~~We can either watch life from the sidelines, or actively participate....Either we let self-doubt and feelings of inadequacy prevent us from realizing our potential, or embrace the fact that when we turn our attention away from ourselves, our potential is limitless.~~ Christopher Reeve
I find that actively participating in life is much more satisfying than watching life from the sidelines. Sure, I make mistakes but even then I get the opportunity to apologize or fix them or otherwise learn from those mistakes. I also get the joy of helping others, the excitement of new adventures, and the peace that comes from living each day my way.
Smoking limits us, you know. It limits our activities, it limits our time, and it limits our lives. Still, with knowing all that, the fear of living without cigarettes can be so paralyzing that we simply pass on actively participating in our quits. We may 'try' of course. We may hold on for a few agonizing days. But we can't picture ourselves ever living life without a pack nearby.
It was only when I decided to quit despite my fears....despite a reluctance to leave my comfort zone...despite my longing to have both a smoke free life and yet the ease of my routine....that I began to understand just how much I had been sitting on the sidelines. The more active I became in my life the less I thought about what I was 'giving up'. Because the truth was that I wasn't giving up anything worth holding on to. I was gaining everything instead.
Maybe you don't want adventure. Maybe you don't want to help others. Maybe you don't even want to 'actively participate' in life. It's your choice, of course. But I can say from experience that if you get that "it's terminal" diagnosis....or if you get that eye opening heart attack....or if you are touched by the suicide of a loved one....life suddenly takes on a sweeter note. Don't wait for that brush with death before you decide you want to live. Live now. Get up and get out and grab life by the hand!! Your potential is limitless.
