Dust & Ashes

I'm Catholic but I prefer not to advertise that for various reasons.  I'm more of a doer than a talker when it comes to things like that.  BUT today marks the start of lent with Ash Wednesday.  My facebook news feed has been covered with people saying what they're giving up for lent- generally, fast food, sweets, and facebook.  Which is fine- good for them in trying to break bad habits.  But I wonder how many people will keep with it after lent? To me, lent is a time to try and better oneself.  A couple years ago, I was drinking a lot of soda so I used lent as a time to get rid of that habit.  It's worked- I only drink soda as a mixer/chaser.  Three years ago I went vegan as an attempt to make smarter food decisions.  I think it's worked though I still have a giant sweet tooth that should probably be reined it.  I do occasionally toy with the idea of going back to being a vegan but then I think about all of the cheese I have and how it would be a waste of money to let it go bad.  Sometimes I think that people use lent as a second chance for their failed new years resolutions instead of a chance to better themselves. I might be taking this all too seriously but that's what happens when the insomnia kicks in . . .