Blue_Food
Well-known member
Long post; bear with me...
Oddly enough, I have been thinking about quitting myself over the last 24 hours or so, ever since I read the news that Christopher Hitchens has cancelled his book tour, having just been diagnosed with cancer of the oesophagus.
I don’t really know why that news seems to have affected me so much. I suppose it’s because he’s somebody I admire a great deal (though I certainly don’t agree with him on everything), and somebody who has always seemed somewhat invincible to the consequences of his notorious hard-living: he still manages to be come across as one of the most intelligent and articulate humans on Earth even when he’s completely sozzled (which seems to be most of the time), and—though he could stand to lose a few pounds—he actually looks pretty good for a 61 year-old, let alone one who has lived as recklessly as he has. I saw him debate in person last year, and would like to think that I might have the opportunity to do so again some time.
So, yeah – I had already been thinking the same thing when I saw this thread, and I think I’m going to join you, Doc… I think they say it can help to give up at the same time as someone else, and hopefully that can even work across cyber-space.
My history: Six months ago I turned thirty. I’ve smoked since I was around fifteen. So, that’s half of my life that I’ve been a smoker. Throughout my late twenties, I’d always had the idea that I’d quit when I was thirty (I think this idea was a implanted by my parents; they are both ex-smokers who have always said things to both me and my brother like “Well, I should hope you’ll have given up by the time you’re thirty”)
Well, my thirtieth birthday rolled around in January, and I guess I conveniently ‘forgot’ about the promise that I’d made to myself…
I can’t say that I’ve ever ‘tried’ to quit in the past, and subsequently failed. I would say that I have quit (once) in the past… and succeeded…
(Bear with me)
One night, nine years ago, the thought just popped into my head that I should try giving up smoking, alcohol, and any other *ahem* indulgences for exactly one year; 365 days. It wasn’t a health thing; it wasn’t an economical thing; it was just an experiment in willpower/self-discipline. I wouldn’t even call it a ‘test’, since I know how much of a stubborn SoB I am; there was never any doubt that I would achieve the goal that I’d set out. And, yeah… I just did it. When the 365 days were over, I celebrated with cigarettes, champagne, and *cough* ‘herbal treatments’… and have continued to enjoy such things since.
I’ve never ‘tried’ giving up ever since, and I think the reason why is simple: I’ve just never wanted to! I-love-to-smoke, I-love-to-smoke, I-looooove-tooooo-smoooooke!!!
I’ve seen so many friends try—and fail—to quit over the years, and every time they fail, I can’t help but think that they just didn’t really want to quit in the first place. And I've never really wanted to either, which is why I haven't even tried since my 2001 experiment. For some reason, that just spontaneously changed yesterday...
I’m probably going to appear to contradict myself now, but… I really want to be where Everts has described himself: I don’t want to be a smoker anymore… but I would love to be able to allow myself that occasional cigarette or two, when that perfect moment arrives, and then not even think about smoking for another month, six months—a year… I think that kind of behaviour is actually a greater display of willpower than belonging to either extreme.
There’s no doubt that I experience a certain euphoria when I eat a double whopper with cheese and bacon, but I’ll only indulge myself like that 2 – 3 times a year, so why can’t I try to do the same thing with tobacco?
I’m aware that it’s a very slippery slope, but I think I’m going to make it my plan to give up cold-turkey and not touch a cigarette for at least three months. If, after that time, I feel that a cigarette would just ‘complete’ a particular moment I’m experiencing, I will try one, and then not touch another for at least another two months. If I ever feel that I’m slipping back down the slope, then I’ll just stop (as I will have already proven myself capable of doing so).
Well… That’s my plan, and I’d be happy to start at the same time as you, Doc. You posted on Friday and said two weeks -- have you actually already marked your calendar with a specific date? If not, I think it would make more sense to allow an entire final weekend, and to smoke that final smoke on the Sunday night.
DP
Oddly enough, I have been thinking about quitting myself over the last 24 hours or so, ever since I read the news that Christopher Hitchens has cancelled his book tour, having just been diagnosed with cancer of the oesophagus.
I don’t really know why that news seems to have affected me so much. I suppose it’s because he’s somebody I admire a great deal (though I certainly don’t agree with him on everything), and somebody who has always seemed somewhat invincible to the consequences of his notorious hard-living: he still manages to be come across as one of the most intelligent and articulate humans on Earth even when he’s completely sozzled (which seems to be most of the time), and—though he could stand to lose a few pounds—he actually looks pretty good for a 61 year-old, let alone one who has lived as recklessly as he has. I saw him debate in person last year, and would like to think that I might have the opportunity to do so again some time.
So, yeah – I had already been thinking the same thing when I saw this thread, and I think I’m going to join you, Doc… I think they say it can help to give up at the same time as someone else, and hopefully that can even work across cyber-space.
My history: Six months ago I turned thirty. I’ve smoked since I was around fifteen. So, that’s half of my life that I’ve been a smoker. Throughout my late twenties, I’d always had the idea that I’d quit when I was thirty (I think this idea was a implanted by my parents; they are both ex-smokers who have always said things to both me and my brother like “Well, I should hope you’ll have given up by the time you’re thirty”)
Well, my thirtieth birthday rolled around in January, and I guess I conveniently ‘forgot’ about the promise that I’d made to myself…
I can’t say that I’ve ever ‘tried’ to quit in the past, and subsequently failed. I would say that I have quit (once) in the past… and succeeded…
(Bear with me)
One night, nine years ago, the thought just popped into my head that I should try giving up smoking, alcohol, and any other *ahem* indulgences for exactly one year; 365 days. It wasn’t a health thing; it wasn’t an economical thing; it was just an experiment in willpower/self-discipline. I wouldn’t even call it a ‘test’, since I know how much of a stubborn SoB I am; there was never any doubt that I would achieve the goal that I’d set out. And, yeah… I just did it. When the 365 days were over, I celebrated with cigarettes, champagne, and *cough* ‘herbal treatments’… and have continued to enjoy such things since.
I’ve never ‘tried’ giving up ever since, and I think the reason why is simple: I’ve just never wanted to! I-love-to-smoke, I-love-to-smoke, I-looooove-tooooo-smoooooke!!!
I’ve seen so many friends try—and fail—to quit over the years, and every time they fail, I can’t help but think that they just didn’t really want to quit in the first place. And I've never really wanted to either, which is why I haven't even tried since my 2001 experiment. For some reason, that just spontaneously changed yesterday...
I’m probably going to appear to contradict myself now, but… I really want to be where Everts has described himself: I don’t want to be a smoker anymore… but I would love to be able to allow myself that occasional cigarette or two, when that perfect moment arrives, and then not even think about smoking for another month, six months—a year… I think that kind of behaviour is actually a greater display of willpower than belonging to either extreme.
There’s no doubt that I experience a certain euphoria when I eat a double whopper with cheese and bacon, but I’ll only indulge myself like that 2 – 3 times a year, so why can’t I try to do the same thing with tobacco?
I’m aware that it’s a very slippery slope, but I think I’m going to make it my plan to give up cold-turkey and not touch a cigarette for at least three months. If, after that time, I feel that a cigarette would just ‘complete’ a particular moment I’m experiencing, I will try one, and then not touch another for at least another two months. If I ever feel that I’m slipping back down the slope, then I’ll just stop (as I will have already proven myself capable of doing so).
Well… That’s my plan, and I’d be happy to start at the same time as you, Doc. You posted on Friday and said two weeks -- have you actually already marked your calendar with a specific date? If not, I think it would make more sense to allow an entire final weekend, and to smoke that final smoke on the Sunday night.
DP
