Lent

This year, for the first time ever I am giving up things for lent. As I type this, I feel like a pang of guilt, as I feel that because I proclaim to be a Christian, I should automatically give stuff for lent and am therefore now going to be seen as a ' bad' Christian for not doing so. I suspect this is my own perception rather than reality but we'll see after people read this blog!

I think the reason for not giving stuff up in previous years is that I never really understood what it meant and why I should. I still don't really. The thing is, I have a pretty simple faith. I believe in God. I believe in the death and ressurection of Christ. I try to live my life in a way that follows the example of Jesus and is hopefully pleasing to God. I am not a theologian. I have not read the bible (another confession!) and actually know very few stories from the 'good book' in any depth. Therefore my decision to acknowledge lent this year has very simple reasoning. Basically I think it'll do me good to give up some of the stuff in my life that isn't particularly healthy thus giving me more time to live my life, reflect on it, reflect on my relationship with God and prove to myself that I can do it.

I've chosen to give up three things for lent which may seem trivial to you but often waste my time, waste my money and make me feel a bit fed up. The following things are out of my life for 40 days (maybe longer)....

• Buying clothes, shoes and accessories. I spend a lot of time and money shopping for clothes I don't need. Having not yet lost my pregnancy weight, this is a total waste of money as I am hoping to fit into smaller clothes sooner rather than later and I generally end up not looking how I'd like which just makes me feel a bit naff.

• Watching trash tv. Being on maternity leave has given me time to watch and follow terrible tv series (Housewives of wherever, matchmaking programmes etc). I don't want to look back on this period of my life and only remember the arguement between Vicky and Brielle or the meltdown that Taylor had over nothing. Plus I watch these shows and just get really angry at how far removed from real life these people are. I want to live my life in the real world.

• Looking at properties for sale online. I don't make any secret of the fact that I'd like to move house but I can't afford to yet. So why torture myself looking at houses I can't afford and envying what other people have?!

So a week in and it's going ok. I'd love to look online at houses but I'm still allowed to watch property programmes so at least for the next 33 days Phil and Kirsty will have to suffice.

Anyone else doing lent?