Free At Last! – It Feels So Good To Be Free

Well, finally getting around to doing this. I thought after 100 days came around, I’d know just what to write and post it the next day, but it turned out I didn’t know what to say after all. This should be short.

I chewed for 22 years starting in highschool because I was an idiot and caved to peer pressure . I knew better, but thought I was invincible and cool. Little did I know that 22 years later I’d be carrying around this huge, smelly gorilla on my back that ran my life completely from the time I woke up to when I went to sleep. I tried quitting at least 100 times, but never really wanted it to end I guess. You have to really want to quit or you’re screwed. After the price went up this last time I thought I’d quit for sure, but the addiction overruled the great expense and every other horrible thing that went with it. When my dentist told me that my bottom teeth were being worn away by ‘something’, (was such a pro closet chewer that my dentist didn’t even supect chew) I started taking things a little more serious. I set a date for myself of New Year’s Day 2008, but after finding this site, and spending a whole night reading as much as I could, I decided to just quit right then and there. So, November 19th ’07 was when I threw my last half full can of Grizzly garbage out my car window. (Don’t litter)

The first several days were a blur of misery and cravings, but thanks to God, this site and the great people in it, I made it, and have shut the door on that evil nic whore once and for all. One day at a time was the crucial key. Posting roll every day was so very important too. I work the midnight shift, so I always tried to be the first to post, and felt bad when I wasn’t able to. But, it worked well, and I’ve never been so happy to be free!

This will be my first summer in 22 years without tobacco, and I’m looking forward to it. I know the summer triggers will try to blindside me, but I have no doubt in my mind that I will meet each one of them head on just as I have the last 128 days, and kick their teeth in.

There are so many people here that I’m grateful for. Everyone in the Iron group is like family to me. Never met any of you, but I couldn’t have made it this far without all of you, and I think I’d do pretty much anything for any of you. We are a small quiet group, but as rock solid as they come! The guys who run this site will never know how many lives they’ve helped save. I wish they could somehow. Words can’t express how much their work means to me. Keep up the awesome job!!

I hope people reading this that haven’t made the choice to quit yet will believe me when I say that the weight you’ll feel lifted off your shoulders when you say farewell to that slow death called chew is more than worth it. What price can you put on freedom? Stop screwing around and quit. You owe it to yourself!

Anyway, that’s about it. Sorry it wasn’t more stimulating.
To sum it up, I guess I’d say that it feels soooo good to be ‘FREE’, and I wish I’d have found the guts to do this about 22 years ago. I turn 40 this May, and figured it was time to grow up and take responsibility for my actions, ’cause they sure do affect others.

Quitting chewing has changed my life more than I ever dreamed it would, and I thank God for all of you and this life saving, life changing site.
Thanks!!
Hasenfefer

NOTE: This piece written by KillTheCan.org forum member khasenfefer