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I wish to remember my colleagues Mr. Venkatchari, Amlarason, Subramanium and Balu here. They always encouraged me to quit smoking without making it look derogatory. Their timely follow-ups too proved very helpful.
Zee TV would often broadcast this documentary called “cigarette in my hand” which threw light on the disadvantages of smoking. The influence this documentary had on me was such that I feared watching the entire program and would often switch the channel. This helped to strengthen the thought that smoking was no good a habit.
It would be wrong not to mention my wife. It was she who encouraged me the most. She must have been the worst sufferer but without looking at it derogatorily, she always encouraged me to smoke as less as possible. It is only her far sight which helped me reach where I am today.
There may be many other reasons which I now forget that helped me become a non-smoker. It is not necessary that these reasons apply to all. Some might. Some similar causes can be seen from your eyes. A desire to achieve something exists on every mind. What is required is a chance. Many reasons lead to many solutions.
Once you decide to quit smoking, a list of probable hurdles must be chalked out which makes work easier. I too decided on my goals and programs which helped me immensely. First and foremost, I decided to quit my everlasting supporters “paan masala”, “tobacco” and others. Because by not doing so, the danger of housing another addiction in place of the previous one is always present.
Doctors often say that there is considerable weight gain once you quit smoking. To combat this, I decided on walking for an hour everyday and even followed it. To beat the perceived weight gain on the not-so-perfect figure I had, this proved a worth while solution.
As I said before, cigarettes go along well with alcohol and beer which is why, I decided on further remittance of beer. To add to this, I immediately enrolled for a “no beverage” plan in U.A.E and followed it for the complete year.
An idle mind is a devil’s workshop is the saying. To keep the cigarette at bay, I decided on taking active interest in sports which would keep me occupied and also serve as ideal exercise.
I wish to thank Zee TV on for changing my mindset completely by screening that documentary. Although I could not thank them then, I hope its mention here will make up for the loss.
My medical report when I joined the job at Gulf was naturally labeled ‘smoking’. After a few days of quitting smoking, I decided on informing the personnel and medical departments of my changed ‘non-smoker’ status. And I did so. This helped me to
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strengthen myself to maintain the newfound status. I awarded myself the non-smoker status now.
I kept updating my friends on my progress report. This reminds you to think twice if tempted to smoke again. No one wishes to be embarrassed in public.
I realized for the first time that it helps to note down your thoughts on anti-smoking every time you are tempted to smoke again. Desires are straightaway related to the mind. If the mind resists or refutes, naturally the temptation, at least for that moment, subsides. It is on those delicate moments when it is important to control oneself.
To facilitate mood changes, it helps to develop new routines in the early days of quitting. A friend had often invited me to his room. But time restrictions prevented me from visiting him. After I quit smoking, I began to visit him almost everyday. This change thus accompanied appropriation of time.
A group of members on a yahoo club [NONSS] often discuss the merits of quitting smoking. When I decided to quit smoking, I had no knowledge of such useful programs. Here I make mention of these websites for the benefit of aspiring non-smokers. There may be many such sites which could provide help. In this way, each of you could draw your own program sheets and pay the final tribute to smoking. Yes, I am now going to tell you how I celebrated my ‘independence day’…….
11 March 1997- this was the day I stepped at Abu Dhabi airport. For the first time, I bought not the usual but another brand of cigarettes not to promote its sales figures but perhaps to break away from this habit.
As I experimented with the new brand, I suffered from cough and throat pain. The climate in those days brought along cold. The throat pain forced me to visit the doctor on 24th. Da Ali said, “If you continue to smoke, the medicines will never be effective.” This forced me to think. I then decided that every time I wish to smoke, I would remove one cigarette, burn it and after just one ----, would throw it away.
This experiment succeeded and the medicines proved to be helpful. I now felt much better. This experience was most effective on my mind which then realized that if I could survive without the intake of nicotine, then why not get rid of this habit forever.
On the 26th March, after the night shift I told my room partner Mr. Sagar, “I am quitting smoking. I would now smoke only one cigarette everyday in the bathroom. Please don’t tell anyone.” I then dozed off to sleep. On getting up in the evening, I was filled with guilt for having lied to my friend. As a result, the cigarette which I smoked that morning turned out to be the last cigarette of my life. Thus 27 March 1997 became my independence day.
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Unexpected happiness always gives us more pleasure and this was something I experienced when I realized that my life had become smoke-free now. I have listed down the advantages I enjoyed after I quit smoking.
• A new freshness all day.
• Economic gain because of less expenditure.
• The fear of causing fire by leaving behind a burning cigarette vanished.
• My family’s joy knew no bounds and that made me feel satisfied at heart.
• My stamina increased.
• Knowledge spread through internet was a new experience.
• A sense of fulfillment from writing articles on anti-smoking.
• The fear of my child too adopting this habit evaporated.
• The atmosphere at home was smoke-free, clean and healthy.
• My will power got a boost for having accomplished what I thought was a difficult task.
• A new feel of being addiction-free after further reducing alcohol and beer.
• A newer encouragement for not falling prey to any other habit.
• And many other noticed and unnoticed pleasures which I now fail to recollect.
It is now difficult to describe how my life has turned a new leaf after 27 March 1997. I wish to say that the momentary pleasure from smoking stands nowhere before the deep-felt satisfaction from being addiction-free. But this can be experienced only on quitting smoking completely.
The last 4 ½ years of my smoke-free life have indeed given me immense pleasure. My approach towards life itself has changed. My diminished anger was indicative of this very change.
• My first advice is never rush into anything.
• Always rely on your will power.
• Hunt for inspirations around you.
• Decide on your goal.
• Proceed according to your program.
• Always discuss your plans with friends.
• Your plans should be result-oriented and not time-resulted.
• Don’t hate your smoker friends but resist them.
• Be firm and stick on to your plans.
• Never get distracted by outside influences.
• It’s not as easy a task as eating sweets, take it or leave it.
• Alcohol must be resisted as far as possible.
• After having quit smoking or while you are attempting to do so, never take on some other habit.
• Remember always, “Smoking never eases tension but always promotes it.”
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As I move towards the end of my article, I feel a complete ness within myself but at the same time I wonder if my readers approve of my thoughts. After all, each one of us thinks differently.
I must say that I did not write this article under anyone’s pressure nor did I do so to vent my frustration. I only wished to share my experience of a smoke-free life with others.
How seriously is this article taken depends on readers In today’s world of telecommunication, no one can impose one view on others.
I end this article with a small story…
One friend says to another, “Do you know that smoking has three advantages?”
“Which ones?” the smoker asked.
The friend: “The first is that a smoker never suffers from old age, second is that a theft can never take place at his residence.”
Smoker: “and third?”
The friend: “He is never bitten by a dog.”
Smoker: “How come? I have never heard of this.”
So the friend says, “ See a smoker does not live for long so that leaves no scope for old age. And in the nights, his coughing keeps thieves away.”
Smoker: “And what about the dogs?”
Friend: “My dear friend, a smoker very soon has to depend on his walking stick and no dog would ever bother a man with a stick.”
The smoker realized what his friend wished to say and quit smoking.
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(Above story translated by Miss Falguni Banerjee from my story in Hindi “Dhuen se Azzaadi” published on internet at
www.abhivyakti-hindi.org sansmaranduen se azaadi.)
on eTI community..
