Quitting Smoking: Day 1
So, last night I officially turned 30 and today marks the first day of stopping smoking. I'm chewing the crap out of my Nicorette gum which has 20% less ass-flavor than three and a half years ago when I quit the last time. Follow that? This is actually my third (and lets say final) time quitting.
I'm also going to be blogging about the fun that is quitting so when the only thing I want more than a smoke is a giant mallet to whack the shit out of anyone nearby, I have a healthier outlet. Why am I doing this, you ask? Well, thanks for asking!
Toby's Top Reasons to Quit Smoking
1) I promised my parents and myself I would only be a smoker again for one year. That year is pretty much up. I like to be a woman of my word.
2) I'm 30. The health risks of smoking once you turn 30 go up. Especially if you're taking certain medications.
3) My skin is definitely worse than it was before I started smoking again. I want my clear skin back.
4) I don't want yellow teeth. More than that, I don't want the disapproving look from my 70-year old dental hygenist when she tut-tuts me about smoking AND drinking coffee.
5) It's hella expensive here in New York City. I figure I can save about $40 a week. Which I'm going to deposit into a poker bankroll.
6) Someday, I want kids. I don't want any smoking babies.
7) You can't smoke at most poker rooms in the country anymore. If I want to really start playing tournaments, I can't be spending more time watching the clock so I can get to the next smoke break than I am watching how my opponents play.
8) There's a lot of cancer in my family.
9) I'm looking forward to this moment, as related by Norm MacDonald: "I can taste my food. That's one thing. All my food now has this incredible taste. Oh man, everything I eat, I go hey, what kind of food is that there you're giving me? That's a tangy, zingy food there, isn't it? What kind of a tangy zingy...? It's a boiled potato, huh? Remind me to get the recipe."
10. I'm happy. It's cold out. Timing is everything in this life and the time I think is right now.
Wish me luck.
posted by Toby Leah Bochan at 1:48 PM
6 Comments:
Good luck, chickie! May the Force be with you.
best of luck!! i'm going to try myself next week.
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
My Mother is 76 and has ben smoking since she was 16. That's a lot of smoking and, fortunately, she is in rude health. The only problem is that her breathing has gradually been getting more problematic.
She has attempted to cut down in recent years but never give up. Generally, something stressful has caused her to smoke again, full tilt.
Then suddenly, the Saturday before last, she decided to stop - aided by gum and patches, of course. And you know what, she hasn't smoked since. After sixty years, she suddenly decided to stop. Amazing.
I think this illustrates something that Robert Fritz said. Fritz wrote a book named The Path of Least Resistance. I don't recommend the book because it is pretty turgid stuff but it does contain a profound thought.
Fritz argues that the secret to doing something is simply to decide to do it. This sounds trite I know but he argues that when we genuinely internalise a decision to take a chosen path, seemingly insurmountable obstacles become smaller and the world seems full of things to help us along the way. Easy then? Well not quite. The subtlety of the point is that making a major decision about our lives is very tough – often it can take years of oscillation. When we have made it, however, there is a sense of relief and clarity. It took my Mum 60 years to decide.
motte
PS I have read lots of poker books but still have some fundamental questions about strategy - I wonder if you'd help?
Thanks all for your support.
Motte, I don't know if I'll be able to help but feel free to e-mail me.
Toby
Thanks - I will email you soon, when I have time to compose something reasonably succinct - not easy for me.
btw - I am intruiged by your book. I scanned back through your archives but couldn't find a synopsis.
motte
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