180 degrees
My addiction was taking me in a direction I didn't want to go. I knew I needed to quit, but I couldn't. I had 5.3 billion reasons to keep going. My health was good. I can afford $120-150 a month on the shit. The list goes on. However, dipping was starting to get on my nerves. Damn, I need to spit somewhere. If I swallow, I'm gonna heartburn like a mofo......Got additional life insurance. Mrs tarp non-nic user, 20$ a month or so. Me, $200 a month! WTF. This shit is dragging me down.
I just reached 180 days of nicotene free living. Man, thats the best 180 days I can remember. I was contemplating what this really meant in the big scheme of things and how things have changed since I quit. I thought reaching the HOF was a big milestone. It is, but its not the end. Your/My addiction does not just throw in towel and walk away. But it starts getting much easier to control and deal with.
I was out kayaking and had my compass out to figure out the wind direction. I was paddling about northeast, 45 degrees on the compass. Hmmm, my quit reminds me of half of this compass. At 0 I was killing myself. Day 1, I'm quit and I'm not heading in the direction of 0 anymore. I can feel 0 pulling me that direction, but with support (KTC Mrs Tarp) I will not go that way. Day 2, same thing, but I feel good without Nic. Days 3-7 hard to remember, the fog was thick but I kept going. My support system was pulling me away from 0. Eventually I made it to the right angle of 0. 45 degrees. I guess I could head back to 0, hell I just proved I can stop dipping whenever I want, whispers the addiction. The days continue to go by, more good days than bad.
90 degrees. Whats so good about that? The sun comes up in the east. New day. New Quit. I'm in control of my life today. Let's keep moving. 100 days. Hall of Fame. This is the second step in the making of a bad ass quitter. The first being the day you made the decision to put the compass in your hand.
Now that I'm past 90 degrees, the pull from 0 is less. Not gone, but weaker. Some days I don't feel it all. Some days, it tugs at my sack with a vengance, but I roll on.
I just hit day 180. I'm exactly opposite day 0. I like the sound of that. I'm gonna post day 180+1 from now on. I want to head the exact opposite direction of myself at 0 degrees. I will keep my compass in my hand, always cautious that the needle doesn't stray past the 180 mark.
Feel like you are losing your way or going in the wrong direction? Here, take my compass. It will lead you the way.