Is it over yet? Lent I mean….

I tend to think that under normal circumstances time just seems to fly by however these forty days of Lent seem to lengthen the days somehow. Maybe it’s just because I am more aware of my behavior and the behavior of those around me. I have learned what sets me off and have also begun to notice what sets others off as well.

It’s just a notice for me in my attempt to become a better person, not wanting to offend those around me as well as being able to control my thoughts and emotions. I have noticed that when I am tired or frustrated the swear words seem to roll off my tongue or at least enter my mind and when I am in control, comfortable in my surroundings and relaxed I don’t seem to have the need to use a wrong word.

So my Lenten journey has been more of a journey about myself and who I am or better yet who I want to be more than anything else. Maybe that’s what sacrifice is all about. What is it that I can live without in order to be a better person? What do I need to change about myself to make others feel welcomed or for me to achieve all the things that I dream of?

All my life I have given up something during the season of Lent however I never really held myself accountable to it. This year in blogging somehow that seemed to make it more real and helped to make me pay attention to what I said I would do. Announcing it to the world helped me in being more accountable. Thomas Edison said that whenever he came up with an idea of a new invention, he would call a press conference and announce it to the world in order to help him follow through with what it was that he said he would accomplish. That is what this writing has done for me.

With only two weeks left before Easter I have to say that I look forward to the end of the season, to bring closure and at least a little bit of accomplishment to this pledge. It also makes me think about what it takes to change a habit. I have heard that it takes ninety days to change your sub-conscious. While at a conference where John Assaraf was speaking he challenged the audience to give up something for ninety days to help change that thought pattern. The catch, if you will, was that if you fell of the wagon (so to speak) even once, then you had to start the ninety day period all over again.

Oh my gosh, if that were true during this Lenten season then I would be starting all over again TODAY!!! UGH!

Ask Merry – new blog

Please take a moment to be re-directed to my new blog site www.askmerry.com. I look forward to seeing you there! Come join me!

Week 2 of Lent

My husband getting ready for his first helicopter ride

Well I don’t know about you but I feel I have been thrown some doozies over the past two weeks and in some instances I have caved but at least not without noticing.

I have been told before that noticing is half the battle. Whew! I certainly hope that’s the case otherwise I have failed miserably. Last weekend my husband had a hiking accident where he fractured 2 vertebrae, broke 4 ribs, and collapsed his left lung and had to be rescued by helicopter. Ouch…no kidding.

Those quick 4 letter words come so easily to my mind and out of my mouth. I have gone through a wide range of emotion from feeling inadequate about being able to take care of him, to anger for him hiking in inclement weather, to being overwhelmed by the added changes to our lifestyles. I have felt selfish, tired, frustrated and so much more. I have cried, laughed and wanted to hit something. I have wanted time off from Lent…

I know there is a lesson here; sometimes I just don’t want to learn it. UGH! Why is it that my favorite swear words a great, expressive, easy to say 4 letter words. I have been really working on finding words to replace them but nothing seems to sound just right. So now I’m down to attempting to forget about them all together. Not so easy.

So my journey continues, attempting to think good thoughts with compassion and patience. When I take the time to breath everything seems better, it’s in the height of the moment when my mind switches…another good notice. Now it’s not like I use swear words all the time, it just really is inappropriate to use them at all. Etiquette and leadership again take precedence; anger and frustration never get the job done. What’s that saying “you can catch more bees with honey than you can vinegar” so spreading honey and being grateful is what I am trying to do. How about you?

Up, up and away!!!