Tobacco, in which Kentucky is second only to North Carolina among U.S. producers, has long been the state's chief crop, and it is also its chief farm product[...]I started smoking in college, somewhere around 1994 or 1995. That makes it 15 or 16 years now that I've polluted my body, all the while lying to myself about its effects, or otherwise justifying my habit.
I've tried 4 or 5 times to quit, and man let me tell you, it's hard. It's probably one of the hardest things I've ever tried to do. The last time, I made it all the way through the 10-week cycle of transdermal patches, and eventually lasted 7 months until I wimped out again. The reasons don't really matter. The way I see it, I failed, and I've probably thought less of myself because of it.
It's an oft-quoted truism that if you get bucked off the horse, the best thing you can do is get right back on. I didn't, at least not immediately.
I have now rectified that oversight.
I smoked my last cigarette the evening of Friday, 06/04/2010 and slapped on a transdermal patch. I'm considering Saturday, 06/05/2010 as my official quit date. It also seems that I unknowingly selected quite the auspicious day to begin a new chapter in my life (Happy Birthday Breda!!!).
I've also joined a gym (through an office discount), I'm working with a personal trainer once a week, and I've set some fitness goals for the next year. The money I'll save not smoking is paying for the gym and trainer, and that will then pay for itself many times over in the long run.
The King is dead. Long live the King!!!
Good luck. It's hard, but the payoff - as you know - is enormous.
ReplyDeleteCongrats on being a quitter.
ReplyDeleteI'll hit 10 years on Jan. 1 2011.
Jay G - I appreciate the support.
ReplyDeleteToday was a tough one. Day #4, vendor sponsored dinner, cocktails, beef, good foods good times.
Let's just say about 200 different triggers got tripped tonight. The good news is I was loaded with blanks, but it was rough.