of snuck up on me.
ReplyDeleteI love your perspective Lydia and mailing cards is an AWESOME positive thing for a compulsive cardmaker to do. I began mailing cards once a week a short while ago. Every Sunday I sit down with a pile of cards and my address book and I just go through it and send out love. Some weeks it is just one card. This week, I sent 14. I hope these positive ripples build and am glad and excited to see you doing this too. Lucky recipients - extra sunshine is always welcomed.
ReplyDeleteI think that is a wonderful idea - doing something positive like sending cards. Now I have just a couple of hours to think of something positive to do everyday in Lent. Thank you for the great idea!
ReplyDeleteAnne
giggle....your "spiritual gift of procrastination....." all of a sudden I am looking at my procrastination in a whole new light! :)
ReplyDeleteI like the sound of 102 posts!!! Bring on more Lydia, please! :)
I loved this card the first time I saw it and I still do! :)
I thought I might add the 40 bags in 40 days....but apparently I have mad procrastination skills too...because I didn't get anything tossed on day 1 except our daily food scraps to the compost pile. sigh.
I started "doing" for Lent a couple years ago, it's very rewarding. Now I try to give something up, and do something. I try to encourage my children to add a "do" to their Lenten practice. Love your idea of sending cards!
ReplyDeleteI like your take on Lent, Lydia!! I gave up giving up a long time again, but to add something in is a great idea.
ReplyDeleteI conquer my inner procrastinator by considering my dad, LOL. I would hate to become him.