I “collect movies” as an ongoing reward for staying quit - seriously! As of last night, I have treated myself to 200 movies since my Quit Date, just under 3 years ago! (I save all my ticket stubs, and I’ve kept count.) That’s 63 Oscar nominees (3 of them winners), and dozens and dozens of other good flicks. Sure, there were some duds along the way (I‘m looking at you, Suicide Squad…), but it’s mostly been a very entertaining way to reward myself (or, is it a rewarding way to entertain myself?).
Anyway, it’s kinda pitiful that I used to rarely go to the movies, because of the cost. (“$9?! That’s outrageous!”) And yet, I was freely handing out 3 times that amount every week for poisonous cigarettes. Now, for less than the $28 dollars a week I was throwing away, I treat myself to the latest blockbusters… and sometimes that overpriced sack of popcorn, too!
Turns out movies are affordable after all…once I ditched my money-gobbling addiction.
And, visits to the theater are much more enjoyable, too : No more chain-smoking outside the theater before trudging off to a smoke-free auditorium for a couple of hours ; no more stinking like an overloaded ashtray, feeling embarrassed that the folks seated nearby can smell the dirty habit ; no more fidgeting halfway through ; no more springing up from the seat the moment the credits start to roll ; no more scurrying out the lobby doors to “hot-box” a cigarette in the parking lot.
Nope, all of that squirrelly twitchiness is gone! I can relaaaaaax at the movies now, even all the way through a double feature! What a way to reward my quit!
STORM
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