They say the best way to give up on a habit is to just do it. No weaning. No, "I'll have four cigarettes today, three over the weekend, two on Tuesday and then quit on Wednesday. "No, just do it. Quit "cold turkey," as the phrase goes.

The concept of quitting is never so pertinent as it is now, during the season of Lent. Beginning each Ash Wednesday, many Christians mark their faith by giving up on something that will test them for the full 40 days of the season, in remembrance of the sacrifices of Jesus Christ.

Like most anyone, I think that discipline is a virtue Icould use some work on. Especially if I am one day to become a ninja, just as my family has always dreamed for me.

What to give up, though? Of course, it should be something that requires some sort of effort. I can't give up on flying B-52 bombers or drinking Diet Coke. Too easy.

Of that same token, don't swing too far in the other direction. I'd love to say that I gave up on oxygen for 40 days in the name of my faith, but I've tried holding my breath before. So Iknow that the longest Ican go is 13, maybe 14 days, and that's not nearly long enough.

So the challenge is to find something somewhere between those two goalposts. But what?

- Give up on wearing shoes? A novel idea, but my co-workers have already filed formal protests concerning my personal Shoeless Tuesdays, as it is.

- Give up shoveling snow? I'd love to, but Ialso love getting mail delivered to my house. So there's a conflict, there.

- Give up walking the dog? Boof's getting a bit chunky these days, so for his sake, I'd better not.

- Give up on bulleted lists in my column? I fear that may be impossible.

I got to thinking about what means most to me in this world, and I first came up with my sweet Annette. Should I give up my fiancee? That might interfere with our wedding plans, so no.

Instead, I thought that maybe I could take this opportunity to give up on something she dislikes, so by the time Easter Sunday rolls around, I can be all the more irresistible to this lovely woman.

I probably don't have to tell you this, but I may never give up on being adorable.

Instead, in a testament to my faith in God and in my beloved lady, I'm giving up … insert drum roll here … eating meat. Annette is a vegetarian, after all, so this is my chance to find out what that's like. I can go to restaurants and choose between their one or two vegetarian options. I can go grocery shopping for fresh produce rather than my usual fare of Lunchables and frozen fish fillets. I can finally find out what a Vegemite sandwich tastes like.

So, I gave it up, cold turkey. And hot turkey, too. Also, steak, pork chops, bacon, quarter-pounder cheeseburgers, shrimp kabob, shrimp krill, pineapple shrimp, lemon shrimp, coconut shrimp, pepper shrimp, shrimp soup, shrimp stew … hey, look at that, I'm drooling.

May God help me through this Lenten season.

(Reach this world's newest herbivore, Kelly Hagen, at 250-8259 or kelly.hagen@bismarcktribune.com.)