16 Feb My Life Now, Without Smoking
Written by: Lifebook Member Larry Hebenstreit
I’ve been trying to quit smoking for years. Tried it all. Pills, facial injections, hypnosis… if it’s out there, I’ve tried it. I succeeded in quitting a few times and for variable lengths of time but they (buy marlboro cigarettes) kept creeping back in my life.
The truth is, I didn’t stay quit because I didn’t care enough to stay quit. I didn’t care about my health. I didn’t care about others around me. I didn’t care about what my families future would look like without me in it.
But wait a minute. That’s not completely true. Of course I care about my health. I brush my teeth and I don’t eat fast food. Of course I care about others around me. I hold doors open for them and I cover my mouth when I sneeze or cough. And my family is very important to me as is their future and of course I want to be a part of it for as long as possible.
It wasn’t until I started creating my life book and examining my current status in the twelve categories of my life and realizing how they are all connected… and if I was to loose this one bad habit, it would have a profound effect on all twelve categories. From my health and fitness (the ability to exercise) to my character (being a person with self control). From my love relationship (not coming to bed smelling like an ashtray) to my social life (not being the only one stepping out for a smoke). And @ 13.50 a pack (Chicago), my financial life.
My life now with-out smoking! I have hired a trainer and I workout for an hour three times a week in the mornings. Ive learned to look at the bigger picture and not succumb to the immediate gratification. My heightened awareness of the importance of family has created a weekly date night with my seven year old granddaughter. I don’t smell like an ashtray to my wife, family, friends, clients, employees, trainer, or my doctor. @ $13.50 a pack that’s about $7,280 a year and @ 5% that’s about $96,000 in the next ten years. Puts a nice dent in my granddaughters college education. And my chances of seeing her graduate are a lot better.
After all the years of trying to quit and trying all the over the counter pills, elixirs and remedies, it comes down to just one thing. Me! And come to find out… Me works great!