Happy Lent

Happy Lent to all my Christians out there. Welcome to 40 days of sacrificing by eating pizza instead of meat on Fridays and rationalizing how God will forgive you for eating one piece of candy (a day) even though you gave it up for Lent. One thing I've noticed about Lent in recent years is that even people who don't go to church regularly or otherwise practice their religion anymore still give up something for Lent, or at least try to. Did the years of Catholic schooling brainwash us so well that Ash Wednesday elicits a Pavlovian response of sacrifice? Or is it the guilt from all those years of Catholic school and the teachers telling us "Jesus died for your sins, is it that much for you to go without cookies for 40 days?" Either way, I'm giving up soda, which I've been doing for at least the last 10 years and has worked out well for me. It's almost a bigger deal now than it used to be because I usually have soda as a treat, so when I can't have it I'm especially disappointed.

What are YOU giving up for Lent??