Hello from this ex-smoker! I promised all my friends that I would never become one of those preachy ex-smokers.
Why? Well, I could see that they would be defensive right off the bat, which the case for many smokers.
First off, where are you on the scale? Are you a belligerent smoker like some of my aunts and uncles?
They are the type that will hold your new born baby in their arms with a cigarette hanging out of their mouths.
They will light up one after another in a small closed space even if they're outnumbered by non-smokers and if you say something to them the response would be.....
"NOBODY CAN TELL ME WHEN OR WHERE I CAN SMOKE! YOU DON'T LIKE IT THEN TOO BAD! KISS MY ......"
Interesting enough, these same ignorant smokers have been in and out of the hospital these days. One aunt has had two strokes already and she's barely 60.
Another uncle just had a triple by-pass and has emphysema. Another aunt is not doing too good. Defend those cigarettes until you die!
The parents of those aunts and uncles (my grandparents) smoked until their deaths. My grandfather died by 70 from coronary problems but had a severe case of emphysema.
His wife made it until her 90's and is one of those cases that throws a wrench into a smoker's desire to quit.
She smoked until her death but her quality of life was not good with all the apparatuses hooked up to her in her remaining years.But yes, she made it to 90.
My other grandmother was on the other end of the spectrum. She always hid while she smoked and would tell us to never ever smoke.
She hid in shame for the years I knew her until she died from lung cancer in her early 70's. Her husband died before she did and smoked most of his life.
Now, I was never a belligerent smoker but I would defend my smoking nevertheless. The last 5 or 10 years of my habit was different.
I would light one up and say to whoever I was with that cigarettes are sh*t and that I hate this habit. I hated the fact that I was a slave to it even more.
It's the ego that defends such a vile habit. Simple logic won't support it nor would my heart and soul. Purely ego my friends.
You'll hear me and many others say it's all about timing. Quit when the timing is right but when is the right time?
Well, I was at the point where I was ready to quit. A few events pushed that timing into reality. The key was battling my own ego.
I wrote out an honest list about all the things I hate about smoking. Things that my ego used to defend. I read it to my friends and family.
I posted it here on T-net......
http://www.treasurenet.com/forums/everything-else/421818-i-quit.html
But I never expected that some awesome people here would hold me accountable and posted daily on my thread, inquiring about my progress.
I was all in and continued to expose my ego's vulnerabilities and it's hold on me slowly diminished.
My parents (both ex-smokers) and my nonsmoking girlfriend called me daily offering support but I had no help from my smoking friends as they're still defending their habit.
Now, this next little story is a key component to all this talk about ego and establishing the RIGHT reasons to quit.
I think a 25 pack here is between $17 to $23 depending on the brand. The cost of smoking is mentioned on my list but it isn't the main reason I quit.
A few days after I quit, a smoking buddy told me story that became instrumental in me STAYING quit.
His aunt used to say years ago...."When cigarettes reach $10 a pack, that's it! I QUIT!" and when they did hit $10 a pack, she quit for many years.
12 years to be exact until she retired and moved to Mexico. Why would she start up again after 12 years?
Well, look at how cheap cigarettes are in Mexico! This showed me that it is important to establish the right reasons to quit.
Second, it showed me that even after 12 years, an ex-smoker can still be vulnerable to starting again.... so be on guard!
O.K. there's plenty of time to post more, I won't make this one any longer!
Duck, Truth, Bigwave, and anyone else that wants to come forward, I'm behind you 100% and want to come here daily to offer my support.
Sorry Dave that I didn't stick with you the first time you quit but I'm here now if you need my 2 cents worth.
Best of luck to you my friends.
Blessings to you all,
Digger Dave.
So, I'm watching what you guys post hoping I get ticked off enough to say "I'm done"....Haven't made it yet.
