Newbkr,
I'm sure you remember that time, almost a year ago, when I chewed you out for smoking, when really, I was talking to myself since I was having such a hard day, and took it out on you. Every single time I write a tough love post, or even a post that slightly resembles a tough love post, I think of that mistake I made and try to think about how I would react to what I want to say. So now, I'm going to speak honestly and from the heart, and I believe that what I am about to say needs to be said and believe me when I say that it is being said in love.
The fact is that you suffered a great loss a few months ago and nobody here is denying the grief that you must have felt then and still now. To quit now, so soon after such a tragic loss, shows great strength and courage. But... cancer doesn't care! Emphasyma doesn't care! All of the other smoking related illnesses out there don't care either! They'll kill you, slowly and painfully, whether you've suffered a horrible loss or not! The fact is that you're alive today. Embrace that fact and live your life to the fullest! Smoking only takes away from our lives... it does not add anything! It cannot make the past not real. You can use the excuse that you've suffered a great loss, and frankly, nobody here, or anywhere for that matter, can blame you. If I had suffered the kind of loss that you did, I'm not sure I would be able to keep my quit either, but I hope that I never have to find that out. But the reality is that smoking will kill you anyway... whether you've suffered greatly already or not. You obviously don't want to die that slow and painful death because you're here thinking about quitting and at least trying to quit. So quit! We're here to help you, as always, and we will never give up on you. But, as long as smoking is an option and you continue to use your grief as an excuse to smoke, then I'm afraid you will keep on smoking. When you are truly ready to say that smoking is absolutely not an option under any circumstances, only then can you quit successfully. Please join us!
I hope nothing I have said was too harsh. It certainly was not meant to be. I just really really really want to see you quit for good!
Crave the Quit!
Pam
[B]My Milage:[/B]
[B]My Quit Date: [/B
