Ash Wednesday is a day of repentance, when Catholics confess their sins and profess their devotion to God. During a Mass, a priest places the ashes on a worshiper’s forehead in the shape of a cross.

Ash Wednesday marks the start of Lent, a six-week period of fasting and prayer observed by Catholics each year to prepare for Easter Sunday.

Joe Biden, a devout Catholic is giving up all sweets, including his favorite ice cream for Lent.

Catholics give up all sorts of pleasures for Lent: sweets, gossiping, video games, movies, shopping, soda, listening to music, dancing, drinking alcoholic beverages, coffee, weed …

Fasting from activities that give us pleasure but are ethically or morally wrong is a good idea. It’s a good idea to give up cheating on your partner, binge drinking, and compulsive gambling not just for Lent, but forever.

But I wouldn’t give up things that give me contentment and enjoyment and don’t hurt anyone else, not for a day, let alone for six weeks. I can’t function without coffee, starting my morning without my favorite drink is unthinkable. Likewise, I would never fast from listening to music, watching movies or shopping.

If you give up coffee, weed, or responsible drinking for six freaking weeks, you will be miserable and you will be in such a lousy mood that you will make your friends and family miserable as well.