Jackie prompted the thought for this blog.
“Thanks for challenging me to be the best at my quit.” I didn’t know I was doing that until she said it on my page. But it’s true. That’s EXACTLY what I try to do here. I don’t let you get away with anything. I challenge you when you are weak. I don’t need to challenge you when you’re strong. (What would be the point?) And I come across at times like bad ass for that and that's ok. Because if you can’t take the harsh truths about excuses and go into relapse whining (which is different from regular old whining), you won’t get past the point of no return.
And THAT’S how you achieve longevity in this journey. Getting PAST the Point of No Return. Getting PAST the stage of thinking about a cigarette every day. Getting PAST the point of being jolted by surprise cravings. Getting PAST being a victim to this addiction and instead - taking control of it yourself.
It’s also about getting PAST the HOPE that you can smoke. The hope that, “well, I can just have one cigarette tonight on this celebratory occasion,” or “well my entire life fell apart today, so I’m entitled to this one cigarette,” or “--------------“ (you name the excuse for yourself.) But then recognize it for what it is - an EXCUSE. And get PAST it. Stay true, remain steadfast, understand what an excuse is and deny it. And if you do so - you cannot fail.
It’s really very simply. You don’t have to want to quit. But you do have to CHOOSE to quit. And commit with everything you’ve got. And everything you didn’t know you had.
I KNOW you can quit. Because I’ve seen the weakest of the weak do so on here. And they have become strong through commitment. Which indicates to them that they weren’t really weak to begin with. Ya hear me?
