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Originally Posted by genuinegirly
Will, Non-religious are of course welcome to share in the conversation - that's part of why I started the thread on TFP and not in some Catholic forum.
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Okay.
While I'm not exactly on board with observing the sacrifice of Jesus from Ash Wednesday to Easter, I think there are some parts of Lent that can be taken out of their religious context and applied to anyone.
Self-reflecting, taking stock on one's life, and making amends is a very healthy way of living and can ultimately be very rewarding. While it's not explicitly a part of Lent, the idea of repentance has very strong connections to this part of the liturgical calendar. Who says it has to be repentance to a god? If you've wronged someone, making amends can heal a wound in both of your lives.
Learning self-restraint is another part of the preparations for Easter, perhaps the best known to be associated with Lent. People use the time to commit themselves to a healthier life, like diet, exercising, quitting smoking and such. Moreover, self-restraint can simply be about making conscious changes in patterns of destructive behavior. Self-control is an important part of being an emotionally healthy person.
All that having been said, for nonreligious people like myself, these are things to keep in mind year round. There's no bad time to make up for past mistakes or develop healthy self-control. Maybe the advent of Lent can just serve as a reminder.