What Life Looks Like When You Give Up Disappointment (On Day 4)

Not many people know this about me, but every year I practice Lent. Not because I have to, and not because I think it's 'cool' or 'fun'; I ceremoniously sacrifice a selfish habit of mine to make myself a better person (and to remind myself of all the sacrifices that others have made for me).

My first Lenten sacrifice was when I was 15 and in high school — I gave up coffee. While my diet and my allowance much appreciated it, I don't think I as a person gained much from the sacrifice.

Now, here I am and bordering on 23 years old, and this year I have decided to give up Disappointment.

My closest friends know that Disappointment (with a capital 'D') plagues my life. It's the side-effect of being idealistic, hopeful, and (at times) naïve. Sorry, not sorry.

And, while my friends console me after I am yet again disappointed by believing the best of people or hoping for the best in situations, saying things, like, "What did you expect?" and "You need to seriously stop kidding yourself," I'm still headstrong. I don't see why disappointment must accompany hope and trust. 

So, this Lenten sacrifice is two-fold: I sacrifice Disappointment so that I may gain more optimism, more trust, more positivity in life.

Even when things don't turn out the way I had hoped, the goal is to see the silver lining that resulted instead.

Rather than being let down by people or circumstances, I'm choosing to keep my eyes wide open for the gifts that come my way, in forms that I'm not expecting.

Good goals? Good goals.

I think it's somewhere in the Bible that says, if you try to save your life, you will lose it; and if you are willing to give up your life, you will save it.

The key themes of Lent are selflessness, sacrifice, and happy endings. For instance, the first Easter doesn't end with a crucifixion — it ends with a resurrection and newfound hope for humanity's salvation.

I think a lot of people focus on the sacrifice during Lent, when this whole time period is supposed to be a ceremony with that beautifully joyous, happy ending in sight. 

So, it's only been 4 days and already I have caught myself at that analogous Fork in the Road between choosing Disappointment and choosing Joy. The moment is much like a scene out of Matrix, staring a bullet straight in the eye and making it drop to your feet. It's an amazing experience (but not without its difficulties).

I welcome anyone and everyone to join me. Is there something else you're sacrificing (or gaining) during Lent this year? Share with me! I look forward to seeing the transformations we make over the next 36 days. :)