For Christians, Easter is early this year: March 23rd. I rarely talk religion …but the season of Lent is on my mind. Lent is the time when Catholics are penitent and traditionally forgo something pleasurable…as a reminder of suffering…and self-discipline.

First of all, I’ve never quite understood how the date of Easter is chosen. It’s one of those mysteries in my mind that no matter how many times is explained, I just don’t get it – so I’ve long given up trying to master the calculation. No matter how it’s derived, Lent begins on Ash Wednesday, which is February 6th. Until I was planning a trip to New Orleans for business, I didn’t really realize that it was so soon. It boggles the mind, here are all these poor souls….struggling to keep their New Year’s Resolutions…and then they will be needing to give up something for Lent. Will they spend the first five days of February gorging on chocolate to make up for the lost time in January….before they stop having sweets as their Lenten sacrifice?

Part of my mantra for 2008 has not been about improving myself by losing weight or some silly resolution that I won’t keep, but about living a life that is authentic and fulfilling. It’s hard, at times, to take positive reinforcements and apply them to myself instead of the overly critical negative thinking that for some reason comes so easily. Those that know me well can see some of my true progress due to choices and decisions I am making. I am the first to admit, however, that it is extremely hard…but worth it….to break the cycle of self-criticism.

Lent seems to be everywhere around me, though…and my instincts are asking me what I’m going to sacrifice this year. Even though I’m not a regular attendee of Mass, the Rites of the Catholic Church…still speak to me…and part of the reason I converted to Catholicism 17 years ago. Granted, I’ve become more spiritual than religious over the last couple of years, but it doesn’t mean that some underlying parts of faith don’t beckon to me at times.

When it boils down to it, my three words of passion, forgiveness, and courage are present with me every single moment. I am wanting to accomplish some pretty high goals in the next couple of years…and the wheels are in motion to reach some of those this year. I have been blessed with a loving guiding spirit and I am discovering that my heart and my soul are more valuable than I ever would have dreamed.

And if I truly want to achieve my dreams, then being true to my passion is critical.

I have this plaque in my office: “passion propels your dreams”. And if I truly want to achieve my dreams, then being true to my passion is critical. My passion is about the written word…about learning about people and places….and about providing some sort of help to those I come in contact with – either face to face or virtually. I am also discovering that there is a passion in learning more about who I really am….and creating the kind of life I want to live.

But I digress.

My heart is telling me that I’m being drawn to the upcoming Lenten Season not for the sacrifice of something, but for the culmination of the season. Easter is about re-birth and forgiveness. And forgiveness is one of those guiding words I’ve embraced this year. And in a way, I am also embracing a re-birth of myself by my deliberate efforts towards living a more fulfilled life.

I am a true believer that life is more about the journey than the destination. However, there are stops along our journeys…and we find that in order to allow our souls to feel a sense of accomplishment, we sometimes need a small destination here or there…to allow our souls a moment of pause. Sometimes, it’s a place, sometimes it’s an action, and sometimes, it’s a time.

Instead of resisting…and sacrificing….I’m going to embrace the six weeks of Lent. My soul seems to be telling me that it’s simply a part of the journey this year…and maybe it’s time to have a bit of a respite….

(Photo Credit: Deb Smouse)