Setting the Date
Oh blast! I’ve got to get my gumption up and set a final quit date. Given my line of work, I hate to say it, but I need a deadline.
I want two weeks’ lead time so I can do serious cutting down. And there are many other factors to consider:
- Maybe I should wait until after the Fourth of July because my sister, Meg, will be here from Florida for a visit. Meg is smoking again–after quitting for about 15 or 20 years! This makes no sense at all, but heck, you get used to that with Meg.
- I’m not superstitious, but I can’t set a date that has any of these numbers: 3, 6, 8 or 13.
- You know, it might be smart for me to lose a few pounds first.
- Waiting until after our temptation-filled European vacation in September might be very prudent.
- I have some problems with Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). That’s the depression one gets when the days become shorter and our bodies long for light. It wouldn’t make a lot of sense for me to quit at that time of year.
- I loathe the cold of our Wisconsin winters. That business of standing outside to smoke might be great impetus.
- My Scottish heritage won’t allow me to waste cigarettes, so I’ll have to be out of stock.
- The winter holidays are so stressful; maybe I should wait until January. Then I could make quitting my New Year’s resolution.
Did I say that I need to set a quit date?
