Today at a 12-step meeting one of our female managers says she has four days with no cigarettes. And I congratulate her, because smoking is such a tough addiction.
Harder than quitting heroin some say. Of course I agree, because quitting smoking 33 years ago was one of the hardest things I've ever done.
Lately I've seen more and more residents take up the challenge of quitting smoking. Not sure what's going on. Maybe they're noticing how many of our people are going to the hospital because of smoking. At one time a couple of weeks ago there were four TLC residents on the same floor of Banner hospital. I think a few of them were scared into quitting after the hospital stay.
I read a year or so ago that tobacco kills some 450,000 Americans a year. The article went on to say that cigarettes kill more people than all other causes combined. That includes auto accidents, plane crashes, murders, suicides - plus add all the 200,000 plus Americans who died in World War II.
Congratulations to those who are trying to quit. Picture what the outcome will be if you continue to smoke. Scare yourself into quitting.
Love yourself enough to suffer the pain of withdrawal for a few days. Stay strong.
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