Let's challenge! Lent Special . . .

​Okay, so Lent is about to start as it’s Shrove Tuesday – or pancake day as some call it! Traditionally, religiously, lent is about the lead up to Easter and the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Lent is a time where we remember what he did for us and reflect on his time in the desert: 40 days and 40 nights. I really won’t go into the whole religious side of it because that does wholly depend on your own beliefs. However, I do want to see this as a time of personal challenge. Read on to see what kind of challenges you could set for yourself!

​Just to quickly touch on that lent should be about giving something up, or even taking something up; it should be about sacrifice or taking something up that will help others. I’m not in a position to give anything up this year so I’m taking up instead.  This year, I’m going to give myself some challenges to complete. Regardless of your religious stance, why don’t you take up some challenges?
 
I’m proposing a writing challenge, a personal growth focus, and supporting my local community in a way I wish I did more for.
 
For me, the personal growth one is going to centre around making some healthier habits and focussing more on my needs without guilt: good luck Rhian. I NEED to drink more so I’m going to aim for the recommended amount each day (about 2 litres I believe but I will aim for 1.5+) . . . you’d think it was easy but it’s really not. I’m also going to aim for a short five-minute walk, three times a week. Again, because of some of the health difficulties I’ve been facing, this is actually really difficult and painful for me so I’m building up slow. I’ll do this on days my son is being looked after so I don’t have that strain. And finally for personal growth, once a week I will treat myself to a ‘pamper evening’. I’ll do this once little one is in bed and I’m thinking this will entail a face mask, a foot soak, candles and maybe a comedy movie with chocolate/popcorn. Just a couple of hours complete girly and just to help me relax! This is hopefully the guilt free part of taking care of myself!
 
The writing challenge is a little more difficult due to having so much on between now and Easter! More on that at another time . . .
For now, I think I will add some things on that were not in my original plan – as this would be the challenge.

• Editorial changes in book 3 draft
• Alpha reads
• Edit based on Alpha reads
• Send to development editor
• Edits based on development edit

 
Um, so I’ve probably – scratch that – I’ve definitely bitten off more than I can chew but I would rather shoot high and reach higher than I thought I would, than assume I’ll never get any of it done. Does that make sense? I have book 2 of the Bloodline Alliance trilogy, DECEIVED, to finish final edits and format for release on March 12th as well as trying to get ahead for April. 

​The last part of my lent challenge is supporting the local community. It was my mother who reminded me that religiously, I should be doing something to benefit others (raised a Catholic here). My religious beliefs are all over the place right now, however, I do believe in helping others. So, I’ll be purchasing items throughout lent to donate to my local food bank. To be honest, I should do more of this anyway. My job as a teacher has often shown me just how much people can rely on these foodbanks – more so with this pandemic. If anyone is to take anything from this, it’s please donate where you can. Anything is better than nothing.
 
So there you have it. Challenges for Lent. And it all starts with pancakes. Perfect.
Will you take up a challenge this lent? Let me know! 

Who had pancakes?