Giving Up

I have a friend or two who have "given ______ up for Lent."  Some of these people have given up chocolate.  WHAT?!  Really?  I would much prefer to give up housecleaning...I'm already succeeding at it so there's not too much risk involved.  Several years ago I gave up (not for Lent, mind you) Diet Coke.  I was drinking way too much and felt it would be better for me to stop drinking it all together.  I succeeded for almost one year.  But then I had that one sip, then a gulp, and I was a goner.  I know my friends worry about my DC addiction.  So a couple of weeks ago, I gave up going to the convenience store or (yikes) Sonic for a crunchy ice diet coke...again, not for Lent. I just wanted to see if I could do it.  Of course I could, but let's face it: an addiction is addicting!  Some struggle with drugs or food or diet coke.  We are all powerless when it comes to our addictions, right?  Shopping/ sex/ gossip/ it doesn't matter what it is...try giving it up for a while and you'll know what I'm talking about.  Again, forever late to the party, I'm wondering what I can "give up" for good.  I wouldn't give up chocolate...I know I can't keep that up.  I would like to say I'll give up diet cokes with the crunchy ice, but I know that would be a struggle especially while I'm trying to lose weight.  The only responsible thing to give up right now for me would be the 8 pounds I'm trying to take off before April 1st.  I think I'll restate my goal and say for Lent I'm giving up 8 pounds for good.  I won't ask for them back or resume to get them back after Easter.  I will gladly and joyfully give up 8 pounds for Lent.

Update:  kitchen sink was clean for 1 1/2 days.  The bathrooms are/were clean and shiny.  The thing I despise about housework is it is never done.  No sooner had I cleaned the bathroom then someone went in and used that sparkly clean bowl.  I mopped the kitchen floor only to have the muddy dogs run back through.  So welcome to my pigpen.  We are happy and if it really bothers you, I'll show you where the broom and mop are!