A New Chapter
101 days ago, I began my journey towards the hall of fame. However, my entry into the hall of fame is only the beginning of the journey. Completing the journey to 100 days quit is not a graduation, we are not done quitting. Rather, the hall of fame is an initiation into quit, it is only the beginning. This may seem overwhelming to the new foggy quitters out there that might be reading this, but if you promise to face your demons one day at a time, then the task becomes simple. One day you will be quit forever, but for now you only have to quit one day at a time.
101 days ago, I was ready to make a change. I had a period of stoppage before, but this time what lay ahead of me was uncharted territory. I was worried I wouldn’t be myself in a world without tobacco. I was unsure if I would be able to perform as well without nicotine. Going into my quit I was in the middle of the law school admissions process, I was worried I wouldn’t be able to assess opportunities, study for the test, or pretty much do anything well. But then I remembered that there were 20 years of my life that I had gotten through without the use of tobacco or nicotine. I remembered that I could study well without nicotine because I had done so before. I read all the stories of the veterans that had come before me, the ones who built the walls of this place. Those stories told me it was not only possible, but highly likely that everything I had to do overcome would be easier to do without nicotine. I want to make this abundantly clear to anyone that is considering whether they should quit or not. QUIT NOW! I was able to do all the “hard” stuff in preparation for law school at a much higher level than if I had still be on nicotine. I don’t care if you’re considering med school, starting a new job, or moving across the country. Each reason is stupid. If you think you won’t have an as successful career without nicotine, then have fun trying to achieve your goals when you’re dead from cancer. This decision is that serious.
101 days have passed, and I took each day one day at a time (odaat). ODAAT is not only great philosophy for quitting, but great philosophy for life. If you’re living for tomorrow or living in the past then you are never truly living in the moment. “Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.” (Matthew 6:34). The first 101 days, I was beat up with intense cravings, depression, spouts of anger, jaw pain, headaches, melancholia, and pretty much every other symptom in the book. I was in a dark place for some of those days, but I had Ruthless, Doc, Dino, Juda, Rubicon, Nbass, the October quitters, and a legion of veterans help me win the war one day a time. I am grateful for all of the support I have received.
Through the first 101 days, I was lucky. I didn’t have any major loss in my life during my road to the first floor. I am worried that when I am hit again by life, I will relapse. This will not happen. In the first 101 days I have learned that 1 problem + Nicotine = Two Problems. The logic is simple, Nicotine will not solve any problem.
This decision to quit has probably added over a decade to my life and has given me freedom. I don’t have to be dishonest anymore, I have no secrets now. Because I am quit.
NOTE: This piece written by KillTheCan.org forum member BaylorGrad19
