What I Learned From My 40 Day Journey of not Drinking Diet Sodas

Since the beginning of Lent this year which started on February 18th I have given up Diet Sodas. I did not set out to do this for religous purposes. But I do respect the act of Lent, which is defined as a period of 40 days before Easter which many Christians do not eat certain foods or do certain pleasurable activities as a way of remembering the suffering of Jesus.

First off, I know that not drinking diet sodas is not some monumental sacrifice. But it’s my first attempt at this and I have learned some lessons along the way. I dropped diet sodas as a way to raise some money for Blood:Water, an organization started by Jars of Clay to bring clean water to Africa and end the HIV/AIDS crisis in that country.

It’s been an interesting journey for me. It hasn’t done everthing I thought it would do. For instance, many people tell me, quit drinking diet sodas and you’ll lose weight! Well, I’ve actually gained a few pounds. I’m eating about the same way, exercising about the same amount, and I’ve gained. And I am okay with that. That’s about how it goes for me. The things that help other people lose weight don’t help me. I am also getting older so I need to change my diet a bit more as certain foods affect me more now than they did even 3 years ago.

But what it has done for me is raise my awareness about what is happening around me and helped me gain clarity in my thinking. I have been drinking unsweetened iced tea (with Splenda) and I know many would argue that is the reason I have not experienced the weight loss benefits of not drinking diet soda, and they are probably right. But I am not drinking near as much iced tea as I was diet soda, so the net result is a positive one for me.

The clarity I have gained has benefited several areas of my life including emotional health, balance at home, travel schedule, and consciousness of what I am thinking about when I would have normally reached for a Diet Dr. Pepper. Sacrificing that small thing in my life, brings others needs to the forefront for me. I am donating what I would have spent to Blood:Water, Evan inspired me to give some extra cash to someone on the side of the street, I am listening to my wife and kids a little closer, praying more than I have in a long time, and I have been thinking a lot about Jesus who lived with very little in terms of material possessions. 

This world is hurting and as humans we are inherently selfish. We pretend we aren’t, but we are. I have a long, long way to go but during this season of Lent I am learning to be a little less selfish and hopefully in some small way a little more like Jesus.

Lent is offically over April 2nd. I don’t know if I’ll go back to drinking diet soda or not. But even if I don’t I won’t forget these lessons I have learned during these 40 days.