DAY THE FIRST

It's kind of a weird season for me. Having been raised Catholic, you'd think I was big on Christmas. Or Easter. But you'd be wrong.

Lent was always my favorite season. What kind of weird little kid likes to give things up for what seems like an eon and a day, just to prove she can? THIS weird little kid. Oh sure, the season was about avoiding temptations blah blah Jesus sacrifice desert something blah blah-- no. For me, it was always about the challenge. I liked that I would be able to give up something that felt important to me, for an extended period of time, just to see if I could succeed. And then go give Jesus my private little high-five at the end. (Jesus is awesome like that.)

Later in life that sacrifice portion morphed into something different; giving up something physical didn't necessarily make me a better person.  And if that's the case, what's the point? Why bother giving up cheese if that doesn't affect a positive change for humanity? So, I tried to give up bad habits, like complaining and swearing. Neither ever lasted long, which is why I guess nobody ever gives those up during Lent...but I kept trying. And I liked my new-formed idea that I could dedicate a season to self-improvement and positivity as opposed to self-flagellation and an ever-mounting desire for cheese.

Being that I am no longer a Catholic (I gave it up for lent years ago and it stuck*), Lent is no longer *my* season. But I-- and my hubby (who is in my same boat)-- decided we would give Lent a little spin on its head yet again. Instead of seeing this as a time of sacrifice, let's look at it as a time of growth. Let's build on the idea that it is a time of self-improvement.

We decided, then,  that for the next 40 days, we would have to try something new everyday. The hope here is that our eyes would be just slightly more open to the world around us; that we might discover something new about each other and thus benefit our marriage and our family. And in that vein, THE WORLD.

TODAY'S NEW THING

TRACI: Got a manicure.
STEVE: Ate a mini-Cinnebon.

These are exactly the kinds of things that Jesus wanted us to do when he underwent 40 days of temptation in the desert, right? The ability for everyone to have their nails painted and to enjoy a petite pastry? you ask. Exactly.

Maybe not exactly. BUT...

See, I never take care of my hands. Like, ever. And they work very hard, and take care of many, many people. I suffer from very weak nails that split down into the quick and must keep them very, very short or suffer the consequences. And regardless of my constant clipping, they still split down into the nail bed and as a result I have these painful, sometimes bleeding cracks. I KNOW, poor me, RIGHT?? By taking the time to have them cared for, I found out about this really strong gel paint that should stay on for 3 weeks and help keep them from continued splitting.

Which is a good thing for me-- because, well, it will alleviate pain and allow me to continue on with my motherly duties; and a good thing for my family, because I'll be able to keep doing the things I do without complaint. About my hands, anyway. And I think, in the end, that makes me a better person.

As for Steve and the mini-Cinnebon... Steve is an awesome person. And he gave himself a little reward for being awesome, which is something he never, never does. And also by eating the Cinnebon it allowed me to feel superior to him because I did not eat a Cinnebon. And that is very Christian of both of us. Even though neither of us are Christian.

And I think Jesus would approve. Because you don't have to be Christian to know Jesus was pretty awesome like that.

* Actually, in the Catholic church, being a remarried person means I can no longer celebrate the Eucharist at mass. Murderers can though. That fact irked me.  And the Eucharist is really central to the faith. But let's be honest-- it's the entire theology; it just isn't my gig. Which is totally fine. And besides, a la Groucho Marx, why would I want to be part of any club that would have me as a member?