Lent

[kat_lair]

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Today is the first day of Lent, and while I'm not particularly religious or even spiritual, it does provide a nice, well-defined period for abstinence. So, what is it that I'm giving up? I considered meat, but I don't really eat enough of it in the first place for that to be particularly meaningful. Same goes for alcohol as I only tend to drink socially and go for weeks on end without anyway. But then, an idea! And I'm making this public as well so I can feel peer-pressure to follow through :D

For Lent, I'm giving up... Reading Fanfic For Pleasure.

That's right! Here are my reasons: almost all of my current 'for pleasure' reading is fanfic, which means it's been way too long since I've had time/focus for books. And I really want to go back to reading books, because I have several in my bookshelves, just waiting for me (both fiction and work related stuff). In addition to book, there is a lot of TV and films I want to catch up on! I also want to devote more time to creative things like writing and graphics. Work has been stupidly busy and fanfic is the current 'easy treat' option to enjoy what spare time I have but I'm hoping to break out of that rut a little.

There are exceptions and stipulations of course. What I'm giving up is reading fanfic for pleasure, meaning...
- Writing fanfic is allowed and indeed encouraged *eyes wip folder*
- Reading fanfic for purposes of beta work is allowed
- Reading fanfic because I'm doing art for it is allowed (yay smallfandombang!)
- Skimming already-read fics for the purposes of writing a rec is allowed (actually, I don't have to do even this a lot because a week of fic rec posts is almost done and I'll timer those posts soon)

So, wish me luck and creativity! I'm acutely aware I'm well due another RL update and hope to get to that soonish...

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Comments

[wpadmirer.livejournal.com]

Lent was non-existent in my religious up-bringing, but I admire you for doing something to honor it.

[kat-lair.livejournal.com]

It was pretty much in mine as well, known by name but not really observed as such. I'm using it as a convenient period to try and achieve something.

[teithiwr.livejournal.com]

Ah, Lent! I used to be more observant and used to e.g. give up sweet things for Lent. Some years, I've fasted from negative self-talk, which is actually something I could do this year as well; I diss myself far too much in my internal monologue, especially when stressed out, and I want to get away from that. More self-forgiveness, armollisuutta. I might also continue the vegan thing I've been doing since the start of Feb... at least to try to eat mostly vegan even after my February vegan challenge is done. (This is something I've been wanting to do anyway, so Lent would be a good excuse. :P)

[kat-lair.livejournal.com]

I considered going full vegan for the period but honestly, life is so stressful right now that having to think about food that much would just add to that. I rather like most meats, but am trying to be good about not having it particularly often and buying organic when I can. It helps that I also really like vegetarian food :D I think giving up cheese would be harder than meat actually!

Armollisuus onkin hyva asia, pitaisi muistuttaa itseakin siitta.

I've read your poem and loved it, I'm trying to keep together long enough to respond etc. Have even an idea for poem response but work etc really stupid still :(

[teithiwr.livejournal.com]

Definitely best not to add any stress. <3 I lessened my cheese intake during January (I kind of OD'd over Xmas, lol) so I've not been missing cheese too much. So much delicious vegan food to make :D

And darling, don't worry about poem response etc., it can wait till whenever work is less uber-stressful! <3

[margaret-r.livejournal.com]

I gave up sugar in my tea once for lent ... never went back to having it again and I don't think I ever gave up anything again for the occasion. So I reckon lent and I are even;)

[kat-lair.livejournal.com]

It's took N about 6 years to train me to have my tea black instead with milk :D I don't use sugar anyway.

[moth2fic.livejournal.com]

I don't read enough of it as it is. *eyes bookmarks and worries*
I was going to give something up but forgot that Lent had started. I think I might treat it more as a period for setting up some good habits like not procrastinating, keeping things backed up, and tidying up my files. Since I celebrated Chinese New Year, having missed the western one completely, this seems like a reasonable resolution. And it might even last six weeks!

[kat-lair.livejournal.com]

I hope your 'no procrastination' resolution goes well, perhaps when applied to your formatting quest as well. I haven't missed fanfic too much yet, but I have had to stop myself from reaching for it a few times like weaning myself off a safety blanket.

[milly-gal.livejournal.com]

I've never been very successful at giving up stuff for Lent, the same as I'm no good at New Year's resolutions, then again, Pagan, so not really my wheelhouse to start with, however, good luck with it hun and well done for trying. *hugs*

[kat-lair.livejournal.com]

Well I haven't really seriously tried it before, but this seemed like the time to do it for some reason. Thank you!

[deinonychus-1.livejournal.com]

Meep! Good luck with that!

I have no plans at all to give anything up for lent. However, this post prompted me to think about just how much I fall back on not only reading fanfic, but *re-reading* my favourite fics as an easy option relaxing read before bed. This is despite the ever growing collection of books that I've bought that are still on my to-read pile.

So, with that in mind, you have prompted me to make an effort to stop returning to my old favourite fics again and again, and actually read some books as my night time reading instead.

We'll see how it goes...

[kat-lair.livejournal.com]

Thank you. So far it's going okay though I've had to stop myself from automatically reaching for AO3 or reclists for when I have some spare time. But I have a lot of books as well to go through...

We can cheer each other on! And pass book recs back and forth. Or something! Good luck!