“I replaced the toilet paper and I wiped the smudges off the faucet.”
Today marks the one week anniversary of Ash Wednesday, a.k.a. the beginning of Lent. When people ask: “what are you giving up for Lent?” I try to explain that I started a practice, several years ago of adding in the little things that others normally do. I wrote about this back then, but I don’t expect you to remember. In fact, I hope you forgot so you won’t go all: “oh geeze, not again…” on me.
Just in case you want to incorporate this technique into your Lenten routine, here are a few guidelines as to what counts, and what doesn’t:
It doesn’t count if you normally do it or should do it – I normally iron any of my work shirts that need to be ironed. Other things of mine that need to be ironed, I usually toss in the hamper, clean, with the goal of putting them away before they get wrinkled the next time. Hmmm, maybe that’s something I can work on.
It doesn’t count if the other person doesn’t want you to do it – I will not be cooking, and I won’t be doing my wife’s laundry. I won’t be doing mine either, because she doesn’t trust me with the washer and she lives in fear that I will burn the house down after using the dryer without cleaning the lint trap.
It doesn’t count if it benefits you – I like to go and get take-out for dinner, so I can sit at the bar and have a beer while it’s being prepared. “Honey, how about we just have pizza tonight?” isn’t a sacrifice.
The one-liner stems from something my wife normally does. She starts new rolls of paper towels and toilet paper before the old one is completely finished. She leaves the little bit that’s left on top of, or near the new role, so no one has to deal with replacing the roll in a moment of need.
Ending here, under 400 words. I know, I know, that’s not the goal, but…
This post is part of Linda G. Hill’s fun weekly series One-Liner Wednesday. If you have a one-liner, I’d encourage you to join in on the fun. You can followt this link to participate and to see the one-liners from the other participants.
Interesting blog, and fabulous photos. 💜
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Thank you.
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My pleasure💜
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😂But, seriously, I’m agape over here. It amazes me that meticulousness does not translate into everything you do, Dan. But my hubby is the same. The same man who will insist shoes come off at the door, point out any smudge left on the counter and who will spend an inordinate amount of time doing a simple repair so that it is perfect, will leave glops of toothpaste in his sink and never make his bed. Seriously I think it is our mind glitch that gets to full tilt and says, “That’s it. Can’t handle any more perfection” . Ans speaking of perfect, your photos today are amazing. I am finding it too difficult to pick a favorite! I love the fog shots and the shadow of you and Maddie. 😀
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Thanks Cheryl. “meticulousness” is not one of my traits. There are some things that I attend to, but I’m well along the entropy curve, heading toward chaos.
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Haha. One would never know it by outward appearances. 😉
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Your photos reinforce the feeling that it’s spring. It’s a trick of nature to lull us into a false sense of hope before we get whacked again by a winter blast.
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I know you’re right, Joanne but it was 69°f yesterday and will be in 70s today. It’s not fair. I know there’s 24” if snow out there just waiting to strike.
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It’s really not a big surprise that so many people get sick at this time of year. In the past 2 hours, the temperature has dropped 8 degrees and it’s going to hit freezing before long. After all the rain we’ve had the past couple of days, it’s going to be a nightmare out there on the roads!!
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We’re going to be 35 degrees colder tomorrow :(
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Same here. Winter is making a comeback 😕
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I remember as a kid trying to give up candy for Lent. Easter couldn’t come fast enough!!
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Yes, those were hard years. Now I feel like I could give up candy. Not coffee, but candy.
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AGREED!!
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Paper replacement is good, but what I’d want is someone to change the sheets. Hate that job, but love clean sheets. If someone did that for me, I’d be in sheet heaven. Love you and your shadow. I see you’re in the mid 50’s – wahoo. We’ve climbing to mid 70’s. I even had to kick the ac on yesterday for a few hours because of humidity. Have a great Wednesday, and I’ll hope the Editor wants take out tonight. :-)
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Thanks Judy. It was 69° yesterday. They say 72° today, then 38 tomorrow. Changing the sheets seems one small step away from laundry. I think it might be off-limits. I’m going with that.
I’ve been sick, but craving Chinese food. I think that will happen (but they don’t have a bar).
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Enjoy that 72. :-) Hope you feel better, and for heavens sake go pick up food where there is a bar. Hot tea just isn’t the same. :-)
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I like your Lenten twist. I grew up in a family that was aware of Lenten traditions, but didn’t do them. Respect others while they were doing their thing, but no need to jump on the bandwagon with them. You’ve found a great different way to do Lent without being ho-hum about Lent. Very clever. May the paper roll the way you want it to. 😉
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Thanks Ally – changing the roll does give me a head start on getting it to roll the right way ;-)
It’s always interesting to realize how much we let others do for us.
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It’s warm up here too. Mother Nature is SUCH a tease! I give up sugar. Sigh . . . is it Easter yet?
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She is teasing us, Pam. We’re heading back into the 30s tomorrow. It’s not Easter, but Easter candy is now being sold. Just in case you want to conduct some research.
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Happy Lent Hump-Day, Dan. Lent wasn’t part of my small town’s culture growing up. It’s interesting to learn a little about your delightful take on it. Hugs.
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Thanks Teagan. I grew up split between the casual (give something up, it won’t kill you) and the serious (no meat, no dairy throughout Lent) with the two religions active in our house/family. Still that way in this house, but I’m the one with milk in my coffee.
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I’ve also “added in” in past years for Lent. This year, I’m trying to take out the swearing and whining and it’s been difficult. I seem to slip up at least once every day, but I’ll keep trying. Good luck with your Lenten endeavors, Dan.
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Swearing and whining? I might try that after I retire, but I don’t think I could do well while still working. Maybe whining, but I’d probably be whining about not swearing.
Thanks!
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Yeah, that’s why it’s been tough. Work often makes me want to swear and whine, but it’s the reason I’m trying to change my ways. I have a year and a half to go before retirement, so I need to be a little more positive in my attitude.
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No swearing or whining? Akkk! ;)
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I’m with Teagan on this.
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I know, Teagan, what have I done? :-o
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Years ago a friend of mine proudly announced she was giving up sweets for Lent. Found out later she had just been diagnosed with diabetes!! WTH?!
I’m still laughing about the toilet paper. I do the same thing as the Editor! But I take it one step further. When I use the facilities, I use the toilet paper from the new roll so someone else empties the old roll and has to put the cardboard cylinder in the recyclables. Why? It would take a team of psychiatrists!
“It’s not cold enough to freeze”. Those words are music to my ears!
GREAT photos Dan. Fog. Reflections. Halos. Shadows. But the one of you and your shadow is priceless. And the one you say looks like a bad part of town…..it reminds me of scenes from really scary English movies.
Sure hope you’re feeling much better. Not feeling well stinks.
•••Ginger•••
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Thanks Ginger. Don’t give me bad ideas about manipulating the rolls. I’m supposed to be improving ;-) (but I like your idea).
I don’t think we’re done with freezing, but I think we’re fast approaching more regular walks. Maddie and I both like it when we can get out early on the weekend, take our walk and then lounge (well, she lounges).
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I do the same thing with paper towels and toilet paper. I don’ like to run out. We changed the restrooms signs at work to man/woman/wheelchair so anyone can go anywhere. If we could just send out an email to remind the men to put the seat down. Admin laughed and said, ‘Ain’t gonna happen.’ Maybe I should give up cussin’ ’em out for Lent….yeah. Ain’t gonna happen….
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Tolerating a shared bathroom and giving up swearing seem like mutually exclusive goals.
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I love the multicolored shot of Hartford, and the B&W shot of the streetlights (looks like a scene straight out of a 40’s movie). Now I just need to catch up on my ironing…
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Thanks Jennie. I think I like the dark shot up the path the best. The park had been flooded, so the sidewalk was still covered in some sediment. I think that adds to the effect.
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It does. Can’t you just see Humphrey Bogart in a trench coat and hat?
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I like your Lenten observance very much, indeed. I’m trying to speak kindly, even when I disagree. That’s hard, sometimes. I usually give up moderation for Lent, but you’ve inspired me to push myself.
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Based on the tone of your recent facebook posts. I’d say your doing a pretty good job with striking a balance between respect and outrage. I don’t usually get involved in those discussions, but I peek in on them from time to time.
I find this “addition” for Lent is an opportunity to improve and it usually lasts beyond Easter. I might start slow, but there is some carryover, so I thing it balances out.
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I like the photo of those lights at night all in a row with a reflection bellow them at Great River Park. Also good points about what counts as something to do for Lent.
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Thanks Frank. The picture of the lights is a favorite of mine.
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Love the photos, Dan. That one of Maddie and you with the long shadows was terrific. I never practiced giving up things for Lent. When asked I always said, “bullfighting.” No one ever pursued it further.
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Thanks John. If you want, I could ask Lucy and Bailey for some suggested activities you could add in for a few weeks.
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Sounds like a good idea.
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I thought for a moment you were going to tell us to give up toilet paper for Lent and I was going to say, ah no!
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No, no no no, I would not go there, Jan.
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I don’t “do” lent but I had friends who gave up stuff like desserts and resented it if I ate mine in front of them. I wasn’t sure what the big deal was – it seemed like a reasonable trade-off since, apparently, I was going to hell and they weren’t.
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If you give something up, you should be able to resist temptation. I’d be tempted to ask: “if I didn’t give up dessert for Jesus, why would I give it up for you?” I guess that would not be in the spirit of the season, but…
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My favorite picture (of course) are your shadows. Yet the “night” shots are gorgeous. I also like your philosophy on Lent. It’s not giving up something that counts, but what I can do better. That is what I think anyway. You have a good Mrs. IMO. Thoughtful means a lot in my book. Happy Spring, Dan! 😉
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Thanks Amy. I do have a good Mrs. I’m trying to keep her happy. The night shots were leftovers but I liked them too much not to use them.
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I wish I had time to read all the comments, Dan, but too many things are calling, including tonight’s Lenten service and the pre-service dinner, provided this week by the praise team, which means there’s bread in the bread machine and I have to make a very large salad a bit later. I was happy to read your take on “giving something up for Lent.” My thought in the last years has been to add something and although I never really listed what that did or didn’t mean, it would run along the same lines as what you mentioned. In addition, I do the exact same thing as your wife regarding toilet paper and paper towel rolls. :-)
janet
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Thanks Janet. Good luck with the preparations. Adding something seems like a good idea because sometimes it’s lasts longer than Lent. I actually now do the paper towel thing at work. I find it less frustrating than walking into the kitchen and finding the empty cardboard tube hanging there.
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Dan, I must confess I operate similarly to your wife when it comes to paper towels. I have been burned one too many times with needing them immediately only to find none are standing by. As for Lent, I know a lot of folks who do the giving up thing…but they choose things easily not done. I like your suggestion for a different approach.
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I do often benefit from her approach to the paper goods. I’m not trying to take over the job, but it feels good to chip in.
I never did well with the giving up approach. This seems to work.
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Good job, Dan, with the toilet paper. I never iron any more. I’ve found that if I hang a wrinkled item of clothing in the bathroom before a hot shower, a lot of the wrinkles go away.
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Thanks JoAnna. I use the hot shower ironing method when I travel.
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Great photos! I’d take that walk along the ‘bad part of town’ in your imagination. I love those lights!
I do think adding can work just as well. It’s nice to think about adding more small kindnesses in the world. Especially with loved ones, that’s when it’s nicest to be nice :)
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Thanks. The lights in the fog always get my attention. That path is actually a fairly safe place to walk, but it’s interesting how the light can make it look a little creepy.
Adding in nice little things for loved ones is easy. I hope I remember that after Easter.
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I hope Easter comes quick for you! Great shots. Love the ones with street lights!
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Thanks! Of course, the way this works, I’m supposed to remember these things and create better habits.
I can’t ever resist those lights. I’m glad you like them.
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I should create some better habits. Do better at organizing things would be a good start for me!
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So many “it doesn’t count if…” So, what DOES count? lol (don’t have to answer that:)). You can tell, am not used to Lent. Here in California, I don’t know anyone, who pays attention to it. I know, this is a godless, barbaric state.I don’t know how serious you are about Lent, so I’ll stop here.
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It’s mainly just avoiding procrastination. If I leave an empty water bottle on the counter, my wife will put it in the bin. So, remembering to just put it in the bin and not set it on the counter until I go outside later.
I’m not overly serious about Lent, but the notion of sacrifice is a good reminder about why I believe what I believe, so it works. But, I have friends in California ;-)
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I like those shadows. You have just an idea in my head for a story. Ha, ha!
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*put. I missed that.
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Thanks Peter. I’d love to read that story. You’re welcome to use any photos.
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I love the last two! Pretty colours and the best shadow to have. :)
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Thanks Manja. She does love those walks.
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