~~One of the most tragic things I know about human nature is that all of us tend to put off living. We are all dreaming of some magical rose garden over the horizen instead of enjoying the roses that are blooming outside our windows today.~~ Dale Carnegie
Kinda true about smokers, don't you think? We can only live up to a certain point, then we have to stop living while we have that one more. We can't live too much or we won't be able to find the "smoking area" or the time to have a quick one or the money to buy one more carton.
I know I didn't really start living until I quit smoking. Even then, it took effort to live. Because my mind was still searching for that hit of nicotine. I slept quite a bit during the intitial stages. And then I ate quite a bit even longer.
It took effort to see the bright things. It took effort to enjoy a walk. It took effort to find fun in yoga. It took effort to laugh freely. Everything took effort. I think mainly because smoking saps the energy and poisons the body......and my body had been poisoned for years.
So I took time out to allow my body as well as my mind to heal. I learned patience. I learned calm. And I learned that I was ok with so much learning 🙂
Over 3 1/2 years later, I am truly, honestly, delightfully living. My health is better. My weight (for those who worry) is better. My enjoyment of life is....well, I am so grateful and so happy I quit smoking to be able to create a life I love. I'm blessed.
You are blessed as well. You found this site. You have information at your fingertips. You have support and encouragement and wisdom all in one site. Even more....you have you. Be your own hero......be your own best friend....be who you were truly meant to be. Not a smoker. Not an addict. Not a bystander of life. Throw off the shackles and live freely!! Create, explore, discover life as if you were seeing it for the first time. The smoke has cleared and the chains broken. It's your time to live. Be grateful and be blessed to have the chance to see what life is like without your addiction dictating your every move.
I can't say that Mr. Carnegie is right. Some of us do truly live. Some of us to love life. Some of us do enjoy the roses blooming by our windows. We see clearly that life is a gift.
