Ash Wednesday ~

The first day of Lent; a time of sacrifice and penance ... for me, more than once this has been my first day of no smoking for the entire Lenten season. Unfortunately, I always seemed to succumb to my addiction sometime after Easter.

Today however, on this Ash Wednesday, I am 613 days into my new non smoking life. Lent remains a time of prayer and fasting, today however, not smoking cigarettes is no longer a sacrifice. I still want to encourage any who wants to give up smoking for Lent to do so and I want to offer my help.

Mardi Gras, or Fat Tuesday, historically is a day when people feast prior to their self-examination and penitence in preparation for Easter. More than once it was my day to smoke like Hell (pun intended:)!

One year, I easily smoked two packs of cigarettes at bar celebrating Fat Tuesday with bikinis and a giant food buffet ...... Nearly literally "smoking my brains out". The morning after was not pleasant and my desire to even have a cigarette was snuffed out that morning for at least a few hours. It didn't take long for the cravings to over take my illness though.

Even though I thought I found the cigarettes pleasurable, it was clear my addiction was not necessarily to cigarettes but the nicotine they contain. Cigarettes are just the delivery device of this tremendously addictive drug. Nicotine is so powerful, even though a smoke may relieve craving, our bodies immediately starts to craving more nicotine just as we've finished our most recent cigarette.

Ash Wednesday is observed by fasting, abstinence, and repentance—a day of contemplating one's transgressions. There is no better time to tackle an addiction many experts say is stronger than heroin. One thing is for sure, you wont easily forget the sacrifice you are making this Lenten Season.

If this is your penance this year I wish you luck and encourage you to follow along.
FJW