I am my thoughts pushed to the back burner...

This is a pic of jos and me @ London's 6th b-day...wow, that was a long time ago, taken 3 1/2 years ago. Wow...even 3 years ago, I looked so much younger than I do now. Man, time sure does fly.

Of lenten sacrifices and the meaning of the Easter season...
So it's Fat Tuesday...and it's that time of the year again...to think about what I want to give up and what I'm going to do this Lenten season, in preparation for Easter. As so many people have already tweeted or posted about on FB the various things that they're giving up for the next 40+ days(sometimes Lent is more than 40 days)...I think about those sacrifices. Soda, cussing, candy...etc. I remember back in elementary school when we would have to write down exactly what it was we were hoping to give up all the way from Ash Wednesday until Easter Sunday(or Saturday if you count the Vigil). Anyway, many of us carry that tradition with us all the way into adulthood. But as we grow up and mature, shouldn't our Lenten sacrifices grow and mature as well? Do we still give up the candy and cussing and such? Well, I would like to provide my own opinion here; these are things we already SHOULD be giving up on a normal basis. Well, not the candy part, but the cussing, and being mean to people...and the foodie stuff, well, those are things one gives up to be healthier. But Lent isn't really about PHYSICAL health - in fact, it doesn't have to DO with being physically healthy and going on diets. I would almost have to say that it is purely selfish to just relegate one's self to giving up only these material things. Because at the end of the day, only the individual benefits...and again, probably only physically. Again, the Easter season has nothing to do with self-improvement in the physical realm. It has to do with SPIRITUAL health and how you affect everyone around you. It is a way for us to improve ourselves in that aspect of our lives so that we enrich ourselves and grow and by the time Easter comes, grow to be better people. I find nothing wrong w/ giving up something that you love or find yourself addicted to as a symbol of sacrifice during Lent. In fact, I admire it. But let's not lose sight of the real goal. I would like to challenge you and say what else? What are you going to do to be a stronger and spiritually healthier person? What are you going to do to help others around you? How will you be more Christ-like? That remains to be the big question, and one that I myself haven't even figured out yet...but here goes:

This lenten season, I am giving up:
Ramen, Pho, noodles, and McDonald's. - If you knew me, you'd know how deep my love runs for Ramen, Pho and all things "noodle." But particularly Ramen. Anyway, I'm hoping to give up all noodles in the process of lent...which I define as actual noodles, such as pasgetti and pancit. I will not count other types of pasta though, simply because I don't even eat those often enough to consider them even remotely on par with said love of Ramen and Pho :) Additionally...if you knew me, you'd also know how much I love McDonald's, especially big macs. So those are the symbolic things I will be giving up for Lent.

Now as far as the spiritual side is concerned - I am resolving to make myself a more giving person - by giving time through volunteer work. Whether or not it is an official volunteer event, or just donating time to someone who needs it, that's how I want to be a better person. We are community, as the popular though process in my mind goes, and community I want to be. So here's to 40 days of a noodle-less, big mac-less, and time-generous life!

Quote of the day
"The secret of health for both mind and body is not to mourn for the past, worry about the future, or anticipate troubles, but to live in the present moment wisely and earnestly."
- Buddha