Someone recently asked me to answer some interview questions for a HOF group. I got so VERY long-winded, that I think that's it's probably too long for them to use. Then I realized I never did an intro for some reason, so thought I'd post it here:
I dipped Copenhagen and/or smoked for 30+ years, I started when I was 12, I used to sneak a dip of Skoal after track practice. I quit when I was 47. IÂ’ve been free for just over 5 years.
I actually hated dipping for the last few decades, I used to dream about quitting, but I just couldnÂ’t do it, in spite of all my shame, self-loathing. IÂ’d try to get motivated by something, some milestone, but I would cave within 3 days of achieving it: like joining the Navy, going to my ship, getting out of the Navy, going to college, finishing my first year of college, graduating college, getting married, first son, second son, third son, etc. etc.Â….you get the idea. I couldnÂ’t even guess how many times I tried to quit and failed. It seems like it was once or twice a month for twenty years, so maybe 200-400 times or so? Very demoralizing. I used to only buy one can at a time, because I always hoped it would be my last.
I actually quit on my own at first, I went to a smoking cessation site called Why Quit, which has a lot of great articles. They really provided some great initial motivation and I was able to muster up the courage to make a serious quit attempt. Then I found KTC after about two weeks, I said, “these are my people, the dippers”, and I never looked back. If I had stayed solo, and not found KTC, I am quite sure I would have caved a long time ago.
I love my freedom, I love not being a slave to the can. I am proud of myself, proud of my fellow quitters. We are beating the statistics, we are the winners. Smokers and dippers all over the world are wishing they can be free right now, but they canÂ’t do it. They are literally dying, and wishing they have what we have. We should be proud of every single day, every day matters, and is worthy of celebration.
I used to hide the fact that I dipped, it was my darkest secret, but now I tell everybody whenever I can, hoping to possibly inspire someone else. I talk very openly with my sons about tobacco. I tell them when you still can easily quit, you won’t want to – when you decide you want to, you are already a slave. Better to never touch the stuff, and take a chance.
I am proud of myself as a man, husband, and father, I am finally able to live up to my own beliefs and ideals.
I post daily, and I also post support in about 26 groups, 18 of them daily. I didnÂ’t realize so many, until I just counted them up. That seems like a lot, I certainly donÂ’t think everyone must or should do that.
I plan to always post in my own group, at a minimum, though. I have earned my freedom, and I will do anything in my power to keep it. This seems to be working, why change anything?
I donÂ’t think I have another quit in me. Shit, it took me 30 years to get here the first time. The way I see it, posting daily roll is a very small price to pay, to help build a fence of friendship and accountability around my freedom. How much time did I spend buying a can, worrying about when IÂ’d run out, sneaking away from my family to use the bathroom or get some more firewood or some other bullshit excuse to cover the fact that I wanted to stick that stuff in my lip? From that perspective, posting daily roll is easy.
Stick around the winners and the KTC fanatics and koolaid drinkers, make some friends at KTC, help the new quitter, don’t forget where you came from and where you can be with just one dip or smoke. Always be proud and grateful for what you have – it’s a big deal, don’t let the nic demon try to tell you different.
