revjim.net

I think I need to look at this a little bit differently.

I can't "quit" smoking, because I never really started in the first place. I mean, sure, I smoked my first cigarette long, long ago. But so did Brad, and Justin, and Wes. Did they ever "quit"? Not in the usual sense of the word. They had no need to.

I start smoking every time I light a cigarette, and I quit every time I put it out, and that's that. I can't quit because I'm not smoking. Instead, I choose not to smoke today. And everyday, from now until forever, I will be presented with that choice.

On most days, I'll choose not to smoke.

• Because I enjoy freedom.
  
• Because I enjoy life.
  
• Because I love Jess.
  
• Because I love myself.
  
• Because I like to smell good.
  
• Because I hate bad breath.
  
• Because food tastes better.
  
• Because I'll have one more hand to hold her with.
  
• Because I can run faster.
  
• Because I can play harder.
  
• Because I can sleep less and live more.
  
• Because it's hot outside.

And, if I should choose to smoke one day, it isn't the end of the world. It doesn't mean I'm a failure. It doesn't mean that I'm going to die at age 14 of lung cancer. I know plenty of people who smoke on occasion. I also know people who drink on occasion, people who gamble on occasion, people who smoke pot on occasion, people who skydive on occasion, and people who have sex with people they don't know on occasion. Sure some of these things aren't "good for you". Life isn't good for you. Driving over the speed limit can cause undue stress eliminating precious seconds off your life. Living in LA can give you lung cancer. So what.

Smoking every day of my life is bad for me.

• It makes food taste less flavorful.
  
• It makes my kisses taste bad.
  
• It makes my hands smell funny.
  
• It makes me cough.
  
• It makes my clothes stink.
  
• It makes me angry when I can't smoke.
  
• It makes me violent when I can't find a lighter.
  
• It makes me hurt people that haven't done anything wrong.
  
• It makes me waste time that I could be spending kissing Jess.
  
• It makes me spend money on something that I don't really need.
  
• It makes a mess.
  
• It makes my mom sad.

I choose not to smoke today, because smoking isn't worth all of these things.

Smoking hides himself as a friend. He makes it look like he is there whenever you need something. The truth is, you wouldn't "need" something, if he hadn't been there in the first place. He causes that need. Smoking is a parasite friendship. He feeds on you. He lies to you. He sucks out the best of you.

In the past 3 days, 2 hours, 56 minutes and 21 seconds, I have NOT smoked 94 cigarettes. I have saved $20.25 and I will live 17 hours longer.

I choose not to smoke today because, with the money I save, I am going to buy two nice mountain bikes for Jess and I. Or maybe not. Maybe I'll change my mind before then. What matters is that, in just six months, I'll have saved enough money for both of them. And that's something I would be giving up if I should decide to smoke every day of the next six months instead.

I can't quit smoking. But I can choose not to smoke today. And even just this one day will make a lot of difference.

I choose not to smoke today, because there are too many things I would be giving up if I did. I choose not to smoke today because I love myself, I love my friends, I love Jess, and I love my life.

I choose not to smoke today. Period.