Lenten resolution

I was prepared to write a great, big blog rant about issues at work and feeling like I'm in a funk spitirually and missing people at home, etc. Every time a situation at work comes up, I start responding to the stress like it's something I'll never be able to overcome. I talk far too much about whatever's making me upset and allow my emotions to bleed over from the situation to all other areas of my life. That's what makes me so homesick so fast.

But then I paused, and I thought about it. And I've decided I'm not going to complain about any of it, at least not until I've ridden the wave a little farther and know what is going to happen. This is my little epiphany, and it came just in time for Lent to begin.

Aside from your standard fasting and almsgiving, I'm going to work on not getting overwhelmed or stressed out about every new, frightening situation that crops up. Every time I do that, the situation comes to some resolution (though it is rarely tidy) and then I get freaked out over the next one. Instead of focusing on how hard a lot of what I'm dealing with is, I'm going to make a conscious effort to do at least one cheerful good deed every day.

Here's hoping that this will help me in my Lenten prayer, as well. It's eaisier to bless God when you have something cheerful in your heart. I figure if I intentionally put something cheerful there, my prayer will open with praise for God instead of going straight to supplication or complaining. Hopefully it'll lead to a more fruitful prayer life and healthier relationships.

I have more Lenten resolutions, but that's the only one I feel like sharing publically. Happy Lent, everybody!