Change - Week 28

 "In the waves of change we find our true direction" 

Week twenty-eight: (January 1 - 7) 

Fourteen years ago on January 7, 2003, I quit smoking, it was my first attempt and I never went back. A collection of small things helped me actualize this goal when difficulties arose. My brother Joe died 9 months after I had quit and another rumble of grief was pulling me under. I knew in order to thrive, I must discover new ways to cope with anguish since heartache is inevitable.

The allure to smoking is difficult to explain to those who never have, yet preparation to create or disolve any goal can strengthen your ability to achieve it. Each day I searched for information to persevere, discovering sites online which highlighted health benefits and calculated the money savings, something I checked frequently to inspire optimism. 

The desire to quit initiated for my well-being, a constant reminder that coughing and shortness of breath diminished, combined with the idea of not letting down my brother who was inspired by my ambition, and knowing how smoking shortened my both father's and grandfather's lives, and countless other reasons twisting through my thoughts each day.  

In truth, assuming all smokers toiled with dates, I had been considered retiring the habit for some time. At one point choosing February 7th, the day my father died, as my quit day, then abruptly changing to an earlier date, with no desire to postpone it any longer. Enlightened by all the information at hand, I was ready to begin.

As difficult as breaking the habit was the benefits of quitting appeared at once, from the aroma and taste of foods, the money savings, and the ability to run, all which created inspiration that never could have occurred. Now a witness to the scene of those outdoors to smoke, I am thankful to have come this far. 

My father, an extremely intelligent man who flourished in countless areas of life, was never able to free himself from the evils of smoking. His endless attempts to quit quietly ended as he returned again to the consuming habit, leaving me to wonder how different his life could have been had he tried once more.

Sometimes a goal is not about today, but more about the future and the difference it can make if we just give it time. Seeking a long term objective to maintain progress with each passing day provides a vision towards the future where hope bravely waits.

Today I am grateful for my younger self, the one who knew I needed this transformation. Grateful for the belief I held onto since doubt lingered with most I knew. Grateful for taking the leap which created a positive shift in my life that lead to all the new adventures, including running which has changed my life. 

Grateful for a New Year that offers the possibility of change and the hope of transformation if we are just willing to leap.

What happens when you quit timeline 

Stop smoking benefits

Track how much you saved

Week 28: Your past

How fitting the list is about the past, the past that allows you to look back and see how far you've come, the transformations that you have made, the heartache you have endured and the forgiveness you were able to embrace, oh how the past is such an amazing teacher of grace.

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