So I have been reading posts and such today and seeing alot of people struggling and falling off the ban wagon and I feel terrible... I am not the preacher by far but so far what I have been doing is working for me and I can only hope that it can work for at least one of you... MAKE A PLAN! Write down your math and figure out what you spend on butts, then figure out what you would save monthly and what you caould do with that money! Not only that but to save your own life and the lives of others (second hand smoke) in the process. I was a smoker for over 23 years and not just cigs, I also partook in "recreational smoking" (pot) for all that time. With that being said I gave it all up cold turkey and so can you.... I made a plan this time (for the fist time) and it works! I broke down all the ways of the money and waht I could do with it and said well then if I do this then I want to reward myself and I did. My plan was to start small and I bought myself a new watch around the 3 week mark, then a new plasma tv around the 40 day mark and then a new car around the 50 day mark. I know you say to yourself that sound excessive but it really wasnt. I was spending about 8-900 a month on both, so one month paid for TV, a week paid for watch and then new car is 330 a month and I still save upwards of 5-600. Its all math and too see what I can do with that money is amazing! If you have kids it should be a no brainer as you and I both know there are times that pop up that the lil one asks for something and we tell or told them no cause we cant afford it..... Yeah I thought you would agree. And what about the times the kids sit there and stare at what we are doing only to turn to them and tell them how "bad" it is and never to do it themselves.. Can you say teaching kids the meaning of hipocracy.... The list goes on and on, but after I stopped and I looked back on all of those things and more, I realized how much of a joke it all was and how unfair it was to my kids to take that back seat just so I can die early and not watch them fully grow up or hold my great grandchildren some day.. I smell great everyday and dont get the whole "god you stink like and ashtray" or " do you have to smoke that thing near us" etc... My mom didnt even want to get into my car as it stunk like a butt and even if I didnt smoke near her she could still smell it all over me and it was so offending. Was it all worth it??? HELL NO! Even setting aside other peoples needs or wants, my own needs were certainly enough. I took my Celexa for 2 1/2 weeks while I got all the bad toxins out of my brain and body and allowed myself healing time without an edge and that was enough. IT WORKS DAMN IT!!!!!! I am a firm believer that setting a date DOESNT work and it just sets you up for failure as once again you are victim to excuse and denying the right here and now. Just throw them away and dont look back... DOnt kid yourself and say "well I have cut down and thats working out good" cause you are still preventing your lungs from healing. If you dont know how the body and lungs work then I suggest you look it up and see how your body will rebuild the lungs, however the older you get and the longer you wait the less chance you have of getting in front of it. YOU CAN DO THIS! I promise you that you will not DIE from quitting but you WILL DIE from not. Love yourself, love your kids, love your family, respect others as you expect them to do the same, play your part and wage war against the ciggarette companies who are helping to kill us and our kids! I am here for anyone who wants to chat or have a cyber coffee together! I again am not GOD or the end all be all, but I am proof that it can happen if you want it to and are willing to make that PLAN.
