Return on Aisle Twelve.

Yesterday, I went to pick up some items from the store. I got in line to pay
for my things and I found myself behind a family. Husband, wife, two young children.
I observed the family talking and laughing. I watched Mom pull out the coupons from
her purse and clutch them in her hand, like holding a pair of nines knowing the aces
hadn't been played. I watched Dad as he bagged the groceries and watched the
totals pop up on the monitor. Mom smiles and says to the cashier, "Let me know when
it gets to $100.00." The Cashier obliged and let Mom know when it got to $100.00.

I looked at the items in the bag and thought to myself, "Is this what we've come to?"I felt so inadequate and impotent standing behind them. Why couldn't I have enough money,
to make up the difference of their grocery bill. Those were children who needed to eat,
goodness sake. It wasn't as if Mom purchased a cart full of junkfood, no. Mom and Dad purchased veggies, potatoes, meat, fruits, bread, milk, the types of food that could stretch. I felt my eyes start to do that stinging thing, y'know when you're trying to fight back tears.

What does this have to do with smoking? Stress. Stress causes folks to relapse or to
keep smoking. The stress of not having a job or not being able to feed your family. The stress of
illness and a host of other things. Yes, these are the things that can lead to the stress
that might make someone continue to smoke. But y'know-what? It doesn't have to be that way.

I know this sounds as if I'm on a high horse, but I'm not. On my honor, I am in a situation,
right now, today, where the stress from the situation I'm in, has me in tears at times. It has me doubting my ability to move forward in several areas in my life. But, here's the deal. I can choose.
I do have a choice, regardless of the pain that comes with it. I made a choice, regardless of the
B.S., around me, to Quit. See, I'm me. I am not my situations. I have situations, that need solutions
(ones that I can't see right now..but solutions just the same).

I know I'm making it sound simple. We, who have kicked for any amount of time,
know that it's anything but simple. I share all of this to say, you can go through anything and
you don't have to smoke. You may WANT to, but you don't HAVE to. Think about it.
Even though I'm coming up on my three month quit, I still go fight and go WAM-TIT-BIO-LIP. I said it today. I said it last night. I said it yesterday. I said it as I sat in my car, and felt like sh*t, because I couldn't help that family purchase the rest of their groceries. Things have got to get better in this country. Too many people are suffering, by no choice or fault of their own.

One Human Love,
Obi.

Peace, Love, & Freedom to my Rocktober Family and to those thinking about or early on in your Quit. Remember ... YOU CAN DO THIS, YES YOU CAN!