40 days....

Today is the first day of the rest of your life.

I've heard that statement from the time I was child. Never quite understanding what it really meant. What I think it means is that today--or tomorrow, you can start over. The past is back there and today is a new day. Another chance to be the person you want to be.

Today happens to be the first day of Lent, a good day to begin anew. The day after gorging yourself with pancakes and packzkis, liquor and parties on Bourbon street. Today is the day that many Catholics and Christians alike give something up for 40 days in honor of Jesus and his 40 days in desert.

Even though I'm not Catholic--I did go to Catholic school so Lent was something I've always been really aware of. Whether I took part in it was a whole different matter. However, I do remember my grandma gave up her after dinner cigarette for Lent and never smoked again. Others give up candy, pie or sweets altogether. Fast food, wine, chips, sex, you name it.

I'm not sure if there are specific rules you have to follow but from my understanding the purpose of Lent is the preparation of the believer—through prayer, penitence, almsgiving and self-denial—for Easter or the celebration of Death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ.

For me, this year will be the first year as an adult that I will participate in the celebration of Lent. I've come to a point where I want things to be different. I want my mind to be clearer and I want my body to be cleaner. I want more self-control and self-direction. I need to be whomever it is I think I should have been by now.

This is an excerpt from the AmericanCatholic.org website:

Fasting is more than a means of developing self-control. It is often an aid to prayer, as the pangs of hunger remind us of our hunger for God. The first reading on the Friday after Ash Wednesday points out another important dimension of fasting.

The prophet Isaiah insists that fasting without changing our behavior is not pleasing to God.

"This, rather, is the fasting that I wish: releasing those bound unjustly, untying the thongs of the yoke; setting free the oppressed, breaking every yoke; sharing your bread with the hungry, sheltering the oppressed and the homeless; clothing the naked when you see them, and not turning your back on your own" (Is 58:6-7).

Fasting should be linked to our concern for those who are forced to fast by their poverty, those who suffer from the injustices of our economic and political structures, those who are in need for any reason. Thus fasting, too, is linked to living out our baptismal promises. By our Baptism, we are charged with the responsibility of showing Christ's love to the world, especially to those in need. Fasting can help us realize the suffering that so many people in our world experience every day, and it should lead us to greater efforts to alleviate that suffering.

Abstaining from meat traditionally also linked us to the poor, who could seldom afford meat for their meals. It can do the same today if we remember the purpose of abstinence and embrace it as a spiritual link to those whose diets are sparse and simple. That should be the goal we set for ourselves—a sparse and simple meal. Avoiding meat while eating lobster misses the whole point!

Even if you aren't particularly religious, I think that you can appreciate what it means to give something up in order to better understand what you have. Being able to really empathize with someone who has something you take for granted everyday could do wonders for your point of view.

Sitting quietly with yourself--some call it prayer can do wonders for your mind and your soul. Bring out a sense of creativity and inspiration that has been repressed by the business of everyday life.

So I have chosen to give up meat for 40 days, that's a big deal for this carnivore. I've also decided to focus more and give up my friend procrastination. Because as it states above, fasting without changing our behavior is pointless. I don't think I can give up meat forever, but I can give up my unhealthy sense of laziness and lack of motivation. I have so many resources available to me and I think 40 days should be enough time to put them to good use.

What are your thoughts?

Do you celebrate Lent, what will you give up?

The Gambler

I just finished watching the Oscars and I must say I'm glad I didn't put any money on it because I would have lost big time. Big Time!

I really thought The Curious Case... was going to win best picture and Brad Pitt would win best actor. Wrong and wrong. I haven't seen 'Slumdog Millionaire' but I understand that it was the underdog and everyone loves an underdog.... Plus, Bollywood is really on the come-up now so I'm sure we will be seeing more India based movies in the near future. Of course I love seeing more brown people getting proper screen time.

As far as best actress goes I really thought Angie had it in the bag. I'm glad Kate won though, because she is so sweet and seems like a genuine person. I loved how she waved to her Dad in the audience, so cute.

Taraji P. Henson had the best supporting actress vote from me but Penelope Cruz took that one home for that threesome Barcelona movie.

I will say, I knew Heath Ledger would win best supporting actor for 'The Dark Knight' but really, who didn't?

I thought Frost/Nixon would get some awards but I don't think they got any.

I haven't seen 'The Wrestler" but Mickey Rourke had my vote from the previews. No one could play such a rundown, downtrodden, lost and washed-up, has-been better then him. I say that with the best intentions!

All in all I really, really enjoyed the show. Will Smith looked great. The dance number with Hugh Jackman and Beyonce was fantabulous, as was the opening number.

I think the inventive way they did the presentations of the best actress/actor, best supporting actor/actress was a delightful change that I wish they would have thought of long ago. It was nice to see winners from the past honoring all the nominees of the evening. In past years it has always seemed to me as though they didn't pay much attention to all the nominees. It really is a big deal just to get to that point, whether they win or lose.

As far as fashion goes:

Ann Hathaway and Taraji P. Henson had the best dresses of all.

What are your thoughts?

Picture credit: Getty

Are you there God, it's me, Erika

I swear I'm not dead, even though I feel like it most days....

I've put aside once again one of the most important things to me, my writing.

I have ideas, thoughts, ramblings all sorts of things I could say but some how my motivation has left. I jot down notes and ideas all over the place but they never get any further then my handy dandy notebook. I hate that I'm one of those people who needs accolades and a support system to keep going but I do. My lack support from family makes it really hard to believe in myself.

I am way to old for that.

I suck.

So here it is a new year and not much to show for it. Well I have to get off my duff or actually get on my duff and write something, something brilliant. A friend reminded me that I have been writing this book forever in my head but haven't got much down on paper. I need to go back to basics and remember what it is I've always wanted.

I have a dream.