Thoughts from the conference........

[Sootie]

Spent today in a conference/workshop.

Watched all of the smokers sneak in and out, in and out to get their fix of nicotine.

That used to be me.

I shouldn’t use the term “all” as it sounds like there were many. There were not. The number is dwindling.

That was one of the things that really started to bother me. I was starting to be the ONLY one sneaking out…..or maybe with one or two other desperate people.

I so regretted that I was a smoker

Smoking used to be accepted at conferences…you could smoke at the conference in the halls or lobbies.

Smoking then became tolerated…..you had to go outside.

Smoking then became frowned upon……you had to go outside and off the grounds.

Smoking then became despicable and stupid…..you literally had to hide.

I didn’t want to do something despicable and stupid

So I quit.

I have never regretted being a non-smoker

Never.

[YoungAtHeart]

and I remember returning after a break, knowing I smelled like a dirty ashtray, and being SO embarrassed by it......but not quite enough to quit.

So glad we wised up!

Nancy

[Mandolinrain]

Exactly. Good blog Sootie, brought back old memories especially of the shame I had when I smoked. So glad we don't do that anymore! I know all those smokers secretly want what we have.... I know I did when I was one of them.

[MarilynH]

Thanks for sharing this blog post, lots of memories and the only thing I can think of to say is isn't it super fantastic that we don't do that anymore? 

[elvan]

So true, I started smoking because of peer pressure and peer pressure was also a factor in my quitting, I was embarrassed and felt like I was giving the impression that I was not very intelligent or respectful of others and boy did that bother me...more and more.  Not being able to breathe was also an incentive.

I am so glad that I no longer smoke.

[Giulia]

We used to be able to smoke in the dressing rooms at theatres and it was common in the Green Room.  Then they stopped the general dressing room and Green Room smoking, but you could still smoke if you had a private dressing room.  Then there was no smoking in the theatres at all.  And I would wander outside the back stage entrance.  The worst was in DC at Ford's Theatre (where Lincoln was assassinated).  Amazingly beautiful jewel of a theatre.  The back lot there had lots of rats in it.  One of the stage hands used to shoot them.  (Not in my my presence, fortunately.)  Hanging out back there wasn't one of the keenest of non-smoking places I've ever been.  No doubt they've made it even harder and increased a 25' distance from the theatre where you could be allowed to smoke.  That would mean you're actually having to hang out WITH the rats.  

I have never regretted being a non smoker either.   But that doesn't negate the fun that I had smoking and learning about rats in the back lot of Ford's Theatre with some mighty interesting people.  

[Mike.n.Atlanta]

Of all the stupid things I've done in my life, smoking probably tops the list. If I find out different I'll let you know. 🐵

Thanks Sootie & keep on keepin on,

M n @

[Karina123]

 One thing I don't miss is the smell and having to go to the bathroom all the time to wash my hands my mouth chew gum hand   dryier for my stinky hair then sometimes sanitizer for my clothes and then off course some lotion or mist omg that's a lot of work ..Now I realized how much time I used for smoking and how many things  I had to buy just to smell good ..today 83 days smoke free  and as you all know it gets much better every week and even on the stressful days all I do is count the benefits of quitting .. 

[Sootie]

Giulia‌     Perhaps the rats have quit smoking?

[elvan]

They are probably lurking around looking for smokers.

[Giulia]

God but I love your "take" on life!

[Sootie]

Giulia‌

That's why we like each other! We are the Yin and Yang of life!!!!!

[Giulia]

"  Perhaps the rats have quit smoking?"    The poor rats have no choice but to be subjected to nicotine studies  (Among so many other studies)  because they seem to be the poor species similar enough to ours to test them - infinitely.  And isn't THAT interesting, that one of the closest species to us in the testing arena is the RAT)    I think they've discovered that if you feed them nicotine they want MORE of it.  And then they ply them with various drugs to stop them from being attracted to that.  And so we learn from the rat.  

It's just been suggested to me that I should wane rather than wax.  So I'll just stop here.  And perhaps leave some food for thought.....

Indeed we are the yin and yang of life in our way of dealing with it.  I think we need both to be whole spiritually.  

[YoungAtHeart]

Giulia  - I seem to have misplaced my yang someplace, because I'm always a bit off center. 

;-(

[Giulia]

YoungAtHeart‌  If we were all on center the world would be a very DULL place indeed!  lol