Lent 2026
Aleteia needs your help to share the Good News.
For our mission to continue, we need it to become yours.
As we wrap up the first month of the year 2026, a trend on social media keeps going strong. It seems as if we’ve stepped into a time capsule and gone back 10 years, to 2016. Since the beginning of the year, we’ve seen videos being posted that recall the makeup, clothing, and various other aspects of everyday life at that time.
Various people on social media have reflected about where they were and what they were doing 10 years ago.
This trend not only allows us to see how much the outside world has changed since then, but it can also become a personal exercise to look inside ourselves and ask what has changed in us over these 10 years.
1Spiritual dimension
One of the first questions we should ask ourselves is, “How has my relationship with God been over the last 10 years?” Perhaps before we lived a simpler, more spontaneous, or more action-oriented faith; or perhaps today our faith is more reflective and conscious. Faith isn’t a static experience, but a journey that evolves along with our daily life, with natural ups and downs. This may be a good time to ask ourselves:
- How often and in what ways do I currently pray?
- How often do I allow myself to listen to God in silence?
- How often do I receive the sacraments?
- Have I walked hand in hand with the Lord through the experiences I’ve had during this time, both the enjoyable ones and the difficult ones? What would I like the next 10 years beside him to look like?
2Interpersonal relationships
Another key point is the way we relate to each other today. Many social dynamics have changed in the last 10 years. We spend more time in front of screens than in face-to-face encounters, which, in some cases, makes it difficult to build deep and lasting bonds. Therefore, it’s worth asking ourselves if we’re prioritizing the quality of our relationships over quantity:
- How often do I genuinely seek out other people and take a real interest in their lives?
- How often am I truly present and attentive to the person in front of me?
- Which people have come in and out of my life in recent years, and what have I learned from each of them?
3Relationship with yourself
Although the importance of self-care was already being discussed in 2016, in recent years — thanks in part to the COVID pandemic and the isolation that came with it — the issue of mental health has become even more visible and necessary. Today we’re more aware of how we feel. However, we also live immersed in a digital world that encourages constant comparison, isolation, and unattainable lifestyles. That’s why it is important to stop for a moment and reflect:
- How do I see myself: Do I appreciate myself? Am I patient with myself? Do I have self-control?
- Do I compare myself to the lives of others, or do I manage to see them as a source of inspiration?
- Have I taken care of my mind and body over the years?
4Aspirations, goals, and idea of success
Ten years is enough time to have gone through important trials and seen some dreams come true, while others may not have materialized. The priorities of the past aren’t always the same as those of today. Looking back allows us to recognize what we’ve achieved, even when our dreams have changed shape or unexpected situations have transformed our aspirations.
- What dreams did I have in 2016, and how have they changed over time?
- What are my priorities and goals today?
- What does success mean to me at this point in my life?
5The world around us
In the last decade, we’ve witnessed an increase in wars, international conflicts, political polarization, and a pandemic that marked an entire generation. These have been years marked at times by tension, fear, and uncertainty. However, there have also been moments of joy, hope, and unity. Today, we can look back and ask ourselves with gratitude:
- How many times did I trust in God in uncertain situations?
- What am I grateful for today that I took for granted in 2016?
- What can I do from this moment on to improve every area of my life?
- Have I been able to contemplate God's Divine Providence in the things I’ve gone through?
This exercise will help us not only to join the 2016 trend, but also to live it more deeply, recognizing and giving thanks for the growth we have experienced over the last decade.
