Day 20 Thoughts

With today being day 20  in my journey without my friendly pipes, I thought I would mention several thoughts that have been percolating through my mind the last few days:

1.  I *do* miss my pipes.  I really do.  But, I also feel stronger as a person in refraining.  My wife might suggest it is only an expression of stubbornness. 

2.  In this day and age, smoking is definitely a hobby/habit that is in strong disfavor.  I understand and I "get" that message.  But I still have so many memories of when this was not the case.  It used to be considered a normal hobby/habit for a lot of folks.  It used to be looked upon in a friendly way.  It used to be part of the social framework between friends and within families.  Those thoughts, those memories, those associations are still an active part of my neural circuitry.  Yes, I know and understand the anger and disfavor in folks indulging in the hobby/habit in 2018.  But, that is only the current picture, not the whole picture. 

3.  I am not sure what may happen following Easter.  In many ways taking on this vow to refrain from my pipes as a Lenten Journey has made my task of committing to refraining easier for me.  The importance for me in doing what I vow to do, is significant.  But, after Easter, this formalized commitment is finished. 

4.  At some level I am refraining from my pipes because of the fear of the unknown.... the fear that smoking my pipes will result in my developing one of the many potential smoking related diseases.  Even though quitting does not mean I will be free from risk, it does represent the path for lowering that risk.  So, this is a part of why I am on this journey.

5.  But, I do not know if I am as stubborn or as "capable" of continuing to refrain after Easter.  I know that if I do want to continue to be sans the pipe following Easter, I need to figure out significant and meaningful ways I can instill the same desire for persisting that a Lenten vow has for me.  But I am not sure what that may be.

6.  The "increasing number" approach has worked very well for me in keeping me consistent with exercise.  Seeing the number of days grow larger every single day HAS helped me make exercise an every day thing.... and I even look forward to exercise now, whereas when I started more than 10 years ago.... the idea of ever exercising, let alone exercising everyday annoyed the hell out of me.

7.  I am hoping the increasing number of days refraining from my pipe that are building during Lent may prove a similar help.  But, in some ways, I am not sure I will have that same positive outlook by having an increasing number of days of NOT smoking my pipe.  In some fashion, the increasing numbers may be felt by me to be more akin to days of loss... not days to celebrate.  I am not sure yet, but I think that may be a risk.  But, what else could I substitute for the "increasing number" that would help me?  I am not sure.

Well, that is about all of the ideas that came to me over the last few days concerning this matter.  If I recall more, I will add them to a future post.

PipeTobacco