Hi, fellow EXers and New Members!
A week ago I went on "Blogcation" so some of you may not know who I am. My name I Thomas, I'm 55 years old and I have 3 Years 3 Months and 1 Week on my Quit Journey. I also have COPD, a chronic, progressive, incurable smoking related illness.
I won't go through the strenuous details of what it's like to have COPD EXcept to say that the Advair and Spiriva Commercials aren't even close! With every single breath I take I am clearly reminded of my reason for quitting and also of my reason for doing my best to help you quit (so you don't have to live like this for the rest of your life, like I and so many of us here do! )
Last week we had a rash of relapses. Simultaneously, I had a very difficult week breathing. A perfect storm that led to disillusionment. I asked myself why should I spend time day in and day out here cajoling others to protect their quit when they obviously don't prize their health enough to listen? Folks, you have no idea how I believe that I would treasure my lung health if I could have it back and do a retake! I was afraid!
I posted something recently on MLB's Blog that settled like a grain of sand on the bottom on the ocean floor. Love is the opposite of FEAR! And I had let Fear creap into my heart! I was terrified of all the consequences for the health of the relapsers! But I chose to do something counterintuitive - I ran instead of confront! A natural response but not helpful! Well, I'm not running now!
There are absolutely NO EXCUSES for relapse - None! That is the truth and the truth will set you FREE!
I will, of course, continue to encourage you to recover - that's what I want with all of my heart! But you and only you get to/have to make the decision to protect your quit! And honestly, I wouldn't be much of a Friend if I didn't truthfully say that there are no EXcuses and that rightly or wrongly my feelings have been hurt, too!
There is HOPE! Hope for me means maintaining my health to the best of my ability and supporting R&D in their quest for a cure for COPD and then to trust in my Creator for the outcome. Hope for you is to enter once and for all your Forever Quit and to Protect your Quit NO MATTER WHAT!
Hope is full of LOVE so I wish you to hear the LOVE that I have for each of you and my sincere desire that you live a Healthy and Happy LIFE - Smoke FREE!
