Here's where the trouble comes in; my relationship with smoking created problems in my life, my kids didn't like it and I told them 'don't ever smoke, it is terrible and can kill you', and yet there I was making excuses because I smoked. It costs a bloody fortune! The things I could have purchased and the places I could have gone over the years had I not been in that relationship I dare to even consider. When I quit for the last time, (and this is the last time, I have realized that the relationship hurt me more than it helped me) cigarettes were just over $8.00 a pack; which at a pack a day adds up to $2920.00 over the course of a year. Over the course of that relationship that lasted 25 years the grand total comes out to be somewhere in the vicinity of 73,0000 dollars! WOW, that is a lot of money spent on something that could have killed me and I spent most of my time hiding from people because of the embarrassment I felt for making that choice. Please know that if you are a smoker, this is not intended to harass you or make you look bad or feel bad about yourself. I still miss smoking and face the cravings and wish there was a way I could justify it in my own life. For me, I had to stop but that was for me. In no way am I judging, as it used to piss me off when people would judge me.
I learned through many years of therapy that every choice we make in our lives has either a payoff or a consequence. For me, the consequences of smoking far outweighed the benefits which is why I was ready to make the choice to quit.
Ben's memorial garden in full bloom thanks to a lot of TLC from Hillary and Cameron
I learned from this conference and others I have attended recently that although I have been the parent of a daughter for 12 years that has struggled with what began as substance abuse back in middle school I have a lot to learn. I am a researcher and will try anything and everything to try to help those I love. Every time I think I have tried everything, I learn of a new treatment, or a new way to combat the disease, or a new resource that is out there that I wasn't aware of.
Please, I beg of you, even if you think you have tried everything and think you have failed, you haven't actually tried everything because every day there are new ideas and therapies being tried and are succeeding in offering a life that can be free of a relationship that hurts you more than helps. Please reach out and keep looking for the one that will work for you.
I am reminded of a quote I first heard as a child;
If at first, you don't succeed, try and try again!
My heart believes that you are worth a life filled with relationships that build you up and help to strengthen you mind~body~soul
Much love today and always
Peace be with you
Kristyn
Kristyn I want to thank you for opening up the chanel of discussion on addiction my daughter lost her fiance my gradaughters father to addiction an too many friends to even mentioned lost from this disease. I believe education and openers with one another will take the shame away and save lifes. God bless you n yours in this time of loss. God bless you! !! Sonia
ReplyDeleteGod bless you for sharing my family's lost so many friends to addiction too many to mention.Some to the disease one shot to death because of the lifestyle. Openers and communication in the community can take away the shame related to this illness. Sonia
ReplyDeleteKristyn I want to thank you for opening up the chanel of discussion on addiction my daughter lost her fiance my gradaughters father to addiction an too many friends to even mentioned lost from this disease. I believe education and openers with one another will take the shame away and save lifes. God bless you n yours in this time of loss. God bless you! !! Sonia
ReplyDelete