All these years, smoking has seen me through crises, rough spots, and countless aggravations. I always say that in all earnestness. In fact, I’d say anything to rationalize this addiction. Enough blowing smoke in your faces.
Truth to tell, it’s downright silly congratulating myself for grace under pressure when all I ever do is to medicate myself through smoking. Of course, the mind is a formidable thing, able to withstand all sorts of pressures and challenges.
Thirty one- year-old dependency
Thirty one long years. Only writing predates my smoking addiction. I started writing in high school, smoking in second year at college. Note to self: you can write. Period. Banish your romantic notion of writers who tattoo the air with their pipes while deep in writing throes. It’s just another silly notion.
If my smoking and I were a relationship, I would say we’ve celebrated our Pearl Jubilee last year. If I stay on, I’d be looking at emerald anniversary four years from now. But that’s not going to happen.
A blogging friend’s challenge
I’m accepting Holly Jahangiri’s friendly challenge. I’m quitting the nicotine habit. Holly for her part tackles her weight problem by losing two pounds per week till she gets to her ideal weight. It’s a big deal for us.
This started innocuously enough. I bragged in private email to her of my recent good showing in Alexa Ranking. Of course, women being women have always the last word. She countered with a far more significant statistics, giving me the gains when she had successfully quit smoking. Can’t argue with a life changer like that.
There’s simply no weaseling out of this gauntlet Holly has thrown at me. Of course, I’m a bit dubious at my batting average in quitting. To paraphrase Mark Twain, I’ve been successful at quitting, having done this a thousand times already. I’m lucky, however, in that I have blogging friends and loved ones who’d see me through the rough spots and can make me accountable to the pledges I’ve made.
Smoking has proved a mighty ally numbing me down when the going gets rough for 31 years.
Quitting while still ahead
But only because it has forgot to put me under the grave yet. It’s insane to tempt the fates further. I’d rather quit now.
I’d rather embrace life and celebrate each coming year in the company of friends and my family. I intend to write and blog long and hard into my retirement. Until I’m too infirm to write, and the only pleasure to be had is that I’ve mastered myself, seen some of my dreams fulfilled as well as those of dear to me, and noted a number of my tormentors went to the grave ahead of me.
Here’s taking up your friendly challenge, Holly. If I back down and go back to my filthy habit again – and this permission goes to my other friends here as well – feel free to do as Douglas Adams warns – “If we see you smoking we will assume you are on fire and take appropriate action.”
Are you up for some friendly challenges yourself, guys? What stuff you’ve long dreamed of doing but for one reason or another kept it languishing at the back burner of your mind?
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