Come on in Heeeeeeere! - Lent

...you're giving up Dr Pepper? You, sir, are a better man than I could ever be. For me, self-discipline means limiting my soda intake to 4 cans of Dr Pepper a day.

(I researched it on Wikipedia, though – that's not an unhealthy amount, since I drink Diet half the time anyways.)

You know me Justin, everytime I make a promise, I break it 5 seconds later.

As for giving up soda, do quit it just limit it.

If you do quit soda, than you should remember there's always drugs to fall back on.

*takes out Dr. Pepper* Come on, man, all the cool kids are doing it.

Seriously, I tried giving up caffeine once. I wanted to die. Withdrawl is a bitch.
I didn't even get that bad when I gave up smack.

ah, caffeine, the cruel mistress. Makes you addicted without giving you a high. At least they usually put lots of sugar with it for the rush.

I tried giving up soda for many a Lent.. it usually didn't work. I find it's easier to give things up when I say to myself "sure, I can have that if I want, but I'll try holding out just a little longer ok?" When you completely restrict yourself, your brain panics. If you leave the possibility open that you'll use it, it's actually much easier to quit.

Unless it's heroin. You probably shouldn't try it that way with heroin.

Uh, just a question. What's Lent?

I don't drink a lot of Soda, probably because they don't sell Mountain Dew in Europe. (yes, poor me!) And I have no idea, what does Dr. Pepper taste like? (grammar?)
I should try to live without cookies. And liquorice. Man, I'm addicted to that stuff, especially the Napoleon sweets filled with salt/sweet b/w powder. Oooh.

Actually, the 40 days before Palm Sunday, the beginning of Passion Week. That is, unless you go by the tradition that says that Sundays do not count, as they are set apart to celebrate the Resurrection.

Lent is pretty universal to the Christian heritage. Some obscure protestant groups don't celebrate it, and the Eastern Orthodox celebrate it at a different time (usually).

Personally, I encourage my own people not just to give something up, but to do something positive as well. Also, I encourage my people to give up something that interferes with their spiritual life. For me, usually video games. Video games sometimes keep me up too late at night, which makes it difficult to wake up in the morning, which in turn interferes with my morning prayers. For me, giving up video games AND deliberate commitment to my morning prayers is what I would do. This year, though vg's haven't been that much of an issue. This year, after all the problems I've had with Faith, I intend to work on forgiveness, to let go of the past and work for the future.

You could do something similar: if you're giving up soda, is there something more healthy you can replace the soda with? Like crossing yourself and saying the Our Father whenever you crave a Dr. Pepper?

If it's the Body and Blood of Christ in the Sacrament, that would be fine.