Ash Wednesday

"You have something on your forehead."  That sentence is one that Catholic's hear non-stop on this day that begins that season of Lent.  Some people just don't know what the purpose of the ashes of our foreheads mean:
          "On the first day of Lent, we sign our foreheads with ashes because they are a biblical symbol of mourning and penance.  The ashes are signed in the sign of the cross because in the Bible, a mark on the forehead is a symbol of ownership.  By having our foreheads marked with ashes in the shape of a cross, it states that we belong to Christ crucified.  It also recalls our Baptism when we were claimed for Christ and marked with the sign of the cross by the priest and our parents.  It is through Christ Jesus that we are delivered from the slavery of sin and made alive for God" (Romans 6:3-18).
It's important to understand that Lent is a time for examination and introspection.  The lituriges that are used during mass are simplified to reflect a spirit of quietness and much of the singing is omitted.  The purpose of this is so that during the quietness we can dispose ourselves to looking inward, into our hearts, to see where repentance and forgiveness are needed. 
Many people that aren't Catholic participate in the "giving something up" for Lent.  However, when doing so people need to remember that you aren't giving something up that is "easy", or as soon as those 40 days and nights are over you can't wait to have what ever it is that you "gave up".  These 40 days are dedicated for some major self-reflection and the sacrifice that you make during Lent should lead you to becoming a better person.  A lot of people don't give anything up, they simply do something that will better their life, like volunteering, going to church during the week, saying a rosary a day, spending so many hours in the church praying, etc.
"Remember man that thou art dust and unto dust thou shall return."