Quitting Smoking

[Tig]

How I was able to do it was I conviced myself I didn't smoke.
Funny how it works. Every craving I got I just told myself "you don't smoke"
and that was it.

That's so simple, it might just work!

Plank Spanker, keep on fighting the good fight.
You will get through this most difficult part.

 

[syo]

I dunno...on one hand I'm happy about smoking bans, but then again, you can't forbid everything. What's next, then?

...And what will be left? Just a plain dull life with no sharp edges, fat, listless people who live in a bubble of virtual reality and neatly-tucked...

But, this goes well into politics I guess... maybe I'm a bit gloomy because I just woke up tired...

Well, I'm sort of with you on this. I think sometimes I felt that by smoking I was celebrating those sharp edges. I knew what I was doing was probably shortening my life, but in a way I felt I was celebrating life by not fearing death. It seems the goal of humanity has become to make things as safe as possible and as a result, we become less alive. This isn't an argument in favor of smoking but it is an argument against legislating a common law of personal accountability.

In the end, I quit smoking because it started affecting the quality of my life (negatively). I'm happy that I did and don't really miss it. But my father-in-law is 75 and has smoked 4 times more than I ever did and he's as strong as an ox. Who am I to tell him that he shouldn't smoke (provided he considers the health of those around him)?

 

[deeaa]

Yeah...I know smoking is quite unhealthy, but then again life is, in general.

My granddad started smoking at 18 in the army and still smokes, well past ninety. My other granddad smoked until he was something around 60, but quit, and he also lived to be over 90. Both sharp as razors right to the end.

I have two friends who have cancer, and neither never smoked.

My own parents have always been absolutist really, aside some wine no alcohol or tobacco, ever, and healthy foods and exercise. At sixty they were both quite fragile&out of worklife and now that they're past 70 I'm expecting them to keel over any day. Mom at least will quite soon, and they are quite demented too, mom especially can't even recognize me any more many times.

As with most things, there's some evidence that some smoke actually IS good for you, if you only do it a little and don't go overboard with it. The smoke and chemicals work sort of like a vaccine, kicking up the immune system into full strenght and 'train' it to cope better with flus and other ailments as well. Same as some alcohol also is quite healthy, as long as it's enjoyed in moderation.

That would mean, like smoking a cigar or something once a week or so, or some second-hand smoke.

I figure, what doesn't kill you makes you stronger...anything is deadly when taken in excess. Even oxygen, or just plain drinking water can kill you if you overuse 'em.

 

[bcdon]

And what will be left? Just a plain dull life with no sharp edges, fat, listless people who live in a bubble of virtual reality and neatly-tucked suburbs and do nothing but grind more money for those in charge, who, in turn, you can bet your behind will still be drinking and smoking in their cabinets, laughing at the enslaved people...and the only people having a resemblance of life will be the outcasts and criminals etc. who rebel against the neutering process of man.
.

I totally agree with you deeaa. The Nanny State is on the rise and unless it is checked all individual freedoms will be lost. I'm not a smoker and don't particularly like it blown in my face so I'm happy to be able to go to a pub and not leave smelling like an ash tray. However, people have the right to do whatever they want to their own body as long as it doesn't hurt anybody else. I'm so sick of know-it-all-busy-bodies telling me what is best for me. As you stated, where does it end? It's a slippery slope and, besides, most of the people "in charge" don't know there *** from a hole in the ground and I can certainly do without their micro-management.

As for what we do with our own bodies, I think the Greeks (and others, of course) had it right with the notion of the Golden Mean: the good life is about moderation and balance in all things.

 

[syo]

I think the Greeks (and others, of course) had it right with the notion of the Golden Mean: the good life is about moderation and balance in all things.

I totally agree with you. Except for when it comes to gear of course... :R

 

[bcdon]

I totally agree with you. Except for when it comes to gear of course... :R

If Aristotle had a guitar I'm sure he'd be the first one to make that exemption! :dude