As you most of you know, I am Catholic and since today is Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent, I need to decide immediately what I should give up for 6 weeks. Like most women, I contemplated the whole dessert, chocolate, cookies, cakes, basically all sweets and I don’t think it is the best choice for me this year for a few reasons. One reason is that the possibility of me actually succeeding is very slim and I hate the emotion of guilt, so I need to give up something else. Two is sometimes I physically and emotionally just need a sweet to make it through my life, so I can’t put any unnecessary pressure on myself.
Years ago I heard a priest talk about “doing something extra” instead of giving something up. Like going to mass during the week, donating extra time and or money to your favorite charity, be kinder to people, etc. I have tried this approach several times in the past but it never really felt like I was fully participating in Lent the way I want. So I don’t want to go that route this year.
Truth be told, I know what I need to give up and what I should give up, SWEARING, but can I really do it?
Can I really quit swearing and stop using foul language for 6 weeks? My mouth has gotten so terrible and disgusting that even Tabitha made a comment the other day. “Mom, why do you always say “Are you Fu–king kidding me? You know it is real, so why do you say that? It is weird.”
Thank you darling for pointing that out.
That is my favorite expression. I say it every time anything goes wrong, as a result I probably say it 10-15 times every day. It is horrible!
See, I am a seriously flawed individual. Only a loser Mom would speak that way around her children, but I am not a terrible Mom, I just have a hideous trash mouth that has gotten totally out of control.
So that is it! I have made my decision, I will do it. I am going to reserve the right to say things like
” What the heck, instead of What the hell!”
” Are you flipping kidding me”, instead of my normal.
“Shoot, instead of Sh*t”
Hummm, Is jerk a bad word? Probably, I better find a synonym for that one and a**hole. I think a-hole still sounds bad, so I will have to replace that word too. Am I missing any?
Maybe I should use opposite words instead of replacement words. Like “Wow, this is amazing, I love this, I am soooo happy right now, instead of my usual profanity.
Either way I do it, I am committed and am going to need some serious support because I am addicted to swearing. It really makes me feel better.
Maybe I will post a tally on my sidebar listing how many times I screw up. Oops, I think that is a bad word?
Thank goodness I wrote this on Tuesday, so I didn’t officially already mess up.
xoxo tiffani
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Since God Knows and sees all things, I think He definitely understands why you can’t give up sweets and why you swear on occasion. Don’t be too hard on yourself Darling, you’re only human with a lot of s*!t to deal with that most humans can’t even comprehend! You’re already a saint!!
thanks syliva! I am definitely not a saint but I believe understands why I need to swear.
xoxo tiffani
What a great post this is! I grew up baptist and for some reason I had heard of Lent but I never knew exactly what it was or what it was about until I attended a Methodist Church for a while and was fortunate to hear a wonderful sermon on Lent. I think it’s wonderful experience and regret that more believers don’t keep it or take note of it. I encourage you on following through on making better use of your conversation. I too have been victim of that terrible consuming habit. A co-worker laughed at something I spewed out of my mouth and told me I had the mouth of a sailor; I felt very ashamed. I was convicted and I work very hard at controlling my mouth. It may be an odd way to look at this subject but I am thankful that I was ashamed. I just know you will have great person growth!
Good Luck Tiffani! You may need to stay away from me during lent because I am a bad influence on the cursing 🙂
xoRorie
We used to have a curse jar at work and you had to put a quarter in whenever you said a curse word. Yeah well that just meant on an especially bad day you would walk over, put in a dollar and let ’em fly. Good luck. Its a habit like anytihing else. It wil be difficult at first, but you will become more and more conscious of it. I have a nasty habit of cursing ALOT…and the only thing that gives me pause sometimes is the saying that we curse because we have nothing more intelligent to say. Haha…welllll shooot!
California’s version of Catholicism sounds pretty progressive. I thought this was a time for more mindful prayer and reflection on our Heavenly Father. A time to surrender decadence in our lives, like chocolate and alcohol (which are otherwise fine). But to give up what isn’t condoned in the first place? Very creative angle. I like it! I’ll give up praying to false gods and you give up cursing. I dig it!
I de-activated my Facebook account for Lent, and this is the second time I’ve done it. Unplugging for a while is extremely liberating. Best of luck with the swearing! Love and hugs to you 🙂
Great idea, Robin!
xoxo tiffani
Good luck girl ~ That would be tough for me!
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(¸¤ Lanaya | xoxo
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