Conquering Addiction

[Thomas3.20.2010]

Did you know that Hernan Cortes was able to conquer all of Mexico with only 550 men? One of his closest Commanders, Bernal Diaz del Castillo, gave this description of Tenochtitlan, the capital with a population of 100,000 that later became the site of Mexico City:

"When we saw all those cities and villages built in the water, and other great towns on dry land, and that straight and level causeway leading to Mexico, we were astounded. These great towns and cues and buildings rising from the water, all made of stone, seemed like an enchanted vision from the tale of Amadis. Indeed, some of our soldiers asked whether it was not all a dream. It is not surprising therefore that I should write in this vein. It was all so wonderful that I do not know how to describe this first glimpse of things never heard of, seen or dreamed of before. . "

Yet, not without many struggles, including the famous sorrowful night, Noche Triste, when 450 of those soldiers fell in one massive battle, Cortes became the victor! 

Well, it all goes back to Veracruz, the beach where the boats first landed! Cortes did something that we as Nicotine Addicts must learn to do - he burned all his boats! He gave his soldiers no choice to fail! They had to carry on - Victory was their only option! And that's what we have to do! We must burn all of our boats and embrace N.O.P.E. so that we can become victorious over Nicotine! 

Why is it so all or nothing? The Law of Addiction! I know that each of us is an individual with our own personal quit history but it doesn't change the Law of Addiction! The Law of Addiction doesn't even know or care who you are! It's an equal opportunity law, like the Law of Gravity! The Law of Addiction says "Administration of a drug to an addict will cause re-establishment of chemical dependence upon the addictive substance." It applies whether you've been hooked for 2 weeks or 50 years and everything in between! It applies to the social smoker just as it does the closet smoker and the chain smoker. It applies to the 15 year old and the 75 year old. It applies to the healthy and the ill, to men and women, straight and gay, religious and atheist, all of us equally! Bottom line - the only way to quit smoking is to Not take One Puff Ever!!!! N.O.P.E.!

N.O.P.E. is not just a mantra - although it is, it's not just a slogan, although it is. N.O.P.E. is a way of LIFE! LIFE is what we're all about - your LIFE! No less - just as those soldiers were faced with no other options - whether we admit it or not, neither are we!  LIFE free from Addiction! LIFE healthy and happy and unhooked from a deadly, albeit legal, EXtremely Addictive Drug! A LIFE of FREEDOM is the PRIZE! You can conquer your Addiction but you, like Cortes, have to burn your boats!

If I had the words to describe Smoke FREE Living, it would also seem like an enchanted vision from the Tale of Amadis! The sense of self-worth, the PRIDE, the joy of living as Our Creator intends for us to live! The new tastes, smells, breaths! The clean clothes, hair, teeth, and mouth, skin! The ability to decide how I'll spend my thoughts, time, money, energy, love! I'm no longer a slave to a dead leaf wrapped in paper and dipped in 7000 chemicals! If you could for just one single day feel the freedom - you would decide that you can never go back to your chains of addiction - that you would do whatever it takes to gain and sustain that FREEDOM! 

All it takes is N.O.P.E.!  

Conquer your Addiction!