benthamtowers's posterous

For Lent I am attempting to give up cake, chocolate and biscuits. I’m not religious but I do like to give myself a little test every now and again, and Lent gives me a set timeframe, 40 days, to test my will power.

I know I am only talking about trivial things here and that people sacrifice a lot more in life than a slice of cake and for a lot longer than 40 days. I also know that some people have no choice in giving up things, whereas mine is voluntary. I get that.

The reason I give up something during Lent is not only to test my will power, which can be pretty weak at times, but to also makes me look at life from a different perspective. Depriving myself of something makes me appreciate the wonderful things in my life (and I’m not talking about cake anymore). It important not to take things for granted, as we never know when it’s not going to be around.

Sometimes living life at a pace makes me forget to value all I hold dear and it’s important to stop every now and again to just think and reflect. I feel very blessed to have a loving and wonderful family; to have friends who have been in my life for most of it, and to have colleagues who have the same work ethic and approach to customers as I do. I appreciate that I have choices in life; that I am educated, and that I am healthy. It hasn't always been like that. 

Giving up something so trivial also makes me realise how the small things in life aren’t really worth worrying about. As Doris Day once said, ‘Kay Sera Sera, whatever will be, will be’, and in many ways I do agree with Doris, but a lot of it is about my approach and perspective on life. Even if I can’t control all that is happening in life it’s important for me to maintain a positive approach.

So here’s to the next 40 days, and if my will power holds out, maybe even beyond. Although absence makes the heart grow fonder for a bit of #4442 #cake

@katebentham

22nd February 2012