And how long have you been a non-smoker?
For me, at the time it was the realization that I cannot continue to smoke and continue to play the trumpet. My lung volume and strength really suffered. But instead of stopping to smoke, for many months I played less and less trumpet.
What put me through the phase of actually smoking the last cigarette and becoming a non-smoker again, was one of the books of Allen Carr, I don’t remember the exact title. Looking back, it was awfully written, and I had to will my way through believing the narrative, but it worked. That was 27 years ago, and I didn’t have one cigarette since, no cravings and no replacement either.
I got a job as a karate instructor when I moved back after college. I taught ages 3 to 18.
Those kids, man. They look at you like you’re a goddamn superhero. I’m not kidding. And because I taught all the classes, I had about 300 kids all looking up to me as a role model. I became petrified that one of them would catch me out somewhere smoking and I’d have to explain why they shouldn’t do something that their hero does.
I phased it out, bit by bit. I cut down on one cigarette each full week until I was smoking three a day. Then I spent a couple weeks smoking only one in the am and one on my way home from work. Then down to just one on my way home from work every day.
I’d heard that the third day of quitting is the worst to get through, but for me it was day 5 of no cigarettes. I remember it so vividly because of how gd angry I was that day, at everything. I realized halfway through that this was the point where things would get easier, and they did.
So, I have all my students from that time to thank for being the reason I quit, even if they’ll never know it, they probably saved my life. :)
Wow that’s a great motivation. Good job living up to the role model you signed up for.
Was the stopping smoking part of the consideration to pick that Trainer job?
Thanks, it was worth it for sure.
I didn’t even think about quitting before I took the job. My boss didn’t ask and I never told him (though I’m sure he knew, lol).
I had become aware it might be an issue when I ran into a student for the first time outside of the studio. I wasn’t smoking, luckily, but I became worried the next time that might be the case.