My First Lent

So I gave up gum for Lent this year. I had become a pretty compulsive gum-chewer, and my habit was bordering on a behavioral addiction so it seemed like a good choice from my list of about a dozen things I might have given up (and may give up in years to come).

According to my understanding, sundown last night was the official end of Lent. This wasn't the only thing on my mind throughout the week, but I do admit that every once in awhile I would suddenly think, "Oh, I can chew gum again on Thursday!" and this thought would make me very, very happy for a moment or two. When I went to Target on Tuesday I tossed a pack of my favorite chewing gum (Extra Sugarfree Spearmint) onto the conveyor belt when I went to check out, just so I'd be prepared come Thursday evening.

Dinner came and went last night, and the sun went down, and I was about to pull out some reading when I remembered that Lent was over. I immediately got up and went to my car to retrieve the pack of gum that had been sitting there for the last two days, and when I got back to my room I pulled out my book and popped a stick of gum in my mouth. I had been waiting for this moment almost since I first began my gum fast, but to my surprise I felt like I was chewing rubber. Even the flavor wasn't particularly appealing. It's okay, I thought. I'll get used to it again eventually.

And then I thought, Why should I make myself get used to it? If I wasn't enjoying my gum, there was no point in trying to make myself enjoy it. I mean, I'm sure I could renew my addiction within a matter of days, but why would I want to do that? I really, genuinely have no desire to chew gum right now, and every time I think about it, I feel like the rubber is back in my mouth and it almost makes me cringe. Or gag, even. I feel like I would be perfectly content if I never chewed another stick of gum for the rest of my life. And I think maybe I'll do just that. Not that there's anything inherently wrong with gum, but there's also nothing inherently wrong with disliking gum either, and if I have the opportunity to save myself a dollar or so each week, I might as well take it.