As the light changed from red to green to yellow and back to red again, I sat there thinking about life. Was it nothing more than a bunch of honking and yelling? Sometimes it seemed that way.

-Jack Handey [Deep Thoughts]

Every year I try to come up with something unique to give up for Lent. Most years it involves foods with high fructose corn syrup as the first ingredient. I typically make it less than 36 hours.

This year I'm going to attempt something different. My plan: I will give up yelling.

Yelling exhausts me. The kids are loud; I yell so that they can hear me; they yell back so I can hear them; and on it goes.

I have 48 hours to consult with my parenting bible, Parent Talk by Chick Moorman, to identify at least five phrases to utter (calmly) during those scenarios for which I most often resort to to yelling.

My friend Mollie takes a different approach to Lent. She takes on something. She strives to pay a compliment to at least one person each day. If it's someone who's annoyed her, such as a rude check-out person, she gets double points. She might offer to pick up groceries for a neighbor. She might commit to one more day volunteering at her twins' preschool than she normally would.

She is most intrigued by the No Yelling plan. She doesn't think it's even remotely realistic and doubts I'll make it even 36 hours. I'm committed, but I'm going to need a lot of high fructose corn syrup available if I hope to stand a chance.