I Didn’t Do It – Hall of Fame Speech For Bulldawg

I consider myself to be a successful individual. One blessed with a great family, loving wife, fantastic children and a job I love. I began chewing tobacco in college. Leaf tobacco led to plug tobacco and then chewing cigars (better tobacco so the taste lasted longer). When my son began playing travel baseball I switched to dip. I never thought I was an addictive personality. As my use increased, my (failed) attempts to quit increased as well. The lies and excuses were nonstop. “Just this can and then no more” “I will just dip when outside” “I will only buy one can a week and if I limit it to one can per week, how can I be an addict?”

All of these failed attempts to control my nicotine addiction were frustrating. After my 9 year old and 3 year old’s ballet recital on May 22, 2011, I took my last dip. Several days into the quit I ran across this web site and found the daily posting to be an important part of the process. At the same time while reading the Bible I came across James 4:7 which paraphrased said, submit yourself to God and resist the devil and he will flee from you. Many posters refer to nicotine as “the devil”. Given the scriptural encouragement and the accountability of daily posting I was able to quit. To those of you in the first stages. let me encourage you, it gets easier as you go. The first few days were TOUGH. The first baseball game, the first round of golf and first time I cut the grass, all without dipping were very difficult.

Thanks you to those who sent e-mails of encouragement. One word of caution. I made 100 days but I know I am an addict to dipping. I still take it a day at a time, knowing I have to keep my guard up. I know I won’t dip today. You that are reading this can go without today as well.

Bulldawg. UGA class of 1974 and UGA LS 1977

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