We are having a free event in our newly created Breathing Room: A space dedicated to taking a time out from busi-ness. Our first Free Community Event extends the 36th Great American Smokeout (November 17) from 24 hours to 5 days (November 14-18). Why? 5 days can support someone through the first phase of the physical/mental/ emotional part of stopping.
Take a time-out, drop in between 11:30 – 1:30. Barbara Biro, L.Ac will be doing a detox/de-stress ear acupuncture that will and Jo Todd, PhD will lead guided meditations. Helps ease the nicotine detox, reduce stress, support your choice to quit, relax, and sleep better! You will be encouraged to make a plan, connect to a higher power, reflect on your triggers, and relax into the possibility of remarkable transitions.
I have been doing lots of research to get ready. Looking at resources, information and research. Did you know there are nicotine anonymous meetings in Texas? American Lung Association has an online program to support ongoing recovery from nicotine addiction. Who knew? And there are lots of other support places.
Just a personal side note.
I had an addiction to nicotine, it took me quitting a jillion times, over 5 years, before it held. It is still sometimes a one-day-at-a-time thing for me.I sort of knew it is not a moral issue. It was not a bad habit it was more than that. Still, I often felt like a bad, weak, inferior, human being. I wasn’t. I was physically addicted. And in addition smoking was covering up what I was not ready to see, feel or know. It was a smoke screen between me and the rest of the world. And, it worked–until it didn’t.
Nicotine is a powerful drug and there are lots of reasons we start and continue using it. It is also dangerous to our health and the health of those around us. And there can be recovery.So, there is hope. Others have stopped. There are lots of different ways to stop.
Not only did I have a problem with smoking. My mother did too, although she didn’t think so until near the end of her life. She died of secondary symptoms of drinking and smoking.
As I researched today I found the statistic that people who quit smoking or do not smoke can live 13 to 14 years longer. I sat here for a long time wondering, what would it have been like if my mother lived to 86 instead of 73. And what about my friend Butch, if he had stopped would he still be with us now?
It all got very personal, and I will be grateful if just one person takes one step closer to staying around longer. I am tired of loosing family and friends to this number one preventable cause of death in our country. Call my selfish I guess.
Join us, pass it on to anyone else who might be interested, could you?
