CATCHING OUR BREATH:
A Journal About Change for Women Who Smoke
Chapter Thirteen —
STAYING ON OUR PATH
Addictions keep us in a constant state of inner conflict. Most of us who are addicted to cigarettes want to experience a high level of health and well-being. Instead, we end up compromising much of what we believe is important - our health, our families' health and our environment. Our addictions limit our ability to live in accordance with our values. They exact a price.
It takes a lot of determination and honesty to come to terms with the price we pay for smoking and then quit. When we do quit we reclaim and reconnect with a source of inner strength that was always inside of us. This is no small discovery. Learning to listen to ourselves and believe in our own wisdom takes practice and hard work. It is the key to living a self-directed life.
The shift from smoker to non-smoker is meaningful in many different ways. It might be the first time we take control over our lives. It might be the first action in clearing our lives of other unhealthy behaviours. It may be a touchstone of strength — the one thing we can point to in times of chaos and self-doubt and say, "I never thought I could quit smoking, but I did. I can make other changes too!"
The path to quitting is really the path home to our true selves. It's a journey that will serve us well in life, long after we have forgotten about our cigarettes. As with many journeys, we might stop and start a few times, lose sight of our destination and doubt our strength to go the distance. But if we take one step at a time we will get there. May you trust in your ability to make the trip and may you dance at least part of the way!
