THERE IS MORE TO IT THAN

JUST DO IT

When I started this journey last week, I imagined it as the most difficult thing I ever tried to do. 

At the time, I did not consciously give much thought to the words that were coming out of my mouth. It really was not until I was posting an update on Facebook that I consciously examined what I said and wrote. What is clear to  me is that I am no longer trying I am doing. Five minutes at a time, with a five minute interval once the urge to smoke creeps into my consciousness

I believe all of my past efforts failed because I embraced and owned the difficulty of cleansing myself of the scourge of nicotine based on what others had told me. The additional culprit was my lack of commitment. As I believe Yoda once said, "Trying isn't doing." So when, I without a lot of complex thought changed the process to something I knew I could do, which is to wait a minimum of five minutes before lighting a cigarette, what seemed impossible became possible. Not only can I do it but with each success, I realize I am able to wait a little longer. Five minutes has turned into 13 hours even if 10 were during my sleep.

You may say whoa, wait a minute that does not count. Well in the past I rarely slept straight through and the primary reason for that was not my prostate but the need to fulfill my cigarette addiction. Usually at least twice per evening which interrupted my sleep even more subsequent to the quick SMOKE because nicotine and many of the other ingredients are stimulants. So I am counting it because it is a definitive change in my behavior.

The insert below shows what the CDC says happens in the 12 hour after your last cigarette.

12 Hours After You Quit Smoking

Carbon monoxide, which can be toxic to the body at high levels, is released from burning tobacco and inhaled as part of cigarette smoke. Because carbon monoxide bonds so well to blood cells, high levels of the substance can prevent these cells from bonding with oxygen, which in turn causes serious cardiovascular problems. In just 12 hours after quitting smoking, the carbon monoxide in your body decreases to lower levels, and your blood oxygen levels increase to normal (CDC, 2004).

So for the first time in many years my carbon dioxide levels where reduced and my oxygen was normal. I take that as a milestone with more of them to come one five minute step at a time. As I am sure you can tell, I am excited and confident that I will succeed this time if I stick to my plan. The one that works for me as it is so easy to wait 5 minutes that the likelihood of experiencing failure and becoming discouraged is almost non existent. 

I hope my journey encourages someone out there who is struggling to find something that works for you. Figure out what you can do no matter how small the step may seem. Don't concern yourself with those that criticize the small changes because if you stick with it those small changes add up to create the change you may have been seeking. You deserve it and I truly hope you are able to achieve it. Your playing small to the world does not serve anyone and especially not you.

By the way I smoked a total of 6 cigarettes yesterday down from my usual pack a day. Not where I want to be but the progress is measurable. 

#smokingcessation, @nosmoking, #Cigarettesshouldbebanned, #success, #healthyliving, #wellness, #smokefree