That's how long it has been since I quit smoking.
And if you know someone who you've been trying to convince to quit smoking too, like your spouse, a parent, a child, a friend, or even your neighbor, I have one advice for you...STOP.
© Paul Prescott | Bigstockphoto.com
I know you mean well, but take it from a decade-long smoker who spent the first half of a decade as a smoker and the second half trying to quit, it won't work. No amount of guilt-tripping or scare tactics is going to work. You're just going to make someone you love to feel bad, and your efforts will be in vain because they still won't quit for you. But don't feel bad, either. It has nothing to do with you.
Smokers already know that smoking is bad for their health. They already know that smoking is bad for the health of those around them. And they already know that it might be damaging their relationships or some other aspect of their life.
So why aren't they quitting if they already know all these things? That's because smoking, like any other addiction, is not rational. And it isn't about a lack of willpower, either.
People smoke because they believe (unconsciously), despite all the downsides and health warnings, that smoking is bringing them pleasures and benefits that they couldn't be without. In my case, I believed smoking helped me be more confident and sociable, so I'd rather suffer through the orange-y fingers, bad coughs, and significant expenses than be a boring wallflower without friends. I was scared that I'd be deprived of my social life (or look stupid sitting at a restaurant by myself) if I quit smoking. So, I suffered the consequences, which I believed was less important compared to what I would lose.
It wasn't until I realized how stupid my reasons for smoking were that I decided I was ready to quit. It also helped that I met amazing non-smoking friends. And, believe it or not, when that realization came, I actually quit. Just like that. Five years of trying to quit and all it took was an afternoon to make me realize that what I believed about smoking was wrong.
What's the point of all these?
The point is if you want your loved one to quit, stop nagging them to quit smoking. Instead, help them figure out why they're smoking in the first place. Because believe it or not, they already know they have to quit. And they also know that smoking is bad for them. They just don't want to quit. At least not as long as they think they're getting something from smoking.
This is Day 271 of @mariannewest 5-Minute Freewrite. You can view the prompt here. (I did go over 5 minutes, though.)
It's also Day 15 of my goal to write everyday, for 100 days.
Thanks for reading.