Boo

Nope. Two years of band class in junior high was the extent of my organized music education. Joined the percussion section with visions of becoming a drummer in a rock band driving a hard-charging rhythm section. Instead, I was relegated to the bass drum...wait for your cue and make it go BONG. Those who can do and the rest of us are content to listen to the music...or something like that.

Guess it's about time to give this song another try. I avoided it for decades because an overzealous choir teacher made us do it over and over again when I was in the seventh grade in preparation for the Christmas show. I didn't even sign up for choir. For my musical requirement I took band class and was a part of the percussion section. I was willing to bang on drums all day, but no one warned me I might be forced to sing against my will. Well, I got that off my chest. Now for the song...

There was a FedEx box on the front porch when I got home this afternoon...last package that we were waiting for. So, I'm officially erasing Christmas shopping from the to-do list. I often complain about technology. Gotta say though: online shopping is a pretty sweet deal.

This may sound crazy now, but there will come a time when you look back and appreciate those moments. It's easy to carry on with the plan when everything is going well. Carrying on with the plan when things get tough is going to determine your level of success. Those moments when you honor your commitment in spite of every emotion and thought pushing you in the opposite direction. Those moments when you have to be 100% honest with yourself even if you don't like the answers. Those moments where you are forced to make a critical decision and choose the right choice over the easy choice. Those are the moments where quits are built. Those are the moments that will reward you for the rest of your life. Steel is forged by fire. Congratulations Heather. You faced down your addiction and held firm. Both you and your quit are stronger as a result.

Ate lunch at a Mexican restaurant today. This one plays on a regular loop in that place...

Bakon and Sonic were out in the woods one day. Sonic said: "Hey look, deer tracks!" Bakon said: "Those are too big to be deer tracks, these are bear tracks." Fortunately, they both heard the train just in time to get off the tracks.

Congratulations Sunshine.

These responses made me realize that I have to change how I view glitter from now on. For one thing, I'm gonna have to stop calling glitter "stripper dust."

Really wish the folks who make Christmas cards would take it easy with the glitter; that stuff gets all over everything.

Happy Birthday Horny Toad. I got a special package for you...and a birthday gift too.

Looks like several of the fellas got a new leisure suit for Christmas back in '77...

Congratulations QueenB. You've built a solid quit for yourself.

In spite of it being only a light snow, in the last 24 hours we surpassed the snow totals from all of last winter. The farmers around here are predicting a colder and wetter winter than we've seen in years. And frankly, the farmers have a better track record of predicting the weather than the local meteorologists...they have more skin in the game than the folks on television do.

Never underestimate the power of nostalgia...

Watching the snow roll in over the Cumberland Plateau. May not seem like a big deal to those of you in colder climates, but a bit of snow is still an "event" here in Tennessee. Schools are closed tomorrow. The grocery stores in town were packed with people stocking up this afternoon. Don't come around here looking to buy milk, bread, and toilet paper...It's all gone!

The quit is not new anymore yet it is still at or near the forefront of your mind. That is a very common phase of the quit process. Most quitters have experienced it to some degree. I would like to offer up some inspirational quote that will put the wind beneath your wings. If I had one of those for your situation I would post it here. However, there is a lot to say for just punching the clock and getting the job done. Eventually you will get to a point where the quit is second nature. Difficult hikes often lead to the best views.

One of the greatest gifts the process of quitting gave me was the opportunity to practice detachment on a daily basis. I started thinking about this earlier today after hearing Jocko Willink talk about detachment on a podcast. In fact, the moment I figured out how to separate myself from whatever emotions and thoughts I was having in the moment was the turning point in my quit. It was a struggle before I figured it out. After I figured it out, it has been nothing but smooth sailing. The cravings didn't magically go away when I turned the corner. The odd thought about "the good ol' days when I was a smoker" still popped up from time-to-time. The basic tenets of addiction were still there, I just changed how I reacted. Instead of surrendering to the chaos and allowing the emotional upheaval to dictate my actions, I just took a step back and observed what was really going on. Identified my thoughts as nothing more than a temporary feeling born of decades of addiction. Detaching yourself from the self-defeating thoughts and emotions of addiction allows you to observe what's really going on and make wise decisions. The cigarette is an inanimate object. You are not a smoker. You are someone who used to smoke. Your thoughts have as much or as little power as you give them.