My quitting story

If we observe, we can easily find many individuals who struggle to quit on something or other, mostly their bad habits. Most people say, “quit a bad habit and your life will change drastically”, but no one talks about how to do that. So, this is my quitting story; this might help you!

I am no different and had a set of bad habits, I smoked/drank for more than 10 years. It started with college (year 2004-05) and it got me into a terrible state with time, I became a kind of chain smoker & I used to drank until I blacked-out.

• I never came back from a party with my fully conscious mind; In point of fact my friends or colleagues use to tow me to my place after almost every party. So, I developed a tendency to drink until I get lost.
• There was also a time when I used to smoke back-to-back and finally ending up with smoking more than 20 sticks in a day.
• I also got into smoking weed as well, but it did not catch me much.

Then when I got some health issues and I had to visit the doctor. Post some medical tests, the Doctor advised, and I quote "Agar jeena hai to cigeratte aur daru chhodhni padegi (Quit smoking/drinking if you want to live)". He prescribed medicines for 15 days and asked to revisit. After a dose of medicine I felt better and never took pain to gulp another, while rest got expired in my cupboard and I again continued drinking/smoking on full fledge. Above all I never thought/tried of getting rid of these bad habits instead I used to boast a lot about these party/hospital stories. I never realized that it was very bad phase because actually there was no one to tell me this from the front, but actually they did talk behind my back. I must tell you, it was that bad.

Time kept passing and it was time (year 2014-15) when my friends/cousins started getting engaged/married. I realized,

Whether someone or even I would want a son or son-in-law like me! This thought made me very uncomfortable, and it was a life changing seed to my mind.

I started reading about smoking/drinking issues over internet and could relate most of them with my life. I started discussing these smoking/drinking issues with my friends (not colleagues) and expressed my desire to quit but no friend of mine had hope that I could quit. Even I started believing that now it's too late and I can't get over these habits. It was very difficult for me to think without cigarette, more I think of quitting it, more the urge I get to smoke.

Somewhere I read,

Instead of thinking to quit a bad habit, start picking good habits. Bad habits would dissolve automatically.

I read that physical activity and fruits/veg juice helps to reduce smoking/drinking urge so I did planning and started multiple physical activities(Another story) because I didn't know which one to pursue :

• Walking/Running (In the morning)
• Swimming(joined swimming classes to learn)
• Gym(In the evening)
• Cycling(for daily commute & weekend rides)

It was very difficult initially but slowly I got comfortable and started loving them. I still practice them alternatively on daily basis. It is another story how I planned, pursued and how it has impacted my life and people who are directly/indirectly connected to me.

I was still smoking/drinking on full fledge even with all the physical activities & juice therapy but I was getting physically fit & active. I had quit smoking once for 10 months assuming smoking more injurious than drinking but resumed again casually. I keep thinking I will quit on new year or my next birthday or Holi/Diwali and so on but it never happened.

Now it was time for my marriage and I never wanted to be a husband, son-in-law or a father who comes home drunk or smoked up. More than that after marriage, I wanted to be responsible and not a burden. So I decided that I will not drink/smoke once I get married but I was very afraid deep inside if unable to stay with my commitment. So I started announcing the world(mostly all the friends) that I am quitting smoking/drinking post my marriage at any cost. I have thrown few parties before my marriage and I drunk/smoked more than my capacity in each party keeping in my mind that I am going to quit soon.

In my mind, I keep thinking what if I fail to quit and in parallel, I keep saying myself "Marriage is one time event of your life and if you can't quit for this, you would never get same chance again". I had no other option but quitting bad habits for my marriage which is going to be life changing event.

Finally the day has come, got drunk completely on my Tilak ceremony(part of marriage) and last cigarette puff on my marriage day. It's around 5 years now and I never even got a urge to smoke/drink again. Now I have very beautiful and happy family with a cutest child. I have lots of hidden benefits after quitting bad toxic habits but it demands another story.

Nothing is impossible and where there's a will there is a way. Whole cosmos is trying to help you directly or indirectly, you just need to initiate or plant a righteous thoughts/will and work on it persistently. It may take time but it will happen to you for sure, it took around 2 years for me to quit. You just need to initiate and rest everything would fall into place accordingly.

My extended family, friends and relatives keep telling my story to inspire/help others. Few of my friends motivated me to share my story so that it could help others who feel helpless and struggling to quit. I would request you to share with someone who can be benefitted.

Love & Care !