Smoking is bad....UPDATE

[finn's mom]

My dad just recently quit smoking after 53 years of lighting up. He's been smoking since he was about 13. He's been smoke free now for nearly three months. I have never been prouder of a human being in my life. I'm also extremely proud of my brother, who's a cancer survivor. He started smoking in his early twenties (he had leukemia when he was five years old and was sick for five years) and quit smoking about two years ago. I hope people read this and maybe get some inspiration if they're thinking it can't be done.

[Medusa]

I'm so sorry to hear about your aunt, Gayle. She's got a tough road ahead of her now. All you can do is be there for her and we'll be here for you.

[catland]

Queen, I'm very sorry for the pain you are going through with your family and this terrible illness (which was probably caused by the smokes)


Blue - Another way to look at it.

Take one pac of cigs at $4.00/pack. If you smoke one pack a day, that's $1460.00 in a year.

In ten years, with a compound interest rate of 5%, that's almost $20,000.00 spent just on cigarettes.

I'd rather have a new car.

[sasvermont]

It wasn't pretty, for sure. He smoked for 20 years and quit 20 years ago. The fact that he had quit some years ago didn't really help him out much. He died within one month of his diagnosis. It was the saddest day of my life. He was only 60.

So, for all those folks who continue to smoke, you can pretty much count on having an early departure from this world. If that is what you want, then have at it. My dear brother thought he was in the clear, since he had stopped over 20 years ago. Nope.

One must consider all the risks we take, health wise, whether it be being over weight or smoke or have out of control diabetes or high blood pressure. It is often a choice in life style. It would be nice if we were all perfect, but we are not.

Smoking is a death sentence. I suspect your family will miss you. Just don't smoke around the people you love and don't want to have the same predictable ending as you will have.

Some people manage to survive the smoking experience. Most do not. Just that plain and simple. You want to die, keep smoking. It is your choice.

[Catty1]

It is my belief - as I continue to recover from addiction, a lifelong process - that smokers/compulsive overeaters/alcoholics/etc KNOW there is something wrong, they KNOW it is not good. Their drug of choice has become a god that won't let go.

"It is the pain of living that creates a hunger for healing that only God can satisfy." - J. Keith Miller

At this point in my life, it is my understanding that in order to begin to recover from any of these, God (whatever or whoever you conceive God to be) must become the centre of your life - not you. It's hard to surrender everything we do and are to a Higher Power, no matter how friendly, but it is the way to freedom. Freedom from the 'controlling god' that has your life right now. Death doesn't have to be physical, I know that much.

This does take work - which is what the 12 Steps are for.

My only suggestion is that those who smoke, are hooked, and know they are - check out some kind of treatment program or other some such. It's okay to hate it...just expose yourself to a different way of thinking and feeling. Go to open 12 Step meetings. See what else is in your community.

You alone can do it - but you don't have to do it alone.

Gayle, my prayers for your aunt.