It's not easy working in an atmosphere where you can chew whenever you want. It's the same for me in the Air Force. I dread my next deployment because I know the temptations to chew again will be almost unbearable. I've seen many attempt and fail to quit nicotine. In fact, no one seems to quit in the military. I would imagine it's similar with fire fighting since there is probably a lot of down time where the guys use tobacco together. This challenging atmosphere will make it that much more sweet when we finally quit. Let's be the exception and refuse to be slaves to this drug.
Stepp and Lt. Take this thing ODAAT. Also, you ARE quit. It's not some arbitrary point down the road. You ARE quit, today and only today. Just like me on day 33, or a guy on day 3,333. There is no endpoint. There is just today, and you both ARE quit today.
Try not to worry about how "awful" being quit will be 50 days or 50 years from now. Just chalk up your victories for today. Also, just so we're clear, every single day you do not use nicotine is a HUGE victory. It is not to be trifled with. Your jobs do not benefit from your use of nicotine. Stepp you don't fly planes any more deftly, or shoot any straighter with nicotine in your system. Lt, you don't fight a fire any better or rescue somebody any faster with nicotine in your system.
You guys HAVE to get your head around this concept: Nicotine is bad and it will kill you. It never did anything for you except relieve withdrawal symptoms which increased with your use over the years. If you can grasp that and begin to foster a hatred for this stuff, you have a very good chance at being successful here. If not, you risk being drawn back into the slavery you've worked hard to escape.
Post roll. Quit today. Quit hard today. Quit all damn day. Wake up tomorrow and repeat. Let the rest of the stuff sort itself out.
King
