david j. garcia

I’m about to begin an intense detox.

Starting Wednesday, my wonderful wife and I will be giving up television, movies, and video games for 40 days. We might also eliminate some other things.

This is the fourth year in a row I’ve given up my TV habit in celebration of Lent, a traditionally Catholic observance. I’m Mormon, not Catholic, and I’ll be the first to admit that my efforts don’t match what is traditionally required in the Catholic faith. But I respect that tradition, so I’ve adopted and adapted some aspects of it for my own life.

Here’s why I’m celebrating Lent:

Television has too strong a hold on my life, normally.

We’ve already given up cable, but I still really enjoy sitting down to watch a TV show or movie. Especially with our new baby, it’s been so easy to turn on Hulu or pop in a DVD to watch during a feeding.

And here’s the thing: I like having TV in my life. I don’t intend to give it up entirely, because it can be good, cheap entertainment. That’s why a relatively short-term restriction works so well for me, because I’m able to live a life without TV without worrying that I’ll never get it again.

I believe in fasting.

As a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, I’m accustomed to the principle of fasting.

Traditionally, Mormons fast monthly by going without food or drink for 24 hours and donating to the needy. Fasting is an opportunity to strengthen one’s willpower, practice self-control, and reconnect with God.

Food isn’t the only thing we can fast from. I choose to fast from TV, movies, and video games because this represents a sacrifice for me, but it’s also not a permanent change.

You can do “anything” for 40 days.

Said another way: I believe in doing hard things for limited time frames.

One of our Really Awesome Things to Do in 2012 is to complete a series of 30-day challenges: things like blogging every day for a month or running 100 miles over 30 days.

Focusing on one challenge for a short time allows you to make real progress and do something meaningful, without permanently damaging the other aspects of your life.

I get to live a different life.

For 40 days, I’ll be in a world with more books, fewer distractions, more time to meditate, and less influence from pop culture. This is a good thing.

I’ll detox from the negative influences of the media, and when I start watching again, I’ll have a better sense of context and control over my viewing habits.

Celebrating Lent prepares me for Easter.

As a Christian, this is huge for me. Easter is a wonderful time to celebrate the life, mission, sacrifice and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

The buildup to Christmas gets me in the spirit and right frame of mind with plenty of time to spare, but, in the past, Easter has come and gone almost before I realized. Once I started celebrating my version of Lent, that changed. Every urge to watch TV becomes a reminder to look forward to Easter and think about what it means.

Want to try it?

I recommend trying this technique in your own life. This year, Lent starts on Wednesday, February 22nd, but you can apply this idea any time.

Simply pick a fast (something to give up), a timeframe (such as the 40 days before Easter), and (bonus:) a reason (such as preparing for Easter).

For choosing your fast, here are some principles that may be helpful to you:

• Choose something that involves a sacrifice. It doesn’t have to be television and movies, but it should be something that you ordinarily enjoy.
• Choose something that makes you better. You shouldn’t try to give up drinking water or paying rent, for example. Instead, focus on sacrifices that improve your schedule, health, well-being or spirituality.
• Choose something that comes up frequently. Ideally, your sacrifice should be part of your daily (or at least weekly) life. The regular reminders make the effort meaningful.
• Choose something do-able. While it should be a challenge, I wouldn’t recommend going overboard and changing every aspect of your life at once. Instead, pick one or two things to focus on, and don’t get overwhelmed.

This yearly effort has made my life better. I hope you consider trying something similar.

If you try it, let me know. I’m sure it will improve your life, too.

If you like, you can tweet this by clicking here or share this on Facebook by clicking here. You can also click here to receive future articles by email. Thank you!

I hope you started the new year off the right way: by smiling! And after you’ve gotten such a good start, it’d be a shame to waste it. So my wonderful wife Emily and I have come up with tons of things to do (at least one/day) to make sure you spend all your days smiling.

Here’s 197 things to do (at least one/day) to make sure you spend all your days smiling:

1. Dream.
2. Kiss someone you like.
3. Play with a kitten.
4. Hold a baby.
5. Say “I love you” (and mean it).
6. Play fetch with a dog.
7. Go for a walk.
8. Take a bike ride.
9. Watch a sunset.
10. Watch a sunrise.
11. Have sex (with your spouse ).
12. Decorate a Christmas tree.
13. Write a letter.
14. Visit a nursing home.
15. Call an old friend.
16. Go out of your way to help someone.
17. Give someone flowers.
18. Send a thank-you card.
19. Make a list of your favorite people (and why).
20. Tell your favorite people why they’re your favorite.
21. Visit a friend.
22. Read scripture.
23. Sing in the shower.
24. Sing off key on purpose.
25. Make funny noises.
26. Have a funny face contest.
27. Go for a walk near water.
28. Go for a hike.
29. Stop and smell the roses—literally.
30. Pet an animal.
31. Learn a new hobby.
32. Do someone else’s dishes.
33. Ask someone about their favorite memory.
34. Sit quietly and think about something (or someone) that makes you happy.
35. Bake cookies.
36. Take homemade cookies somewhere.
37. Say hello to a stranger.
38. Plant something.
39. Take a picture of a sunset.
40. Enjoy your favorite flavor of ice cream.
41. Make art.
42. Eat a fresh fruit or vegetable.
43. Read a good book.
44. Write a poem.
45. Publish a blog.
46. Turn up the music.
47. Turn off the news.
48. Close all the door and windows and dance (in just your socks).
49. Make 2012 your best year yet.
50. Sing along to a musical.
51. Watch a penguin walk.
52. Listen to a kid tell a story.
53. Go to the playground.
54. Run (or walk) a 5K.
55. Give something to your local homeless person.
56. Take a long, hot bath.
57. Set a big goal.
58. Picture yourself accomplishing a big goal.
59. Accomplish a big goal.
60. Play a card game.
61. Cheat to help someone else win.
62. Wish someone a good day.
63. Wish a stranger “Merry Christmas!”
64. Say something silly on purpose.
65. Practice a tongue twister.
66. Learn how to say “thank you” in a different language.
67. Take a picture.
68. Look through an old photo album.
69. Draw something you remember.
70. Finish a project.
71. Get the house clean.
72. Go outside for five minutes just for the sake of being outside.
73. Feel the sunshine on your shoulders.
74. Go to a party.
75. Throw a party.
76. Compliment someone’s eyes.
77. Compliment someone’s clothes.
78. Compliment someone’s shoes.
79. Compliment someone’s attitude.
80. Compliment someone’s personality.
81. Eat a cookie.
82. Ride a horse.
83. Climb something.
84. Swim.
85. Go on an adventure.
86. Visit a waterfall.
87. Smell a bunch of flowers.
88. Tell someone you’re proud of them.
89. Go out for a night on the town.
90. See a live performance.
91. Put on a live performance.
92. Watch a fire.
93. Eat a brownie.
94. Eat ice cream (or frozen yogurt).
95. Smile just for the heck of it.
96. Watch someone you love.
97. Breathe deeply at least three times in a row.
98. Say “easy peasy.”
99. Jump. Multiple times, if you have to.
100. Compliment a stranger.
101. Sincerely thank customer service.
102. Leave an extra-generous tip.
103. Withdraw $20 in ones, and give yourself permission to do whatever you want with it.
104. Drink a tall glass of water.
105. Exercise.
106. Call your mom.
107. Walk barefoot through the grass or sand.
108. Change a light bulb, then turn on the new one and watch it work.
109. Make an old family recipe.
110. Do a project with an elderly relative.
111. Decorate Easter eggs.
112. Finger paint.
113. Tickle someone.
114. Get tickled.
115. Threaten to tickle someone.
116. Tell a really corny joke.
117. Tell a really good joke.
118. Wear your nicest clothes.
119. Serenade your steering wheel.
120. Bounce a ball.
121. Sing falsetto.
122. Play catch.
123. Fly a kite.
124. Roll down a hill.
125. Visit a museum.
126. Examine a painting.
127. Send a letter, by mail, to yourself.
128. Sing along to the radio.
129. Attend a wedding.
130. Give a birthday gift.
131. Give a gift for no reason.
132. Play “hide and seek.”
133. Play tag.
134. Drum.
135. Beatbox.
136. Take a bubble bath.
137. Rub your tummy and pat your head simultaneously.
138. Give a massage.
139. Get a massage (which is easier after you’ve given one).
140. Put on warm, fuzzy socks.
141. Build something with Legos.
142. Make (and wear) a newspaper hat.
143. Dedicate a song to someone.
144. Watch old people dance.
145. Go to church.
146. Reorganize your living room.
147. Pay off a debt.
148. Do someone a favor.
149. Buy something you’ve saved up for.
150. Vitameatavegamin.
151. Light a good-smelling candle.
152. Spend an evening with a good book.
153. Snuggle.
154. Read the funny pages.
155. Bake a cake.
156. Frame something important.
157. Listen to “Who’s on First?”
158. Go someplace new and exciting.
159. Climb a mountain.
160. Make time.
161. Get a fresh haircut.
162. Consider the mayfly.
163. Touch noses with someone special.
164. Smile at someone.
165. Read a Dr. Suess book—as fast as you can, out loud.
166. Play with someone’s hair.
167. Tickle your own feet.
168. Play a board game.
169. Make a list of things that make you smile.
170. Wrap up in a blanket fresh out of the dryer.
171. Drink hot chocolate.
172. Appreciate something beautiful.
173. Appreciate someone beautiful.
174. Draw a picture of something/someone beautiful.
175. Pray.
176. Try out a new recipe.
177. Sit close together by the fire.
178. Listen to your favorite song.
179. Sing “If I were a rich man” (aloud).
180. Do something selfless.
181. Smell good.
182. Skip.
183. Hold hands.
184. Watch a Disney movie.
185. Sit down as a family and eat dinner.
186. Spend time with nine-year-olds.
187. Listen to children sing.
188. Clean a room, then sit and enjoy the view.
189. Take a trip.
190. Go to the zoo.
191. Paint your toenails.
192. Say a tongue twister. A lot of times. Fast.
193. Do something embarrassing.
194. Write a long list of things you’re thankful for.
195. Try to make someone else smile.
196. Post a comment on this post telling your favorite ways to get smiling.
197. If you liked this list, click here to share this on Facebook and get your friends smiling.

If the first thing you try doesn’t work, pick something else from the list – I guarantee there’s an idea here that can make you smile.

P.S. – You can subscribe by email to make sure you don’t miss any of my posts.