and now for a little humor (although we can relate to some of it!!!)
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From the Quitnet Smoking Cessation BB
The Other Recovery Story: what the American Cancer Society decided not to tell you...
There is even more good news that the American Cancer Society doesn't want to relate to those
contemplating a quit. Maybe they think it's best that we discover these remarkable post-quit events and
changes on our own, or maybe they don't know about them:
From the time you quit smoking:
Within 20 minutes: you begin looking for loopholes in your quit commitment, thinking about postponing
the whole arrangement until after the next millenium begins.
Within 8 hours: you have already contemplated at least three murders and several other brutal acts of
violence. Your city or town declares a mysterious and unforeseen water shortage, while municipal
sewers are suddenly overwhelmed.
Within one week: you have consumed enough calories to sustain a Bengali village of 2000 for four years.
Food shortages become critical within your region; pets and local wild animals become nervous. Quitzits
establish early outposts on your face. Risk of Browser's Butt Syndrome (BBS) rises to equal those of
13-year-old boys with new computers and internet access. Smileys appear in your writing and begin to
replicate
Within one month: you have already begun to pester nonsmokers and complain about the smell of their
obnoxious cigarettes; IQ returns to low double-digits; Quitzits begin to function autonomously.
Exclamation point shortages prevail across the land.
Within two months: you begin to forget the pain and misery of the first week without cigarettes, and are
wondering if you could, perhaps, remind yourself of what you've been missing; Quitzits establish
territorial treaties with each other.
Within five months: intelligence returns to at least 60% of its pre-quit level; concentration remains a
problem, at only 50%; carpal tunnel syndrome incidence exceeds all known levels for any
keyboard-intensive occupation; you have typed more words than are contained within all the works of
William Shakespeare, but with more flair and "sparkle".
I'd go further, but I haven't gotten there yet. I'll keep you posted, though.
It's still way, way, worth it.
ToddL on 09/22/1998 17:14:50