~~I am not what happened to me. I am what I choose to become.~~ Carl Jung
Once I quit smoking and had a few months to think about what I'd done as a smoker, I had quite a few "OMG!" moments. You know, the shame of putting my family through the second hand smoke stuff and the scrounging for enough change to buy a pack the day before payday. How about the burning a hole in my car seat or the time I dropped one while I was driving and almost caused a pileup on the interstate.
I could have wallowed in all the stupid, risky behaviors I demonstrated while smoking. I could have spent the rest of my life apologizing to my family and friends....I could have, I could have, I could have.
But I didn't. After a while, I just couldn't anymore. Because.......I had learned to love myself. And when you love yourself, you don't torture yourself with the past. You don't agonize over what's over. You lay it gently down and leave it where it belongs. In the past.
Do you know that you deserve that? You deserve to heal, body and soul. You bring to this world a unique spirit and the world would be lost without you. Truly!! Its your smile.....or your warmth....or your kindness...or your business sense...or your talents.....or simply your presence that has made a difference to our world. Made a difference to those around you. Made a difference to time.
I'm glad your here. You may just be reading. You may write ten blogs a day. You may be grumpy because you 'have to' quit. You may be shy. You may even be sick or lonely or tired or hurt. But I am so very glad you are here!!
You matter. You just do. And when you quit smoking, you give yourself the gift of life. You allow your body to heal. You allow your spirit to grow as you learn that you do have the courage, knowledge, and perseverence it takes to quit. And the you that has been lurking in the shadows of the smoke begins to hope that you will bring forth the true person you are. The one filled with self-worth. The one shining with the pride of an accomplished goal.
Let go of the past. Let go of the hurts, the failures, the stumbles. You are going to find that the natural consequence of self-care is self-love. And its a delightful feeling!! Its powerful, fun, happy, and it grows!
You, my dear quitters, are not what happens to you. You are what you choose to become. Choose wisely and well. You deserve it! Sheri
