Today, I stand before you proud and grateful to mark a major milestone in my journey to a healthier, tobacco-free life – 1228 days and counting. I'm not just counting days, I'm counting the freedom, the energy, and a new lease on life. I am a proud member of the comma society.
I want to be honest with you, this journey hasn't been easy, and it's certainly not my first rodeo. In 2012, I was a member of the Rocktober Madmen of Quit. For 140 days I stayed clean all the while talking a lot of shit. I got too cocky, that it got the best of me and I caved. I thought I was invincible but clearly, I wasn’t. It could have all been prevented, if I would have just picked up the phone and talked to one of the countless brothers I had in the trenches with me.
Needless to say, I got my ass handed to me by all the guys in my quit group, those who looked up to me, and of course from my mentors as well. I had to answer the dreaded three questions and start all over on Day 1. I was left licking my wounds, but I had to get back on the saddle again if I wanted to make this right.
This time around I was put into the March 2013 Madmen of Quit group where I hung it out for 196 days and then just up and left. No warnings, no goodbyes, no nothing. I just lost the fire I had before and just decided to go to war with tobacco on my own. I didn’t need this group. What a stupid fucking decision on my part. I did make it a total of 400 days surprisingly, but yeah, everything went to shit after that. Man, what a stupid cunt I was….
Fast forward to March 2022, I dragged my sorry ass back to KTC yet again and begged for y’all’s forgiveness. Really Kevin, you could have been 14 years quit already if you wouldn’t have been such a dumbass. I really had to swallow my pride. Nothing like coming back with your tail between your legs and having an old timer from your old quit group skull drag you with their words. I really needed it this time. I was making myself sick from all the tobacco use, my anxiety was through the roof, I was a fucking mess.
Since that day, Kill the Can has been my rock, my support system, and my accountability partner each and every day. The tough love and unwavering support have helped me push through the darkest moments and celebrate the triumphs. I'm forever grateful for this community for giving me another chance even through all of my fuckups.
I certainly wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for the June 2022 No Lip Turd Hurd group. You sorry sacks of shit have really kept me going through all of this. Your camaraderie and support during those early days of quitting were instrumental in helping me lay the foundation for my journey. Your encouragement and shared experiences helped me believe in myself and my ability to overcome this addiction. There are only a handful of us left in the group, but for those that are still here, keep fucking going, because I need you and you need me. We are in this for the long haul, until the wheels fall off.
Quitting isn’t easy, but it will always be worth it. Every day without tobacco is a victory, and I'm living proof that it's possible to overcome a dependence on nicotine. You just need to get your ass kicked a few times. I'm proud of myself for persevering, and I'm proud of each and every one of you pricks for showing the NIC Bitch who’s the boss. My quit erection is harder than ever these days and I am never going down that reckless path of using dip ever again.
To anyone still struggling to quit, I want to say this: it's worth it. Every day without tobacco is a gift, and every step forward is a victory. Don't give up, even when it gets tough. Wake up, shit, and post roll is what we used to say. And don’t miss a motherfucking day, no matter what. You've got this, and you've got us here at KTC to support you every step of the way.
Here's to many more days, months, and years of living tobacco-free! Let's keep pushing forward, together.
ODAAT, NAFAR
https://www.killthecan.org/from-struggle-to-strength-my-comma-speech/ 
