“Your circulation has substantially improved. Walking has become easier. Your chronic cough, if any, has likely disappeared. Your overall lung function has improved up to thirty percent.”
A part of me still can’t quite believe that I’ve managed to quit smoking for three weeks now. When I question myself as to why I still doubt it, an instinctive response is that I will surely smoke again, that this “smoke-free” period will come to an end, that I’m not strong enough to quit for good etc etc. Such is the strong mental grip nicotine addiction has on you that these irrational thoughts and fears seem so real and inevitable… until you reaffirm to yourself that NO ONE or SITUATION can ever make you light up another cigarette ever again.
Quitting smoking has got to be one of the greatest things I’ve ever accomplished, the pride and satisfaction is hard to describe or explain. In some ways it’s like you’re travelling back in time to right the wrongs that caused you to pick up this stupid habit in the first place, be it your mindset or the people you chose to surround yourself with at that time. The flip side is that the future seems so much brighter, for instance, if you told me previously that I would be running the distance of a marathon every week for my cardio I would have said you’re crazy!
Yeah, I’m definitely happy and proud that I’m now an EX-smoker. Period.
29 August 2006 at 4:23 am
Good work my friend, You’ve come a long way in a short time. You can do it. I know you can. Plateaus will come and plateaus will go, but the only thing that will stay here forever is the relentless infinite power of a soul committed to the task.
You’ve decided what you want. Nothing stops you. And that’s good, because the world needs you. You never know who’s life you are touching, have touched or will touch, that will have an effect into the eternities.
All you have to do is do all you can. Nothing else is required. Nothing else will do.
I know you can do it because I’m on the same road, right alongside of you, and you should see what’s waiting for us up ahead.
Keep up the good work,
John.
29 August 2006 at 7:52 am
John,
Thanks for the encouragement. One thing’s for sure, my current quest will touch the lives of my children at the very least. I know we’re supposed to do it for ourselves but a big part of my motivation to undergo a transformation was for the sake of my two young boys and the desire to be healthy and there for them.
I don’t know what’s waiting up ahead, I’ll just put my head down and take each day as it comes for the moment. If we put in the hard work, the results will surely come, no matter when.
David
20 September 2006 at 7:04 am
When I was young, all I wished was for my dad to quit smoking.
He never did, of course.
As an adult, I realise that my dad doesn’t drink, doesn’t womanise, always comes home straight after work, potters around the garden, and makes my mum laugh. My brother and I were brought up well and we had the best childhood.
Anyhoo, I salute you for your strength and courage! One day the world may just be smoke-free
18 July 2007 at 6:09 am
Did you succeed with quitting?
6 August 2008 at 10:40 am
Yup, it’s coming to three years that I’ve quit smoking!