"Seven whole nights, (aaaahh) I'm just about through...can't take it, won't take it, can't take it, no...I've had about enough from you, I don't wanna smoke no more, yes...smoke no more..."
Anybody familiar with the Toni Braxton hit, "Seven Whole Days," knows the tune I'm singing.
YAAAAY ME!! One week!! Whoop Whoop!! (circa 1991 Arsenio Hall)
"Uhm, I'd like to thank the Academy!!" I'm just kidding (lol).
I am truly grateful to the God of my understanding that I am still Quit. This isn't easy, but then anything worth doing, never is. *wink*.
Well, last night was the test. I was out with smokers. I did not smoke. Was it hard?
Are bullfrogs wet? The urge came and kinda camped out right in front of me. I just simply refused to give in to the temptation. I was like a virgin holding on to her chastity belt for dear life.
I didn't look at them while they were smoking. I concentrated on everything else around me. I broke out my Tick Tacks, then my Soft Peppermints and lastly a Red Hot (Cinnamon candy) or two. I did okay.
No one asked why I wasn't smoking. I guess everyone was preoccupied with the movie we were watching.
I noticed today that my chest hurts. Not really bad, I just notice a twinge now and then.
I also noticed that my taste buds are back. I still can't stand the taste of food on my tongue after I eat. Blegh!! I have to clean my palete after I eat. My buds are like, overwhelmed.
I wonder if there are any Sommeliers who smoke. Hmm. If so, how can they accurately taste fine wine or fine liquor?
What in the hell made me think of Sommeliers?
Anyhooo, I am so loving the fact that I am not smoking. Earlier today, I was sitting in the car, wondering if I needed to run to the store, before I cut off the ignition. I thought about it said to myself, "I have juice, I have peppermints, I have water...." and my thought trailed off, but I laughed to myself when I said, out loud, "Well, I damn sure don't have to buy any ciggs." And I cut off the ignition and went into the house, smiling.
Somebody reading this may think to themselves, "Why is she making such a big deal about this?" I make a big deal about this because the more I examine/analyze my own addiction, the more I see that this is about more than quitting smoking. This is just a small piece of the addictive society that we have become. What makes this entire smoking thing so demoralizing, is that there are folks making money off of the fact that they have control over a lot of people through the use of an addicting substance like nicotine. Here's the punch in the gut; marijuana is illegal (in some states), which can help with a slew of medical conditions, but nicotine? You can purchase ciggs over the counter. Think about it. You can purchase this sh&* over the counter. (I AM NOT SUPPORTING THE USE OR SALE OF MARIJUANA so don't email me any cute little leaves talkin' about Right on, Sis. - Get outta here with that..lololol)
Now, these companies are banking on a few things. They are banking on us staying addicted. They are banking on us trying to quit, enter stage left, the patches, the gums, and the e-ciggs. You can best believe they have their hands in that too. What kind of world do we live in, where people actually profit off of getting folks addicted, keeping them addicted, and then killing them slowly? Wait, we're not talking about the KNOWN drug dealers, yanno, the ones that stand on the corners and stuff. I'm talking about the ones who sit behind a desk and project profits based upon getting/keeping folks addicted?!?!
Somebody might also be saying, "Oh it was easy for you to quit." Nope. It wasn't and even as I type this, still isn't. It's not easy for anyone. Which leads me to make this comment based upon my observation. A lot of people seem to want to avoid the pain of quitting Cold Turkey. Some folks don't want to be honest and deal with the pain of withdrawal.
Look, there are payoffs and consequences in life with everything that we do. I don't mean to come off harsh, but let's not sugar coat this. THERE IS NO EASY WAY TO QUIT. YOU WILL FEEL SOME DISCOMFORT. It comes with the territory. It's like if you gain weight, and you want to lose it, you will have to exercise. THERE WILL BE SOME DISCOMFORT. So, just prepare yourself for it.
If I had my way, we'd all be able to quit effortlessly, but that isn't the reality. I value my quit process more, because I can tap into the pain. Not wanting to go through feeling the pain has kept me Quit, so far.
If you are smoking, while you are reading this. It's cool. Quit when YOU are ready. That is the only way it will work. If anyone has quit recently, leave a comment - tell me how you're holdin' up.
I was ready to quit. So, I did. Every day that I stay Quit, is a day that I am one day farther from this addiction, and it makes me feel better about my ability to release myself from this ball and chain.
Peace & SmokeFreedom
Waughndaye
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