Author: Assistant Curator

Jealousy

I discovered that ‘giving up’ this word didn’t mean that I wouldn’t still have instances where I felt jealous, rather what it got me to do was to look at a different word instead, Gratitude. Ok, so I’m jealous about this thing, but on the other hand I’m glad this person is getting the opportunity to do this thing. I’ve also discovered that perhaps my jealousy comes from a place where I want to do these things too, but I haven’t stated clearly that I would like to do so- probably out of fear of rejection. So I’ve learned a few things- rather than focusing on what you don’t have, take a look at what you’ve got, it’s not hard to be grateful when you think about those who go without. At the same time I’ve also re-discovered that if I want to do things, I can’t expect people to know that, so I need to say something, thus the next idea I’m giving up ‘fear of rejection’. Hopefully that will help me to step up and say what I need and what I want and what I hope for, rather than expecting others to know.

Nancy

I

“I” was my word for this week. Wanted to try to emphasize the other person instead of me. I did not do so well in giving it up, but trying was a lesson in and of itself. I had no idea how much I talk about myself! I would be in the middle of a sentence and freeze as I was reminded to make the conversation about someone else! I would switch gears and try to solicit conversation from them and about them. I’ve decided to do this word for two weeks since I didn’t do as well as I wished I would have. I’ll see if I improve this week!

Laura

Disappointment

Picking a word to give up was easy, the word has followed me all my life and is more prominent this season than ever. Having just ended a relationship with someone I saw myself marrying, disappointment was never far from my lips or hers. They say if you want to make God laugh you should tell God your plans; however laughter is hard to come by when the plans you’ve had seem to crumble around you, and nothing you do fills the void left in the wake. Giving up disappointment was an impossible mission, one I failed at over and over through the week, but I found solace in a monk’s words on conversion: “You need to say ‘yes’ to your life and yourself, amazing person that you are.” In these simple words of assurance I’ve been given license to give up disappointment and say yes to something bigger.

Tom, MA

Angry

Remembering the word was easy, I created a sticky note for the home page of my computer in which I wrote the word–crossed out!!! Finding a substitution was not so easy. Better by far not to have a discussion about the person who generated the emotion, not so easy when the individual delights in being irritating and disruptive. I have resumed passing the peace despite the fact she insists on turning her back on me. Lots of opportunity for that this week. So I’ve given up a word, which has lightened my emotions (?) and have taken up being the kinder person. Also, getting rid of the emotional word has also helped get rid of the descriptive expletives an equally good if not better thing. It’s like having a weight lifted off of my soul.

Anonymous

 

Can’t

I have had trouble with overdrinking for some time. I decided to use the opportunity of Lent to let go of this habit. I have done several thirty day “dry-outs” when I’ve had to bear down on myself, and say: “You can’t drink this weekend! You can’t have just one more drink!”, white-knuckling through the process.
When I chose to give up the word ‘can’t’ last week, at the same time that I chose to give up alcohol, I was unable to use the mantra to which I was accustomed. I realized I’d have to say something else to myself besides “You can’t!” over and over again. But what would I say instead, to keep myself on the path of abstinence I had chosen for Lent?
I realized that I need not think of the problem in terms of words. I could let a silence occur, and make room for God. When I began to think of alcohol this time, I just tried to be still and feel myself longing for something more than a constant struggle to calm anxieties. With that longing came a sense that not only did I want peace, but that peace was wanted for me.

Taj

Can’t

I have had trouble with overdrinking for some time. I decided to use the opportunity of Lent to let go of this habit. I have done several thirty day “dry-outs” when I’ve had to bear down on myself, and say: “You can’t drink this weekend! You can’t have just one more drink!”, white-knuckling through the process.
When I chose to give up the word ‘can’t’ last week, at the same time that I chose to give up alcohol, I was unable to use the mantra to which I was accustomed. I realized I’d have to say something else to myself besides “You can’t!” over and over again. But what would I say instead, to keep myself on the path of abstinence I had chosen for Lent?
I realized that I need not think of the problem in terms of words. I could let a silence occur, and make room for God. When I began to think of alcohol this time, I just tried to be still and feel myself longing for something more than a constant struggle to calm anxieties. With that longing came a sense that not only did I want peace, but that peace was wanted for me.

Taj

Worry

Worry has been a lurking shadow for almost as long as I can remember. Surely in some ways worry has fed a sense discernment within me. However, as with most anything that assumes an oversized place in one’s life, it has without question been a constrictor, choking energy and vitality from me. It clouds not only the willingness to venture down some roads in life, but I have found it also lurks, weighing heavily on my mind and spirit and draining joy and motivation from moments, days, and even whole periods of life when it has spiraled out of control. This exercise of simply being a bit more conscious of when I use the word, often casually, has helped make me aware of how even those seemingly casual uses can inform and frame my larger way of thinking. The result is my world becomes smaller, limited, more tightly controlled in an unhealthy quest for a certainty which can in fact be a dead-zone – a state of being that is not actively engaged with life, but rather, engaged with fear. It is deceptive too, for at times, I can delude myself into believing that it is a spiritual stillness which I am seeking, when in truth, I have succumbed to fear.

Jerome

Worry

Worry has been a lurking shadow for almost as long as I can remember. Surely in some ways worry has fed a sense discernment within me. However, as with most anything that assumes an oversized place in one’s life, it has without question been a constrictor, choking energy and vitality from me. It clouds not only the willingness to venture down some roads in life, but I have found it also lurks, weighing heavily on my mind and spirit and draining joy and motivation from moments, days, and even whole periods of life when it has spiraled out of control. This exercise of simply being a bit more conscious of when I use the word, often casually, has helped make me aware of how even those seemingly casual uses can inform and frame my larger way of thinking. The result is my world becomes smaller, limited, more tightly controlled in an unhealthy quest for a certainty which can in fact be a dead-zone – a state of being that is not actively engaged with life, but rather, engaged with fear. It is deceptive too, for at times, I can delude myself into believing that it is a spiritual stillness which I am seeking, when in truth, I have succumbed to fear.
Jerome

Cannot

Limiting myself by saying what I cannot do is a practice I underwent far too often. “I can’t sing that high, I can’t figure this out, I can’t keep this up” – whenever I made up my mind that something was not going to happen, I accepted that thought as conclusive. I gave up the word ‘cannot’ to try and push my limits, finding that there’s a lot of truth to the clichéd ‘you can do anything you put your mind to’. By not allowing myself to bow out when things got tough, I learned a lot about my capabalities, especially as a singer and a student. With singing, I found that I’m a natural soul singer, a style which had intimidated me because of its powerful sound; while, as a student, it became quickly apparent that getting off your high horse and asking for help goes a long way.

Spencer

Cannot

Limiting myself by saying what I cannot do is a practice I underwent far too often. “I can’t sing that high, I can’t figure this out, I can’t keep this up” – whenever I made up my mind that something was not going to happen, I accepted that thought as conclusive. I gave up the word ‘cannot’ to try and push my limits, finding that there’s a lot of truth to the clichéd ‘you can do anything you put your mind to’. By not allowing myself to bow out when things got tough, I learned a lot about my capabalities, especially as a singer and a student. With singing, I found that I’m a natural soul singer, a style which had intimidated me because of its powerful sound; while, as a student, it became quickly apparent that getting off your high horse and asking for help goes a long way.

Spencer