Lent

[jayfurr]

I've made up my mind -- not that anyone was waiting for the news.

I'm giving up cheese and nuts for Lent. I can eat virtually unlimited amounts of both, if they're placed in front of me. Past experience shows that I have virtually no self control if you put a bag of cashews and almonds within my reach. Even if I'm on a diet. At times, I can be the same way where cheese is concerned. What's one more slice?

Well, time to learn some self control. No cheese and no nuts for me throughout Lent. Yes, I know nuts theoretically have "healthy fat" -- my Livestrong.com newsletter yesterday led off with an article about that very point. But "healthy fat" from nuts isn't much consolation when you wake up in the morning and soberly realize that you just ate 3500 calories' worth of nuts in a nocturnal binge.

Peace, y'all.

Comments

[interrociter.livejournal.com]

Jay, why do you observe this rite? Feel free to ignore my question: MYOB is a completely valid response. I do ask, though, that if you choose to respond, that you don't spend too much time on it. Simplicity, simplicity, simplicity.

[jayfurr.livejournal.com]

As a way to practice the ol' self-control muscles. God knows I could use a stronger set.

[interrociter.livejournal.com]

Have you ever considered joining a monastic order? I'm serious.

[jayfurr.livejournal.com]

I don't follow you. One, I'm not Catholic. Are there Methodist monasteries? Two, monks don't get paid very well, do they? Three, why on Earth would I want to join one in the first place? Simply because, as I get older, I find myself wishing with increasing frequency that I had made better use of my life and had exerted more self-control rather than being profligate with my time, my money, my health, etcetera?

I'm trying to do from this point forward in my life what I *wish* I had done starting about the time I started college: choose what I do based on common sense, and not by being on autopilot.

[interrociter.livejournal.com]

I imagine there are all sorts of monastic orders. I'm sure the Catholics, Buddhists, Shintos and New Agers don't have a monopoly on them. I wouldn't even be surprised if there were such a thing as a purely secular monastic order, or something close to it.

Monks don't need to get paid very well. That's part of being a monk, I suppose. Of course, I don't really know very much about what it means to be a monk. I imagine what I learned from _The Name of the Rose_ might be a bit out of date. But from my vague impressions, it would seem the life style might offer you things such as stability, community, and a place where introspection is encouraged.

I can get behind the idea that you don't want to keep running on autopilot. But you may have to be careful that "common sense" doesn't drive out all both the ability to sit back and take it easy as well as all spontaneity.

I better stop. I'm the last idiot who should be giving you or anybody else advice about how to live.

Hoping to make a contribution

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