Simply Lou: Right Now!

article and illustration by Lou Davenport

I ’ve been asked several times if I “make up” my columns. As flattering as that sounds, I do not have that good of an imagination. Every column is true! I couldn’t make this stuff up no matter how hard I might try!

This month’s column is going to be one of the most truthful I’ve written to date. You can probably tell by the title, I like Van Halen. Well, I do, but, that song title seemed to fit this column perfectly. (I never imagined Van Halen would play such a big part in my quitting smoking! But they sure have! God bless them!)

Right now! What are you waitin’ for?

I once quit smoking for over 10 years. The process wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be ,and after awhile I didn’t even miss smoking. I never really gave it much thought.

Right now! What are you waitin’ for? Turn this thing around!

But, as life does at times, it threw me a big curve ball. A failed marriage, a divorce and uprooting my life to start over once again. What did I do? Got depressed, cried a lot and bought myself a pack of cigarettes. I lit that first one, and there was no looking back. For some reason, I felt like those cigarettes brought me comfort. And oh, I LOVED to smoke! So, that’s what I did. Heartbroken, feeling like a complete failure, or at times, feeling a murderous rage, I smoked like a chimney.

Right now! Hey it’s your tomorrow right now! Come on it’s everything!

I finally started working in my yard, but that didn’t stop me from smoking. Nothing did. Nothing anybody said or did any good. Smoking is a choice, a very personal one. Nobody can make you smoke, YOU do. And, nobody can make you quit, except YOU.
One night I was tossing and turning, my usual bedtime ritual when a voice popped in my head, “You ought to stop smoking.” I couldn’t tell you if it was a man or woman’s voice, but I heard it! And, I thought, yeah, why don’t I? It happened that fast.

Right now! Catch that magic moment and do it right now!

The next day, I started making my plan. I knew from failing several other times at quitting, you needed a good plan that would work for YOU. I got some patches and all kinds of gum, mints, cookies, crackers, a six pound bag of Jolly Ranchers and I had one pack of cigarettes left. When that pack was gone, that would be my start time!

Right now!

Months ago, a dear friend had sent me a book about an “easy way to stop smoking.” He swore by it. He told me when I was ready to read it, I’d know. Of course, I had stuck in down under some other books I’d been “half ass” reading. I had thought at the time, yeah, “easy.” Sure.

It’s enlightened me Right Now! What are you waiting for? Right now!

I slapped on my patch Friday, May 25. I got the book out and started reading. and I also had a huge cup of coffee at my side. One of the first things in the book said, DO NOT WEAR A PATCH! The point to quitting is to get nicotine OUT of your body, not put it IN! (So, if anybody wants a full box of nicotine patches, let me know! I’ll give them to you!)

Right now! Hey! It’s your tomorrow! What are you waiting for?

The little book was full of just good common sense, and it has helped me immensely! I’m nearly two weeks out, and although I have a few weak moments, they pass! I’ve come up with ways to cope with them and most involve music! “Runnin’ with the Devil” became my theme song, since I feel like that’s what I’ve been doing for the past few years. I wasn’t doing what was best for me, but I am the one that can change that. Nobody can do it but me, and I can tell that ol’ Devil to get on down to hell without me!

Right now! Turn this thing around!

We also get in in our heads that if we quit, we will go completely crazy, fall apart, blow up, explode. Just pick yourself a fear, and that’s what smoking does to our minds! So far, I haven’t experienced losing any body parts or my head exploding, so I think I’m over “the fear!” Only different thing I can tell is how much better I feel!

Right now! Why put it off another day? Don’t wanna wait til tomorrow!

I’ve also found reading helps pass the time in a good way. I’ve read three books already! One of Stephen King’s new ones, “The Outsider,” which is about three inches thick and I read it in two days! I think those first few days I could have been a little big manic! But, I’ve settled down! And, when I get a little “pang,” I’ll get the little smoking book and just open it up and read whatever page it lands on. Before I know it, the “pang” is gone.

Right now! Hey! It’s your Tomorrow! Come on, it’s everything!

Back to “music therapy” here’s a few good ones I’ve found that help me: Just about anything by Van Halen. And, get up and act like Sammy or David Lee, doesn’t matter, just dance and act a fool. Pretend you are one of the band! If anybody saw me, do you think I would care? Not a bit! I’m quitting smoking! And as Van Halen sings “Feels so Good!” Pretty good exercise, too!

Whoooooo Right Now!

I had bought a new sketchbook/journal a few months ago. The front of it says “Crazy Ideas.” Well, to stop smoking is my “crazy idea” that I am making come true. I find myself “doodling” or drawing zentangles, when the “cigarettes start talking to me,” and I’ll write silly stuff back at them. It’s pretty R-rated, so I can’t say what I tell them, but I am not “lady like” in my conversations with them! They are the enemy I have to defeat! One day at a time. Sometimes, an hour at a time, but, I’m doing it! I also draw, and I’ve drawn all kind of things in my “Crazy Idea” book. None of them are R-rated though but not suitable for “framing” either!

Right Now! It’s what’s happening right here and now! Right now!

I could quote statistics and the findings of scientific studies about how bad smoking is for us. We all know that. I’m not going to preach to you, and if you smoke, I’m sure not going to fuss at you. It’s your decision, and one day, you, too, will decide you will want to stop. Like I said, it’s all very personal, and it’s also part of our “wiring” in our brains. Nicotine is addictive. There’s no getting around it. If we smoke, we turn into addicts. I’ll always be an addict. I just know if I smoke ONE cigarette, I have to start all over again ,and I’m not willing to give up all the time I’ve invested in ME!

Right now! I’m turnin’ this thing around!

There’s the key: YOU! Quit for YOU and nothing else. You will be surprised how much easier it was than you thought. I am not going to lie to you and say I haven’t had a few moments, where I thought if I could just eat about ten cigarettes, as in cram them in my mouth all at once. That would be a good idea! A second later, I was laughing at myself at the sheer stupidity of that imagery. So, these “moments” don’t last long, if you’ll just hold on and laugh! Grab a piece of gum or a Jolly Rancher! Laugh your butt off, even if there’s nothing to laugh at! Gets a lot of oxygen going into your system!

Right now! It’s everything! Catch your magic moment!

I’ve let myself have little rewards a few times to help keep me on track. I told myself if I made it to day 10, I could get myself a new bottle of my favorite perfume. I haven’t had any of that perfume in over ten years. I use it sparingly, but, each time I use it, I say a little prayer of thanksgiving. And it feels nice to smell good.

Right now! What are you waitin’ for? Turn this thing around!

I certainly don’t want to give the impression I am an expert on this thing called stopping smoking. I am a “work in progress” and always will be. I have learned it’s common sense. I’ve given up a few things, but they sure aren’t the price I was paying. I have lots left to do with my life, I hope. I have three kids I get to aggravate whenever possible. I have my “sistah girls” that I have a lot of big plans for – things we are going to go see and do before we’re too old! And I have plenty more columns to write!

RIGHT NOW!

If you’d like to know more about the book I mention in this column, please send me an email at [email protected] or send me a message on Facebook.

Many thanks to VAN HALEN! – “Right Now” by Van Halen.