This Deepawali, it would fifteen years, when i had given up smoking.
It was my wife who forced and helped me to quit smoking after a 18 years long struggle. It could be hundreds of times i had broken a pack and many a times picked from the ground and smoked the 'tote'( small piece).
My wife is very tough headed jatni. Strong point of her personalty, no dilemmas. han to han , naa to naa.
It was morning of Deewali in 1993 and I ask her to accompany me to a friends place to give some sweets. For some reason she said no. I requested her many times but her resolve of not visiting that family became stronger and stronger . I was getting irritated. Suddenly an idea came to my mind. I told her, " I would quit smoking if you accompany me today" She quipped, " Such keh rahe ho"?
I said, " yes, believe me"! " Fer kadde haath nahi Lagaana hai"
Dosto, believe me, since that day i haven't touched a cigarette!
I had been helped by quite a few people including family members and friends in those initial tough days.
For example, after a month or so I was visiting a friend in Mumbai.
We were traveling towards Mumbai airport and my friend Jagjeet Sansanwal pulled a cigarette pack from his pocket, half removed fag from the pack and offered me. I should tell you friends here that Jagjeet was not only a good friend but also a person of strong personality. Saying no to him would have been hard , if he had insisted second time. The next moment his hand was out of window. When he pulled his hand in, it was empty.
Here I must advise all those friends who want to give up smoking, do it today.
Giving up smoking today, makes this itself a special and important day.
Secondly, tell as many people as possible that you have given up smoking, so that you wouldn't lit a cigarette in front of them.
Change your living and work environment if possible.
Start giving Reward to yourself ( shabashi) from the day one and share with others!
Try to pat yourself, saying to yourself, " After how long , I haven't smoked today, for two days, for one week or two weeks)
Visualise yourself in a better healthy body and mind after you would have given it up!
I sincerely wish for all those who want to quit smoking.
Listen to this Bhajan and make a resolve today:
Jaise suraj ki garmee se jalte hue tan komil jaye tarwar ki chhaya
aissa hi sukh mere man ko mila hai mein jab se sharan teri aaya
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Fullono mein tarrono mein
Patjhadd baharono mein, mein naa kabhi dagmagaaun
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zi3WPxg17hg
I hope, you can and you will do it!
Cheers!