I WILL QUIT SMOKING!!!

To be treated like a King (or Queen):

tonyhontzeas — Mon, 16 Apr 2007 17:03:33 +0000

I was in a negotiation last week, where I was involved in intense discussions with two negotiators, one female and one male. The male was quite abrasive, using foul language and generally emitting a very foul and banale ambiance, while the female was very savoir vivre, disciplined, curteous with an air of freshness, immaculate, and a very agreeable intonation.

Without saying, I, and the rest of the crew that had to deal with these two different and independent negotiators took a very respectful position towards the female negotiator while at the same time a less serious approach to the male negotiator.

It goes without saying that people judge by initial impressions (face it , that’s how we are). People instinctively use transmitted behaviour when interacting with other people. The old saying “to be treated like a King, behave like a King” holds very, very true.

The end

tonyhontzeas — Tue, 03 Apr 2007 12:18:33 +0000

Had my final treatment last night. Haven’t smoked since I begun the treatment implying that I haven’t smoked for about 3 weeks.

Did the acupuncture thing, did the psychology thing, and all that without any nicotine addons or other type of drugs.

Feel much better, started working out again in the mornings before work (very important since exercise discourages smoking later in the day).

Of course I have to be on my guard continually just in case the habit creeps back in so after exercise my 15 minute meditation lifts my anti-smoking drug.

I consider the matter closed and the smoker in me is history.

I’m ready to enjoy the remaining part of my life, and looking forward to my lungs eventually being restored to their initial condition, ’bout 10 years ago before I started this pathetic and nasty habit.

Summer is coming, and nature’s beginning to blossom…

My Enemy within

tonyhontzeas — Fri, 30 Mar 2007 12:37:36 +0000

The biggest danger i’m facing is subsconsciously reaching out for a cigarette. In other words, say i’m sitting and having a coffee, and my collegue has his (or her) pack out. The, unless I consciously put the brakes on, I find that my hand reaches out and goes for the pack.

therefore, each morning I have to spend about 10 minutes meditating and telling myself I won’t smoke, and while at work I must continually keep my guard up. Such is the aftermath of bad habits that should’ve never started in the first place. Now I know why Kojak consistently had a lollipop in his mouth.

Standing on my own two feet

tonyhontzeas — Thu, 29 Mar 2007 06:51:00 +0000

When I was in elementary school (Edward the VII on Jeanne Manche in Montreal) I remember walking out of the school (I must/ve been 6 years old). these 2 – 3 boys started harassing me probably because my english at that time was hopelessly poor, my french was non existent, and the fact that I also looked a bit different coming then from a South European imigrant family. Needless to say I was scared shitless so I tried to sneak into close to another parent, instinctively seekeing protection.

Anyway, this other lady, the one whose protection I was seeking pushed me away and made it clear she didn’t wanna have anything to do with me. So there I was again, alone at the mercy of these 2 guys that figured they could now beat me to a pulp.

I remember thinking quickly, picking out the leader of the two (ie. the guys that was basically driving the other guy) and quickly grabbing him by the shirt sleeves and giving him a headbutt so strong that it drew blood. Needless to say having hit the shepherd, the sheep quickly disappeared and the threat was gone.

Lesson learnt: Stand on your own two feet, and don’t depend on anyone (or anything). The same applies for smoking.

Disgusting!!!

tonyhontzeas — Tue, 27 Mar 2007 09:07:04 +0000

Sometimes, things like this make me wanna start smoking. But I won’t do these SOBs any favours.

Our thoughts go to Mrs. Sierra.

On lungs…

tonyhontzeas — Tue, 27 Mar 2007 08:33:47 +0000

Well , someone showed me a picture of human lungs after 20 years of smoking. I recently had a CAT scan on my lungs and they’re in ok shape, nothing resembling the sad picture of what I saw. Also, my lungs are suppose to go back to their original form (minus chronic bronchitis that all smokers have) in ’bout 5 years time. The thing is that since I started smoking at the age of 33, my lungs were fully developed and thus the damange isn’t as severe as someone that may have started say at 13 (and from what I hear, this is becoming more and more common). I won’t post the picture of the lungs I just saw ’cause its quite sad and in my experience does little to prevent someone from continuing to smoke (I mean, I lost a friend ’bout 4 years ago from lung cancer, and yet I continued to smoke).

Unfortunately, we as humans continue to do something that leads to demise, even if we cerebrally understand that this indeed leads to demise. See how we’re handling the issue of the earth’s overall decline in health?

So other ways have to be found in order to convince us to stop doing something that we know is bad (even though we may like it)…

The big WHY???

tonyhontzeas — Fri, 23 Mar 2007 15:07:04 +0000

I was chatting today with one of my collegues, Georgia, who’s also a heavy smoker. She asked me what my main motivation was to quit smoking.

I told her that, being 43 years old, I decided it was time to renew myself. I can’t complain, I/ve had a very good life; I/ve travelled alot, met alot of people, tasted good food and generally have been introduced to alot of the good things in life.

My main issue is whether I will continue to live the way I’ve lived, which will probably eventually wear down this machine that’s supporting my psyche (ie. my body), or whether i’ll move in for a major overahaul that will allow me to continue enjoying this wonderful gift called life.
I figure that I still have alot to offer the planet, in my own way, so I therefore voted for the overhaul.

My main motivation is to look, feel and do good. Therefore I decided to quit smoking, work out and get back into top, top shape . In addition, i’m writing alot again, playing alot of music and generally learning to enjoy new things, handle new situations and generally trying new ideas.

Hell, summers in Greece were always something to look forward to so I wanna be around to enjoy as many of them as I can.

INTRUDER ALERT!!!INTRUDER ALERT!!!!

tonyhontzeas — Fri, 23 Mar 2007 13:14:26 +0000

I just got a severe nicotine attack!!! I’m sweating, my hearts pounding, my mouth’s dry and I’ m transforming to Mr. Hyde…SOMEBODY STOP ME!!!

Hmmmmmmmmm, maybe if I look at this long enough, I may just pass this one .

So far so good…

tonyhontzeas — Fri, 23 Mar 2007 10:41:59 +0000

Welp, its been a week and a 1/2, and I haven’t touched the stuff. If I couple this achievement with a good daily work out, I may reach the age of 60, which would be grand.

Problem is that I have tens of people offering me cigarettes…so its really a test of will power. Do I succumb to their wishes or am I my own man?

Well, at least I’m trying.

tonyhontzeas — Thu, 22 Mar 2007 10:00:57 +0000