Lent 2015 - working on transforming my world

I'm not sure where this will take me, but the journey always begins with a simple step - so here goes with some simple steps.....

I know I titled this Lent 2015 but these challenges are steps to a bigger change for me.  These may start with Lent and give me a time frame to track things, but this is bigger, much bigger than Lent for me.  Some challenges are more Lent specific than others.  All are steps in the right direction for me.

So here goes!

There are 6 and half weeks in Lent - 40 days if you don't count the Sundays.

1) Participate in 7 Lenten / Spiritual activities.
There are a ton of things that fit into this category - Stations of the Cross, walking a labyrinth, attending the Zion Passion Play, going to confession, etc
I think I can average one a week if I focus and make this a priority.

2) No purchasing of chips 

This is hard for me, and to be clear this is not no eating chips - it's no purchasing chips.  I can eat chips if it comes with a meal or at a party, etc -- but I can't buy them and bring them into my house.

3) Limited candy to the skittles on hand
I split the skittles into 7 containers and I can have one a week through Lent.  No purchasing of new candy - with the exception of some things for St Patrick's day.

4) 9 bags of frozen veggies 

This is a crazy non standard Lent challenge.  But like most Americans I don't eat enough vegetables. I first thought 2 bags per week but 12 bags in 6 weeks sound crazy, especially when it's just me eating them and a bag of peas can easily have 6 to 8 servings.   So I compromised and went with 1 1/2 bags per week - total of 9 over that Lent period.  Still a lot, but the point is to try to add them into more and more of my meals - replace snacks with veggies.  And to be clear, listing these as frozen veggies is just an easy way to count - but fresh veggies will count towards the total.

5) Be good to myself at least 7 times
Similar to the first challenge, I'll try to average one per week.   I tend to be too hard on myself and too cheap on spending on myself.   This is one of those longer term goals about needing to be good to myself and celebrate the small victories and celebrate the now (celebrate the season).  I need to make sure this is not only food treats and special meals, etc - just needs to be something I like to do or want to try.  

• There is at list one that is a food item I want to include - having a shamrock shake.  It's been years (maybe 10 years or more) since I had one.  I hear they are really different and very good.  Its time for me to try one and not worry about the calories - just to enjoy the very infrequent treat.  
• I also want to include a couple of movies - aiming to going to the theater 3 times.  That seams like too much and I'm not sure I can fit it 

5) Training

This is is the big one for changing my lifestyle into the type of person I want to be.  And is so very critical for the June hike with Luann.   I'm not sure how to start this.  I worry if I do too little I won't be prepared, and I worry if I try do too much I'll injury my knees and not be able to do anything.  So I'm taking a leap and committing to 4 times per week - that is 3 times with the Couch to 5K program and then 1 additional activity.  I think that is doable, if I keep focus on it.

So that's the plan - wish me good luck

I'll keep you posted on progress as time flies,

 

Walking the Labyrinth

There is no right or wrong way to walk a labyrinth, but if possible I prefer to walk it alone outside.  I wish one of our near by state or city parks had a labyrinth.  I think it would be great if St Dom's added one to the prayer garden.  If there was one near by I would go there on a regular basis to help calm and focus me.

Enjoy the symbolism found in walking a labyrinth. It really does mirror life, at times you are very close to the center, but after a few turns, you can find yourself on a path to the outside. The good news is that the center is never really that far away, and there is always a way back to it.


This is a list of labyrinth that are somewhat nearby.

Mount Mary College
2900 North Menomonee River Parkway | Milwaukee, WI 53222-4597


St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Parish – New Berlin, WI
12700 W. Howard Ave. New Berlin, WI 53151
 Indoor In Sippel Hall, open most Thursday in Lent from 4 - 7:30 pm

Aurora West Allis Medical Center
located at the corner of 89th Street and Lincoln Avenue 
Outdoor Healing Garden with Labyrinth
Best time to walk this is in the summer.

Calvary Church (next to Jesu)
The Labyrinth Open Walk at Calvary Presbyterian Church – The Big Red Church - On Wednesday evenings Calvary Church is open to the public to walk the labyrinth. The labyrinth is a walking meditation, a spiritual tool, that clears the mind, leads to healing, self-knowledge, and peace. Calvary Church is a family of believers focused on welcoming people of all paths as brothers and sisters in Christ.
Occurs weekly: Wednesday (5:30 PM to 7:00 PM)
Contact Phone: 414-271-8782
Calvary Church
835 W, Wisconsin Ave, Milwaukee, WI 53233
Price: Donation

St Mary's Hales Corner (Fairly close to Whitnall Park)
Throughout history, pilgrims have traveled to holy sites to encounter the sacred and to renew their faith. When the Crusades and the plague made pilgrimage to the Holy Land almost impossible, Labyrinths came into use as a pilgrimage-in-place. Pilgrims could engage in the same kind of prayer journey without leaving their native land. Walking the Labyrinth is the equivalent of four city blocks. The path to the center and the path out are one and the same. The Labyrinth is not a maze or a puzzle.
9520 W. Forest Home Avenue, Hales Corners, WI


St. John Neumann Catholic Church
2400 West State Highway 59;  Waukesha, WI  53189-6323
Near the Fox River Park [River Road (County Highway H) and Lawnsdale Road (County Highway I)]