~~You start dying slowly if you do not travel, if you do not read, if you do not listen to the sound of life, if you do not appreciate yourself. You start dying slowly when you kill your self-esteem, when you do not let others help you. You start dying slowly if you become a slave to your habits, walking everyday on the same paths...If you do not change your routine, if you do not wear different colors or you do not speak to those you don't know. You start dying slowly if you avoid to feel passion and its turbulent emotions, those that make your eyes glisten and your heart beat fast. You start dying slowly if you do not change your life when you are not satisfied with your job, or with your love, or with your surroundings. If you do not risk safe for what is uncertain, if you do not go after a dream, if you do not allow yourself, at least once in your lifetime to run away from sensible advice.~~ Pablo Neruda
Listen to the sound of life? You may be thinking not positive things right now. After all, you are busy. You are upset. You are simply trying to hold onto your quit with everything you've got. How on earth do I expect you to listen to the sound of life???
How on earth can you not? How can you not appreciate yourself when those around you could not do without you? How can you allow life to pass you by without wanting to jump into it with both feet?
The world is glorious, even in it's chaos and destruction. Out of chaos comes peacemakers. Out of destruction comes heroes. Out of struggles come warriors. And when you come out of struggling with your quit, you will find peace on the other side. Colors. Music. Life.
Addiction is a slow death and I don't mean just a physical one. It saps our energy. It robs our time. It isolates and greedily takes over our functioning. Everything is now run on nicotine time. Until the next cigarette. Until the next store run. Until the next break. Where is life in that?
Grab life. With everything you've got! Leave the worries of addiction behind. Leave the struggle behind. Don't look back because you aren't going that way. Look towards life. Meet new people. Get a haircut. Wear white after Labor Day. Be silly with your best friend. Allow those who love you to love you. Hug often. Sing loudly. Dance down aisle 8 at Wal-Mart.
Don't die slowly from addiction....and I am still not talking about physically. There is that, of course, and if you are worried about your health...well, stop worrying and quit smoking. But also don't allow addiction to drain your life from you. I bet you have a killer smile! I bet you used to be the life of the party. I bet you have someone in your life who is waiting for you to choose them instead of a cigarette. So, what you waiting for?
Grab life.
