The Nicotine Companion
A long-smoking friend of mine told me, as I began courting cigarettes after my divorce, "Dude, don't take the Nicotine Trip. Trust me -- it's hell." Of course, I ignored him and even avoided him for some time, presumming that he would bother me more about 'The Nicotine Trip'.
Curiously, when I saw him again, he only said, "Still smoking? Well, bro, you don't have to worry about me giving you shit, you're on this roller coaster ride now." I think there was a BWAH-HA-HA! after that.
Recently, an older smoker -- like early 50s, been smoking for at least a decade or more -- tells me, "God, I need to quit. I'm still young enough to be healthy. Instead I'm achey all the time, low energy." etc, etc.
I say, "Well, my own mother who's totally against smoking, told me, her own son, that she thinks 1-3 cigarettes a day can actually be good for you. Helps with digestion," she said.
To that comment, my surly friend exclaimed, "YAH RIGHT! That is harder to manage than quiting. I'd rather just use the patch!" Which he doesn't, and is still chain-smoking.
Nicotine is a personality. It is a relationship. Sure, it's an addiction, but that's what makes an addiction an addiction -- it becomes a sort of love affair outside of which you cannot see clearly.
For me, I tend to get lost in my mental landscape. When presented with something I absolutely MUST do, I get foul-tempered because I feel my independence is compromised. When presented with things I could do, I ponder the choice until the time is long past and I have missed the opportunity.
For me then, the Nicotine Companion becomes a sort of motivator. I too feel the effects and despair my diminished health, but curiously now, when faced with something I MUST do, Mr. Nicotine says, "Aw hell, just go do it, and then smoke a cigarette, yes?" Pues, so I do it and I get a lot more things done that should be done.
Of course, and when presented with things I could do, the battle rages: I could smoke another cigarette, right? Yes...but I know the effects kick my ass, so what happens is I am frickin' forced to set aside my mental masturbation and do *something else*. This part is painful for me, because I would love to just hang-out all day and think about doing things, but unfortunately, this results in 10+ cigarettes smoked in a day. And soon, walking becomes annoying to consider doing.
How curious, this addiction that is proven to be bad for people, actually serves me. Hola, mi nico! Quien crea tu fuchila? Mi amigo te tengo.
Curiously, when I saw him again, he only said, "Still smoking? Well, bro, you don't have to worry about me giving you shit, you're on this roller coaster ride now." I think there was a BWAH-HA-HA! after that.
Recently, an older smoker -- like early 50s, been smoking for at least a decade or more -- tells me, "God, I need to quit. I'm still young enough to be healthy. Instead I'm achey all the time, low energy." etc, etc.
I say, "Well, my own mother who's totally against smoking, told me, her own son, that she thinks 1-3 cigarettes a day can actually be good for you. Helps with digestion," she said.
To that comment, my surly friend exclaimed, "YAH RIGHT! That is harder to manage than quiting. I'd rather just use the patch!" Which he doesn't, and is still chain-smoking.
Nicotine is a personality. It is a relationship. Sure, it's an addiction, but that's what makes an addiction an addiction -- it becomes a sort of love affair outside of which you cannot see clearly.
For me, I tend to get lost in my mental landscape. When presented with something I absolutely MUST do, I get foul-tempered because I feel my independence is compromised. When presented with things I could do, I ponder the choice until the time is long past and I have missed the opportunity.
For me then, the Nicotine Companion becomes a sort of motivator. I too feel the effects and despair my diminished health, but curiously now, when faced with something I MUST do, Mr. Nicotine says, "Aw hell, just go do it, and then smoke a cigarette, yes?" Pues, so I do it and I get a lot more things done that should be done.
Of course, and when presented with things I could do, the battle rages: I could smoke another cigarette, right? Yes...but I know the effects kick my ass, so what happens is I am frickin' forced to set aside my mental masturbation and do *something else*. This part is painful for me, because I would love to just hang-out all day and think about doing things, but unfortunately, this results in 10+ cigarettes smoked in a day. And soon, walking becomes annoying to consider doing.
How curious, this addiction that is proven to be bad for people, actually serves me. Hola, mi nico! Quien crea tu fuchila? Mi amigo te tengo.
posted by Just Greg at Sunday, July 15, 2007
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