If you click on the blue MEMBERS tab, you’ll see something astonishing : 69,281 full pages of member names. At 10 members per full page, that’s 692,810 people who have signed up for EX.
Yet no one has met that many people here. Ever.
First and foremost, it must be said that there are simply too many variables as to why we don’t see hundreds - or thousands! -of different faces on the daily blogs. (I thought of about 6 reasons why we don‘t see more names around here, and I bet you can think of 4 more.) But, let’s not get sidetracked by listing all the “whys” here, okay? That’s not the focus of my blog. Instead, let me point out one powerful observation : Of over 692,800 people who did sign up for the program, you are here now. If you’re reading my words right now, then you showed up for the journey, and you’re on it. You’re at whatever specific point on your path. And, dozens of unseen comrades just might be here, too, quietly quitting right along with you, though they may never speak to us at all.
That puts each of you in a very special place, at this very special moment in time. Congratulations for being here!
Tens of thousands, though, are not here, obviously. Tens of thousands have gone before you. For whatever reason, you’ll never get to meet them online, and never get to hear their stories, or help. But, that has to be okay. You’re here, at this moment in life, and you are not alone here. Nor have you ever been.
WARNING: I’m about to play fast and loose with mathematics, to spark an emotion. Please, take a deep breath…
If you ever needed proof that 6% (the general spirit of it) is a rarified measure in our community, then compare the number of daily bloggers and contributors with the total number of profiles on the MEMBERS page. Roughly 692,000 had hoped to be an active part of what you’re doing right now, but only a small fraction actually are.
Being here today makes you incredibly special.
Let that sink in…
Now, when I look back at my blogs from 2014, and compare them to my blogs this year, many of the names and faces have changed. When I joined, 9 special people (my “Mentors“) taught me the way. Of these, 4 have since walked away from EX, 1 relapsed - twice! - before walking away, 3 are still dear friends here (and I‘ve met 2 of them, in person!), and 1 of them still pops up when I least expect it (I know you’re out there, Patty…).
Of my quitmates from The Class of March 2014, 3 quickly went back to smoking, 2 disappeared without a word, 1 passed away, 2 are still in touch, and 1 became the most dependable Quit Buddy I could have ever hoped for.
Sometimes, people will walk away from you and your journey. Sometimes, you even need to shoo them toward the EXIT, and hold the door open wide (did that 5 times).
All of this coming and going has to be okay… and it is.
People come into your life for a reason, or for just a season. That has to be okay. You hold fast to your focus, and stay true to yourself.
I’m sharing this with all you NML-ers especially, because your first New Year’s Eve at EX is coming. Our doors will burst with dozens of Resolution Quitters, and it’s an exciting time. So many new faces, so much promise, so much energy! Some will flash across our screens, like blazing meteorites…and vanish just as quickly. Many will stay for as long as their strength holds up ; many will thrive, no matter what, and will be here for years to come. So, jump in, offer support, "pay it forward", make a friend…all the while remembering that not everyone will make it as far as you have, despite your best efforts. And, not everyone you meet in the beginning is destined to stay with you through to the end.
And, that’s okay.
STORM: 928
