TO NEW or "Thinking about quitting" Quitters:
I know quitting is scary. First and foremost you are scared of failure but it is not the greatest fear. Fear of the Unknown is the greatest fear you will ever have. It is what makes change so difficult for us two legged animals. I want you to think about this for a second and try to put yourself in this situation. It can be applied to many scenarios such as divorce, cancer, losing a job, etc. But here let's make it about quitting nicotine. OK, so IMAGINE...........................................
YOU ARE WALKING THROUGH YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD OR ACROSS YOUR LAND (for you country folk). IT IS BLACK, DARK AND WARM. YOU CAN'T SEE MUCH AT ALL. YOU ARE THINKING ABOUT SOME MISTAKES YOU HAVE MADE BUT LIFE OVERALL IS PRETTY DAMN GOOD. KIDS ARE HEALTHY, WIFE STILL LIKES YOU NAKED, YOU HAVE PUT ON A FEW POUNDS BUT, HEY, SHIT HAPPENS. THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN YOU TRIP AND FALL. YOU ARE FALLING.........FREE FALLING........INTO A BLACK HOLE AND YOU CANT SEE SHIT, TOTAL DARKNESS AND YOU ARE NOT HITTING BOTTOM.
(What the hell just happened, I was doing just fine walking along thinking that everything in my life was pretty good, now I can't see shit it is so dark and I'm falling, oh God, I'm about to die, what am I going to hit????)
Imagine your panic. Arms flying, legs trying to get underneath you. Think about it a second. Your world just changed and you can't control it. OH FUCK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! FEAR OF THE UNKNOWN. What is happening??
10 minutes later nothing has changed except now you are thinking about how fast you are falling. You are also starting to wonder what the hell you are going to hit. (Water, rock, concrete, hell, a bunch of spears sticking up out of the bottom?) Now you are wondering about how bad your body is going to break when you do hit. What its going to look like, is it going to hurt, for how long? you know you are not going to live.
Imagine your feelings, you probably start praying, crying, wishing you would have done things differently. You know this is the end, you cannot possibly survive. How deep is this black hole, damn????
An hour later, you say "fuck it", bring it on. But in the back of your mind you're still scared shitless but a little more relaxed because you have dealt with the reality that there is no way out of this. The "Unknown" is becoming the "Known".
Two days later, your still falling and it is still pitch black dark. You have pissed a few times, taken a dump, played with yourself.......etc. You still don't know what's happening but for the most part, you're OK. Hungry and Thirsty? Yeah, but that's a hell of a lot better than scared shitless. Now you start thinking that this is your new REALITY. Falling, it aint so bad.... I can handle this..... wish there was some light. Maybe some enchiladas and margaritas. but crap, I can do flips, backwards, frontwards, sideways. Hell, I can fall naked, I think I will take off my clothes... Hey I look good in the dark. My boss hasn't called and chewed my ass in two days. This is awesome. THE FEAR OF THE UNKNOWN IS NOW GONE. Your new reality has set in.
this is the way it is with anything we try new or change in our lives. Nicotine is just another one of those things. I went through this after my divorce in 08. It was hard, but my new reality is better than the one I gave up. the first few months, I did not think that was possible. Now, I can't imagine not going through what I did because life is so much better. Dipping is another.... How was I going to make it??? One day at a time, yeah, but this still sucks.. At first you are thinking every second, arms flying, legs twitching, nervous as all get out. but then the new reality sets in. OH, you're still an addict and you will never forget your life before you quit. But, the fear of change has left you and it is so much easier to win over the nicotine bitch. Basically, after a few months it becomes a very basic decision such as whether or not to wipe your ass after you crap. Just make the right decision, stinky butt.
I think you will find that the fear of the unknown or change can really be exciting, challenging, and life altering. Spinning around this sun 1 revolution every 365 days doing the same ole thing can get rather boring. So, lets change our world.....Let's get our quit on. There are thousands who have, and thousands more who will. You will be supported and your circumstances are understood. My best of wishes to all of the people who have conquered the fear of change. YOU ARE A WINNER...
Mogul
