Success is the sum of small efforts repeated day in and day out. –Robert T. Collier
About 2.8 lifetimes ago, or when I was 17, me and a friend were bored. We didn’t drink and we didn’t party like our other friends, but we were extremely rebellious so we were looking for something stupid to do. We decided to buy a pack of cigarettes. We didn’t want anyone to see us smoking, so we just drove around and puffed away in secret. My friend didn’t tell me she wasn’t actually inhaling, but unfortunately I was. Thus began a very bad habit for me that would take almost 30 years to kick.
After many failed attempts at trying to quit through the years, I finally was able to say goodbye to cigarettes for good in 2012. At one point, I had a small setback for about a month, but I think that’s when it really hit home that I no longer wanted to be a smoker. It was one of the hardest things I’ve done, quitting smoking, but as with most challenges in life, it was 90% mental. Once I overcame the mental struggle, it was all downhill from there, and for me, that mental struggle lasted nearly 30 years. If you’ve chosen 2016 to be the year to kick an unhealthy habit, I wish you nothing but success. If, however, it doesn’t stick this year… try, try again. Because one day you will succeed.
In other news, it was a typical snowy/rainy day here in the Pacific Northwest. And the Monday after a holiday weekend. Need I say more?
Happy 15th Birthday, Nero!
The smaller the box, the better…
Actually there’s some really good karma flowing through our home at the moment, and my car passed emissions today, on the first try! After me driving around for a couple of months with the “check engine” light on, that right there is a reason to celebrate! (It ended up being just a loose gas cap that I could never tighten, so not a costly fix… total score!)
“I like big butts and I cannot lie…”
As well, the streaking continues. Day 4 done and another 2 miles under the belt. Inside. On the treadmill. Happy-happy-joy-joy.
Hope you have succeeded in getting back to normal routine after the holiday season. I know I had my challenges getting back to it, but the first day is always the hardest, isn’t it!
I leave you with one last thought to ponder:
Happy running!
(Written in response to The Daily Post’s writing prompt, Happy Endings.)
Never A Dull Bling 
lmao! I love that last thought…I’ve often wondered that too! Yesterday was a bit of a struggle but I made it through without any issues. Good for you quitting smoking – I kicked the habit back in 1991 after 30 years now I can’t even imagine how I used to smoke!
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I know! Even after only 4 years, it’s hard to imagine!! Good for you making it thru that dreaded Monday! Probably the most hated Monday of the year, haha!! And about that meme… I tend to wonder about that with a LOT of things, lol.
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hmm… I really like that last meme 😉 ❤ so glad you gave up smoking!!! You are a champion.
and an inspiration. thank you for sharing. everything.
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Why thank you! I actually stole it from a dear friend! 😀
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Congrats on quitting smoking… I know it’s been a few years now, but still… That’s a hard thing to do. And, while it isn’t miserably cold today, it was raining (and I’m still a little sick) so I went to the gym to run on the treadmill – can’t help but think I should get one for home. So much time would be saved. Happy running!
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Thank you Christina! I’m impressed you went while you are still sick. I do hope you feel better soon! You know… there are positives and negatives of having a home treadmill… but right now the only negative I can think of for the home one is that gym treadmills are of such high quality and can withstand a beating. Other than that, it’s alllll good being at home, lol! Yes, get one if you can! 😀
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Isn’t it amazing what a person can accomplish when the finally get control of their mind? Here’s to another great year of successes! Thanks for your positive attitude and motivation.
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It really and truly is!! Thank you Wendy! Yes, here’s to another great year for us both! And to you making me smile and laugh! 😀
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My husband often wonders who was the first to look at a lobster & think that was edible!
Happy Birthday, Nero! I’ve had a few prayers at inspection time over the yrs (my car is almost 16 yrs old, after all!).
Life is actually getting back to our new normal . . . before I wasn’t cooking much, I wasn’t cleaning much, I wasn’t decluttering much . . . .there was just never any time or energy. With more sleep, the energy is slowly coming back.
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I’m so happy to hear that life is returning to normal for you. I know it’s been a hard few months. I hope you’ll soon be able to take a deep breath soon and smile again.
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Ok, the cat with the big butt was hilarious!! hehehe…I started smoking as a teen as well and finally quit in 2005..haven’t looked back since. It’s a unpleasant habit to have, always smelling like smoke, eww!! The crazy thing about cigarette addiction is that you can be clean for years and out of no where feel that “urge”. It’s easy [now] not to give in to that fleeting urge but boy was it hard in the beginning. Good for you for kicking the smoking habit!
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Thank you Tasha! And good for you too!! Oh, but she was a bitch to stop, wasn’t she, lol! (Meep looks like he has a tiny little pinhead, haha)
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You better believe it! 😀
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Awesome job on the quitting smoking! I’ll bet your former smoker self could never imagine your current runner self! I’ll bet she would have laughed at the thought!
I had a check engine light on too….also ignored it in hopes that it was the gas cap thing. Nope–new engine. (That was last year). Doh!
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That’s why having the light on was so scary! 🙂 And thank you!! You’re right! My former self would not have believed this for anything!! 😀
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wow what a success story! Good advice to keep trying! 🙂
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Thank you Lynn! I think that advice works for EVERYthing!!! 😀
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I agree really!
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I’m so impressed you quit smoking! I was a teenager when my parents quit and I remember how hard and what a nightmare it was for them. Also, your cats are adorable. 🙂
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Thank you Allyson! For both!! 😀
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