Post by judyb on Jun 1, 2004 10:53:35 GMT -5
Hoping that posting some of his oldies will bring Bubb on in here...I miss him!!
Author Finding the path
Bubb
Joined: May 29, 2001
Posts: 197
From: Land of Lincoln
Posted: 2001-10-11 10:41
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This smoking habit is such a crazy thing. By the time we figure out it’s time to quit, we’ve woven such an intricate pattern of behavior, some of us find it seemingly impossible to undo. It’s really hard to watch so many struggle to free themselves of addiction. As we all agree though, it’s a matter of purpose, perseverance, tenacity, and determination. But regardless of whether or not we ultimately shake the chains of addiction, we’ve wasted so much time. How many hours, days, weeks did we consume just sitting there, pulling on those d**n stink weeds? How many more hours, days, and weeks did we waste smoking while we could/should have been doing other things. As a smoker, how many times did you say to someone? ‘I’ll be there in a minute, I’m going to have a cigarette.’ How many times did you stop in your tracks to ‘have a smoke’. And by the way, after spending the time having that smoke, how much did it cost? How much garbage and litter did you leave in your wake? How many years did you take from your life expectancy? A part of our meters calculates something called ‘life saved’. Is there a part of that message we don’t understand? When one stops smoking, the path of self-destruction finally comes to an end.
After putting out the last cancer stick, many of us begin a new way of life. We find a peace in our existence that also provides new attitudes and direction. This change in attitude sometimes allows a much wider acceptance of our everyday surroundings. That is to say, we may now find a reason to slow down long enough to appreciate a flower, a creature, an event we previously took for granted. As smokers, too much of our lives we’re spent huffing and puffing and not enough spent living and breathing. We don’t seem to be in that ‘rush to get here’, ‘go there’, ‘do that’. We’re more inclined to take a path of confidence and certainty. We’re no longer afraid to confront situations which we earlier would have hidden in a cloud of smoke.
The new threads we create as non-smokers are truly something to reflect upon. We sometimes are able to find a new purpose, a new sense of pride. We discover feelings of self-worth and dignity as they gradually find their way into our consciousness. We no longer tend to slip towards the rear and huddle in our little clouds of smoke while hoping no one notices. We can hold our heads up and be prepared to take our place in this world. We needn’t hide for the lack of confidence or feelings of shame or guilt.
Smoking cigarettes for 38 years is something I cannot undo. The past is what it is, the past. Rather than continuing to puff away and further my slide into the abyss, I’ve found a way to redirect my future. Compared to the number of years I smoked, I’ve only begun to scratch the surface of freedom. I really love this new life and I love all the new opportunities it has granted me. I only wish there were a way to make this path a little easier to find.
Author Finding the path
Bubb
Joined: May 29, 2001
Posts: 197
From: Land of Lincoln
Posted: 2001-10-11 10:41
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This smoking habit is such a crazy thing. By the time we figure out it’s time to quit, we’ve woven such an intricate pattern of behavior, some of us find it seemingly impossible to undo. It’s really hard to watch so many struggle to free themselves of addiction. As we all agree though, it’s a matter of purpose, perseverance, tenacity, and determination. But regardless of whether or not we ultimately shake the chains of addiction, we’ve wasted so much time. How many hours, days, weeks did we consume just sitting there, pulling on those d**n stink weeds? How many more hours, days, and weeks did we waste smoking while we could/should have been doing other things. As a smoker, how many times did you say to someone? ‘I’ll be there in a minute, I’m going to have a cigarette.’ How many times did you stop in your tracks to ‘have a smoke’. And by the way, after spending the time having that smoke, how much did it cost? How much garbage and litter did you leave in your wake? How many years did you take from your life expectancy? A part of our meters calculates something called ‘life saved’. Is there a part of that message we don’t understand? When one stops smoking, the path of self-destruction finally comes to an end.
After putting out the last cancer stick, many of us begin a new way of life. We find a peace in our existence that also provides new attitudes and direction. This change in attitude sometimes allows a much wider acceptance of our everyday surroundings. That is to say, we may now find a reason to slow down long enough to appreciate a flower, a creature, an event we previously took for granted. As smokers, too much of our lives we’re spent huffing and puffing and not enough spent living and breathing. We don’t seem to be in that ‘rush to get here’, ‘go there’, ‘do that’. We’re more inclined to take a path of confidence and certainty. We’re no longer afraid to confront situations which we earlier would have hidden in a cloud of smoke.
The new threads we create as non-smokers are truly something to reflect upon. We sometimes are able to find a new purpose, a new sense of pride. We discover feelings of self-worth and dignity as they gradually find their way into our consciousness. We no longer tend to slip towards the rear and huddle in our little clouds of smoke while hoping no one notices. We can hold our heads up and be prepared to take our place in this world. We needn’t hide for the lack of confidence or feelings of shame or guilt.
Smoking cigarettes for 38 years is something I cannot undo. The past is what it is, the past. Rather than continuing to puff away and further my slide into the abyss, I’ve found a way to redirect my future. Compared to the number of years I smoked, I’ve only begun to scratch the surface of freedom. I really love this new life and I love all the new opportunities it has granted me. I only wish there were a way to make this path a little easier to find.