Although we have so much uncertainty in the present our focus here first and foremost should still be on our quits .
Smoking kills people . It's been doing that for years. The difference being between smoking and this pandemic is the pandemic hit us quickly but the reality is it may be something that without a vaccine may last years .
We have to learn how to cope , how to be strong , how to help and support others and accept help if we need it .
This is community . This is what helps us through . Each other's love , each other's understanding , compassion and support .
Cravings when we quit smoking happen in waves . For each person craves may look different and just like covid will affect each person differently.
In general , when we quit smoking cravings are at their highest point in the beginning of our quit but they do not necessarily have a linear decline .
Cravings can fluctuate or mutate just as possibly covid can but they will eventually stabilize and eventually leave .
I will compare smoking craves to surfing waves .
Wind produces waves so each day the conditions are different. Some days are better than others . The bigger the waves the more hard work it is to ride them .
To become good at them we need to practise safety and we need to practise balance .
A little stubborness , persistence , faith , hope , determination and commitment helps .
Practise does not make us perfect but makes us more comfortable .
We will always need to be cautious no matter what l
How did we get through these cravings ?
1) We took one day at a times.
2) We listened to the rules of nope and didnt smoke .
3) We listened to our teachers . Those addicts that went before us , those that were succeeding .
4) We researched and trusted those who studied addiction to give us the best possible chance .
Covid19 . In some ways I can compare to surfing as well .
Each day with covid is also unpredictable ,like the waves .
The professionals are still learning and we have to keep ourselves and others safe on shore right now to help them .
The right conditions may feed covid just as the right conditions may cause relapses in smoking .
We need to do our part . We protect our quits by not feeding it opportunity and we protect ourselves from covid by not giving it opportunity .
Together , through all kinds of weather we can take it one day at a time and we WILL get though this both smoke free and covid free .
Maki
