628. That's what it says. I haven't logged in here in so long, I've lost count. But if it says 628, I believe it.
Not sure if any of those who were around when I started this 628 days ago are still around, and I'm sure there are plenty of new people who have come and gone. I hope most who have gone have gone for the same reasons I have not returned here, because like me, you don't even think about it anymore.
That is true freedom, and why I don't feel bad for not coming here (I do feel bad for not lending support to others, however). Because when you don't even think about it anymore, when you are not having to talk yourself out of it, analyze it, find support for it, when your mind is clear from desire, you are truly free. I hate to make it sound like pseudo-zen buddhism, but in a way, in it's own microcosmic way, that's what it's like. After being imprisoned by it for over 25 years, there is nothing else like being able to forget it and being free from it.
For those who are interested, I started smoking at 18, and smoked almost all of the years up unti I was 45. The few short times I didn't smoke, I was addicted to the nicotine gum. I've developed health problems along the way, such as Crohn's disease, sleep apnea, early stages of emphysema, acute episodes of prostatitis. and who knows what else? I'm sure that most, if not all, of these ailments can be attributed mostly to smoking.
I'm currently wearing a foot boot for a stress fracture in my foot, because 3 weeks ago I ran a 10 mile race in 87 minutes. I had not run more than 1 mile since I was 17, until I started to run again 628 days ago.
So the boot is chicken scratch after my 25 year-long self-imposed prison sentence. I may not run again for 4 weeks, and will have to hobble around the house for a bit, but I am free.
