Glad to be here

[Athan]

3/30/18
".....in simplest terms, the primary difference between a habit and an addiction....
Is that a person is ultimately in control of a habit.While an addiction is in control of the person...."

I didn't pen that, wish I did.

A clarification if I may, for the slow, tobacco use isn't a habit.

[Athan]

3/27/18
This is from the April Â’18 quit group. These are the ones who tried and failed.
Check out the names. Some of them tell a story. ItÂ’s not just chatroom monikers.
Behind each name is a man devoured by an addiction; A human being tortured and afflicted but not willing or able to turn away.
Check out Gumzbleed. This one haunts me. HereÂ’s a man unable to master himself or the addiction in spite of tremendous physical pain and visible precancerous symptoms.
How about Notreadytodie. He wasnÂ’t able to quit either.
I watched some of these men cross the threshold to KTC. Welcomed them with digits and open arms.
Still they deserted. They loved the can more than their families.
This list is more deeply stirring to my blood than posting daily with my brothers.
This isnÂ’t some kind of game. It really is a matter of life or death.
Do your gums bleed? Are you not ready to die?
What is it going to take? Really, what is it going to take?

April ‘18
12.7x99
MNcold
Notreadytodie
Kobeertx
Mhill22
Gumzbleed
GoJo914
Walkerm
Gunnernick
Mike T
Rheck4096
Jackn04
Brandon785
Keith B
BPM
73D
CDH0059
Pureblood
Hugh Jass
Randi
Bphillips013
ryanp41
Shawnatony
EOEO
pr0123
Angryamerican
Tider
Lmr2096
Marcabby
Tbrown
OX
Dcquitter
Hammer Hands
Thefaceless13
Rheleaf
Sox_Fan
StateGuy
Reegs
Laxdaddy27

[Athan]

3/24/18
In retrospect, I think I hate the addict behavior more than I hate the adverse health effects of nicotine.
I think it more worthy of contempt than the use itself.
It is with profound sadness and pity that I now look upon you who use.
It is as if your eyes are cloaked with scales and you cannot grasp that freedom is so close, so very close; only a decision away. You need only reach out and claim it.
I leave you with the words of a man 10 years free. I scarce have seen so much wisdom packed into so few words:

“Ready - Day 3,704
I've been quit on this site for over ten years. I've had the privilege and honor of being asked to serve as both a mod and an admin. I'm still baffled by how well this place works if you are ready to quit. This place works.
Be advised, there is no magic pill and there is no cure.
But there is freedom to be had here. If your word of honor means something, you too can quit.
Post roll giving your word for today that you will not use nicotine in any way, shape or form. Keep your word. Whatever it takes.
You will find the help here you need. There are hundreds, if not thousands, of people that understand exactly what you are going through. Most of them will drop whatever they are doing to help you stay quit. All of this and it's free too!
The knowledge and insight on this site can not be equaled anywhere.
If you are reading this, you may be contemplating quitting. Just know that you are not alone. We know! We can help. But you must do the heavy lifting. We can't quit for you. We will quit with you.
I don't think you can imagine right now how great your quality of life can be. You probably do not realize how much nicotine has taken from you. You may not want to hear this, but you are a slave. And you as well as friends and loved ones are suffering for your addiction.
You can quit!
You will not regret it!
It will be one of the hardest things you have ever done. It will also be one of the most rewarding things you have ever done.
It's going to suck for awhile (you will pay the price) but your freedom is worth it!”

[Athan]

3/23/18
When told the volley of Persian arrows was so great that it blocked out the sun, Dienekes replied, “good, we can have our fight in the shade!”
Men can utter such things in the face of such incomprehensible odds because they know that they are part of something greater than themselves.
So it is with the quit.
You can chew a whole sleeve tomorrow if it pleases you, but not today.
For today you gave me your word that you would not.
You are now bound to me and to your brothers in quit by your word.
In case no one told you, thatÂ’s a very big deal.
What is a man if he has no integrity? Do you not know that your words and deeds live longer than you do? Are you unaware that your successes and failures reverberate into the spheres of those around you?
Take heart then my brothers, for you stand shoulder to shoulder with champions.
Come, join us, let us quit in the shade!

[Athan]

3/19/18
Freedom.
ItÂ’s NOT fumbling with anxiety because your running low or out.
ItÂ’s a lip and gumline NOT shredded
ItÂ’s NOT dodging my wife or children to savor a fatty
ItÂ’s NOT waiting in line at the convenience store to get a can
ItÂ’s NOT driving across town to get a chew
ItÂ’s NOT making excuses to go out so I can stock up
ItÂ’s NOT sneaking a dip at work

Freedom IS peace

I hope you find a thousand reasons to quit today

[Athan]

3/18/18
“…And then one day you find ten years have got behind you
No one told you when to run, you missed the starting gun
So you run and you run to catch up with the sun but it's sinking
Racing around to come up behind you again…”

Get a piece of paper and a pencil. Really, go ahead and get it, IÂ’ll wait.
ThereÂ’s something profound in the tangible written word. LetÂ’s play a little fill in the blankÂ….

I have been dipping for ______________ years
Post that where you can see it DAILY.

If you join us, youÂ’ll post your quit and how many days youÂ’re quit DAILY.

ThereÂ’s something profound in the tangible written wordÂ….

I hope you find a thousand reasons to quit today!

P.S. Time is not on your side

[Athan]

3/17/18
WeÂ’ve discussed a few times the excuses for not quitting.
Today IÂ’d like us to explore this from the angle of WHY you put one in.
Note that itÂ’s singular, not plural like excuses.
I know, you’re saying, “geez Athan, there’s a million good reasons. Like how the steak is retroactively better if I throw a chew in after it. Or how I am really in the zone putting in that last 100 feet of fence or splitting that last cord of wood, etc. etc.”
I hear you. I was there not long ago.
What you are experiencing is the addict mind and its association with the many facets of your life that nicotine has attached itself to.
The only reason you put one in is because youÂ’re an addict.
IÂ’m here to tell you that it doesnÂ’t have to be that way.
You werenÂ’t born with a chew in; you enjoyed life before it.
You can enjoy life without it again.
All it takes is a decision.

I hope you find a thousand reasons to quit today!

[Athan]

3/16/18
Are you enjoying good health today? Think about that for a second.
In a way, youÂ’re like a fish thatÂ’s not cognizant that itÂ’s wet. ThatÂ’s all itÂ’s ever known.
So it is for us who are born healthy; we tend to take it for granted.
To go on using with full knowledge of the risks involved is to squander the good health youÂ’ve been blessed with.
I tell you the truth, right now this very day, there is someone in your community who would trade places with you in a second simply to have your health.
IÂ’m willing to bet they wouldnÂ’t squander it on tobacco.

I hope you find a thousand reasons to quit today.

[Athan]

3/15/18
Good morning, may you find a thousand reasons to quit today!

Is your lip shredded, does it hurt?
Mine doesnÂ’t
Does it stick out like the big lipped dogs of the Serengeti?
Mine doesnÂ’t
You still chasing the empty promise of the can?
IÂ’m not
You planning when the next fix will be?
IÂ’m not
You want to be free from dependency?
I AM.

[Athan]

3/13/18
Comedian Ron White summed up a lot of us when he quipped, “…I had the right to remain silent, but I didn’t have the ability”
ItÂ’s funny because most if not all of us can relate to that directly or indirectly.
It generally conjures up a scene of someone not satisfied with just one foot in their mouth, theyÂ’re going for both legs up to the knee.
The gist of it though is the inability of someone who, although they recognize they are on a bad course, is either unwilling or unable to change direction. And thatÂ’s not funny. ThereÂ’s nothing funny about nicotine addiction.
IÂ’ve included some links in my signature from a friend on the site for your reading.
Prepare to have your eyes opened.
I hope you have the ability.

[Athan]

Rawls HOF speech. 100 days in 100 words. One of the most powerful things I've ever read:
topic/11489413/1/#new

[Athan]

3/12/18
http://whyquit.com/whyquit/linksaaddiction.html

I think a lot of people fail because they don't understand what, exactly, they are dealing with.
I know I didn't. I hope you take time to read this. It explains just how sinister the addiction is.

[Athan]

3/12/18
The addict mind.
It can and will rationalize ANYTHING.
ANY reason to justify the next fix is valid to the addict mind.
The addict mind runs on auto pilot UNTIL is is refused that fix.

You need to make a decision.
Do you want to quit for a couple of days.....or would you rather nicotine no longer played a role in your life?
Your life.
Your call.

[Athan]

3/11/18
Hello Time Traveler!
How would you like to go back just 5 years from now and start your quit. Imagine that. Looking back 5 years and having the satisfaction of having beaten it, of having successfully putting it down and doing some serious and advantageous changes for your health. Think of all the money you would have saved. WeÂ’ve covered all the stupid things you do in recent posts, well you could look back on the previous 5 years with a solemn pride that you are a free man. WouldnÂ’t that be amazing?! Cause I can do that for you. Really.
Flash forward with me 5 years and look back on yourself today, right now, reading this, and decide to quit.
BOOM.
There ya go. Just gave your future self 5 years of freedom to look back on!
Nice traveling with you, please check the seat back pocket in front of you and watch yer head as you exit.
As always, thanks for travelling with KTC!

[Athan]

3/10/18
Wake up calls.
You ever put one in at a hotel?
Maybe with your spouse or roommate?
Not sure if youÂ’d get up on time for whatever reason and needed the extra kick in the pants to wake up.
Ran across a brother who needs gum grafts.
ThatÂ’s gotta be some kinda wake up call.
For me it was waiting for the results of a biopsy after an endoscopy; that was one intense wake up call.
What about you? Can you wake up on your own?
Or are you waiting for the wake up call?

TIME IS NOT ON YOUR SIDE