paying the price

there was a time in your life when you didn't smoke (it may be difficult to imagine at this moment, but it's true). at the time you first chose to become a smoker, it was a brand-new thing for you, and not one that came naturally or easily; you had to practice. you had to work at it.

you had to pay the price.

the price you paid to become a smoker probably included some discomfort; coughing, choking, dizziness, nausea, etc... and yet, you practiced smoking, over and over again, until it began to feel natural and easy. until it became such a part of your life that you began to identify yourself with it. until it became such a part of you that you couldn't imagine yourself any other way.

now you've decided that you don't want to be a smoker any more, and, because of the conditioning you've put your mind and body through, it feels like a brand-new thing to you. it doesn't feel natural or easy. you'll have to practice. you'll have to work at it.

you'll have to pay the price.

the price you'll have to pay to become a non-smoker will probably include some discomfort; cravings, nervousness, irritability, etc... but if you practice not smoking, over and over again, it'll start to feel natural to you. it'll start to feel easy. it'll start to become such a part of your life that you'll begin to identify yourself with it. it'll become such a part of you that you won't be able to imagine yourself any other way.

twenty-seven months ago today, i chose to become a non-smoker again. at first, it felt totally wrong; after all, i'd conditioned my mind and body for over thirty-five years to believe that i was a smoker. it didn't feel natural not to smoke any more. it didn't come easy. i had to practice. i had to work at it.

i had to pay the price.

if you're interested in reading about the price i've paid, you've come to the right place; that's what these "tales from the quit" are all about. if you choose to read more of them, please keep two things in mind:

first, i'm no superman; i'm just a guy who made the choice (and continues to make the same choice, every day) not to feed his addiction to nicotine any more, and has paid the price to stick by that choice, over and over again, no matter what. and now, it feels natural. now, it feels easy. now, it's such a part of my life that i can't imagine myself going back.

second, you can do this, too. just be willing to make that choice, over and over again, until it starts to feel natural and easy. just be willing to work at it.

just be willing to pay the price.

no matter what.

choose life!

kevin - grateful to be in my 823rd day of freedom today!

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