Hello Grant and congratulations on three seasons of freedom and healing.   What I find amazing is the fact that every puff has at least 43 known carcinogens in it, that with every puff I was building a bit bigger time bomb within this body but before I broke free I can't recall a single cigarette where I consciously thought to myself, "I'm adding more of the same cancer causing chemicals to the mix." 

 

Why is it that we don't seem to show serious interest in this issue until after we've broken free?  Where was our concern when the risks were headed in the opposite direction?  I know it has to do with the denial rationalizations and minimizations we resided between and used to justify that next fix but isn't it amazing how all of the sudden we care about whether or not we waited too long.

 

The following quote is from an e-mail I replied to a few hours ago.  She'll have quit for 11 months on the 1st and attended one of my bi-monthly seminars here in Charleston:

 

" I know the body is an amazing thing but I fear I have damaged my body too much from those nasty smokes. The fear is horrible!  The fear keeps me from smoking though.  Well that and the fact that now I am too proud of myself and would never want to quit again. NTAP!!!"

 

Sound familiar?   I guess a little fear can be a good thing.  I've been quit since May 15, 1999 and know that although many risks have substantially abated that I'm far from being out of the woods.  When I was where you are I had a degree of these fears too.  Today my thinking is a bit different.  If smoking is yet to claim me it will not do so with my killer still in my veins.  Whether I pass at 55 or 95 I'll leave free and me. 

 

Grant, this is one of my favorite Joel articles and it has weighed heavily in helping me to change the things I can control and accept the things I can't.  

 

 I Can't Quit or I Won't Quit 

Thank you so much for sharing your shared concern.  Still just one guiding principle for both of us, one that will always remain our common bond ... no nicotine today,  Never Take Another Puff!  

Breathe deep, hug hard, live long Grant!

John