Day one

Hello and welcome to the inaugural blog of one who has discovered the joy of quitting.  Truthfully I haven't yet discovered the "joy" part but I am optimistic that I will achieve that in due time.  For the last few months I have been hatching this idea to start blogging.  I didn't really know what I wanted to write about and I just kept making excuses as to why I couldn't start one.  Much like the excuses I made to justify my continued smoking habit.  After thirteen years, at approximately 12:06 A.M. January 1st 2011, I smoked my last cigarette. 

This blog is a very public exhibition of a very personal struggle.  My intention is to daily chronicle my desire to detoxify my body of nicotine, alcohol, caffeine and purge myself from addiction.  I am quitting smoking forever, and for one year, completely cutting out alcohol and caffeine. I thought this would be a great way for me to overcome the hell of quitting something I like even though it is obviously bad for me. Writing about it may provide a therapeutic outlet that will also force me to stay honest about this challenge.

I have been inspired by my dear family and closest friends who want nothing more than for me to live a long, happy, and healthy life.  I am also motivated by the fact that on Christmas day I met someone who could have quite possibly been my future.  I watched that person lose all interest when I stepped out for a "quick smoke." It occurred to me that I have been letting my bad habits to some extent dictate my life both professionally and personally.  I am not going to let that happen anymore.

I hope to receive "lots of laugh's" many "good lucks" and probably a few "your crazies."  This is really a selfish challenge, in that I am doing it for myself. However, if someone in the vast cyber-universe feels inspired to reach for a healthier lifestyle because of this blog then that would be of course, awesome. But really at this point one year from now I hope to be basking in the glory of the feeling that I DID IT!!

(Its also helpful to fantasize about a certain artist that I met on Christmas day waiting for me at the end of the 365 days with a glowing smile, a sexy kiss for a fresh non-smoker mouth, and a large pint of Terminator Stout.)