If I can you can

If I can, You can.

I have become a online stop smoking forum junkie.  Sometimes I feel that I might be overwhelming the others but I reckon they know that the rants are helping me to keep from lighting up.

So many posts end with the statement If I can, You can.  If you just read the words it sounds like "How you doing?", "Take care.",  "Have a nice day."  But hell no!  Those 5 words mean something by each and every person who writes them.

These people have accomplished something that they themselves did not think was possible.  Nobody stays quit the first time.  I once heard a famous musician say "You blow the first million."  The first time you quit it is like; Damn, that wasn't sooo bad.  I can do that again (all together now) any time I want.

I do not want to repeat myself.  But, this addiction thing is beyond description.  It is not a sane act to put on a pullover, a sweater, and a coat to step out into a snow storm so you can have a smoke.  Why did we do that?  Are we going to do that again?

The people that use those five words have come from there.  They woke up and lit up as soon as possible.  After meals we took off to the smoking area.  Do I need a raincoat?  It goes on and on. 

In my own personal case the insanity baffles even me.  I had a heart attack at 35.  Did that stop me?  My wife actually threw up when I lit up when she was pregant.  Did that stop me?  My son has a form of asthma.  Did that stop me?  It goes on.
I finally saw the light.  I finally had the resolve.  I finally quit.   And damn it, it was hard.  I do not intend to go through this again. 

IF I CAN, YOU CAN.

The next time you see these 5 little words remember there is a story behind them.