Knowing Is Not Enough, We Must Apply

Knowing is not enough, we must apply.
Willing is not enough, we must do.

Profound, yet simple.

The above quote by Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe is on a poster at my son’s Karate school. As I sat watching my son do karate last night, I looked up and saw the poster for about the 1000th time. It set me to thinking.

Knowing is not enough, we must apply.
Knowing that we must quit dipping is not enough. We must use that knowledge to make it happen.

Knowing that we can never, ever, have just one is not enough. We can never let our addiction fool us into thinking we can. Never.

Knowing that tobacco can kill or maim me was never enough to get me to quit. I ignored those facts. Now I hope I quit in time.

Knowing that I am quit, that I have shut the door on dip and any other form of tobacco or nicotine is thrilling. Using what I have learned, on a daily basis, continues the process of building blocks, of constructing walls between myself and my addiction, protecting me, from myself.

Knowing that others are going through what I went through is painful yet inspiring. Helping them get to where I am today, so they can be where I will be tomorrow is my goal.

Willing is not enough, we must do.

I have always been willing to quit. I was just never strong enough to do it before.

I wasn’t always willing to listen to others who would tell me why I should quit. I would ignore them.

I was always willing to pay whatever the cost of a can was. I no longer worry about that.

I was never willing to completely open myself up to others, even those closest to me. My guard was always up. You open up, you get hurt. A lesson learned in childhood. Beating this addiction has caused a reversal in this philosophy. My soul has been bared. Cover your eyes, it isn’t pretty.

I have always been willing to help people, I just never went out of my way to do it. Now, I don’t even know what “going out of my way” means. It has become important to me, to help just one person beat their addiction. If that means a late night phone call, so be it. If it means being a cheerleader, then OK. If it means tough love, it means tough love. Whatever it means, it is important.

I have always been willing to quit. I was just never strong enough to do it before. (I have to repeat this sentence)… Alone, I never had the strength. I have drawn strength from all of you. Those that went before me, those that went with me, those that come after me. Combined strength and knowledge has made it possible for me. For that, I thank you once again.

I’ve closed the door and have thrown the deadbolt.

Stay strong, stay quit.

Never just one.

We don’t do that shit anymore.

And, the ever lovable – Embrace the suck!

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