Whoopi Gets A Copy Of How To Stop Smoking Without Killing Anyone

Whoopi Gets A Copy Of How To Stop Smoking Without Killing Anyone

Smoke Your Mind and Napoleon Hill Wisdom

In my book, How To Stop Smoking Without Killing Anyone, I talk about one of the motivating factors for me to stop smoking. It came when I realized I was out of control. There comes a time after about 6 and half hours or so without a cigarette when you realize that if you don't have a cigarette and like right now, someone very well might get hurt. Granted I am slightly exaggerating but the nic-fit is real.

It soon began to bother me to be under Big-Tobacco's spell so powerfully. I got started smoking as a way to separate myself from others, to flaunt and solidify my identity. Or at least so I thought. The reality was in no time instead of being the individual I wanted to be I was just like everyone else... hooked. Smoking lost it's romance for me and it was time to kick the habit.

I thought of this moment in my life in late 2001 when I realized smoking wasn't all it's cracked up to be... or rather, it's more like crack than you think. I thought of this moment when I saw this quote from Napoleon Hill

"Control your own mind, and you may never be controlled by the mind of another.

The mind is the most powerful weapon known to man. It simply cannot be controlled or contained by an outside force, however formidable that force may at first appear. Throughout history, tyrants have tried to control those who opposed them, but eventually these rulers discovered the power of the imagination was far greater than the threat of the sword. As Victor Hugo said, "An invasion of armies can be resisted, but not an idea whose time has come."

Big Tobacco, like any good drug dealer has control of your mind and directs your thoughts towards one more cigarette. It is with this mind, such a powerful weapon indeed, that you will conquer your addiction to nicotine and cigarettes.

Your mind is the best tool for meeting the challenge to stop smoking. You can use a patch, chew the gum, tinker with water vapor cigarettes, and any other nicotine delivery device you can think of, but sooner or later it will boil down to you making a conscious decision with your mind to not light up.


I used my mind to stop smoking and you can to.  In fact, you will have to.  My mission now it to get my book into the hands of 5000 smokers who want to be non smokers.  


So if you found this blog and you're still smoking, or you think you've quit but feel yourself wavering and loosing control, consider this, I, like you, struggled through the process and found a way to not only stop, but stay stopped.  Perhaps destiny or God brought you here and perhaps you should give this book a read.  I will leave it up to you of course, but deciding to finally stop once and for all could very well be the best decision you've ever made...  next to deciding to get a copy of my book!

Smoked Salmon Another Reason to Stop Smoking

Smoked Salmon Another Reason to Stop Smoking

Another Hub from above that I've written to inspire and encourage smokers to knock off the smoking habit once and for all.  I found a way and you can too!  Take a look at the video to promote the Hub too...


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vflXTR-EzbQ

Then let me know what you think!

Smoking Legends Lost Too Soon Part One: Humphrey Bogart

Humphrey Bogart.  As an teenager reaching towards manhood, I discovered Bogie.  As a child I remember hearing of him, seeing Bugs Bunny imitate him and Elmer Fudd playing his waiter but it wasn't until I developed this blooming curiosity for all things 1920's to 1940's that the real fascination fired up.

In my book, How To Stop Smoking Without Killing Anyone, I touch on the impact Bogie had on me and my life and most importantly, my decision to be a smoker.  It worked out quite well.  Bogie was the man, I wanted to be the man, the man smokes, therefor, so should I...  right?

Never mind the fact that "The Man" died of esophageal cancer just 20 days after he turned 57 years young.  The cancer had withered my idol down to 80 pounds.  Yes, 80 pounds.

The picture at the top is of Bogie at a young and youthful age.  Born on December 25, 1899, Humphrey DeForest Bogart rose to stardom and then to legend.  Now, immortal, due to films like Casablanca, The Maltese Falcon, The Big Sleep, To Have and Have Not, The African Queen, Key Largo and many more, Humphrey Bogart became an icon to millions.  Including myself.

Bogie was hard.  Strong.  Witty.  Me?  I was...  well maybe witty.  On a good day.  I remember studying how he smoked.  How he held the cigarette, how he took a drag, how he lit it, every little nuance.  I loved how he stood, the way he would glare. 

Then there the cars, the clothes, the nightlife.  I had definitely found a connection and an affinity for all things 1920's to 1950's.  There in those eras existed a certain glamor that is long gone.  A romance the is somehow missing from modern life.  My love affair with Americana blossomed thanks to Humphrey Bogart.

When I decided to stop I looked at how Bogart died.  It was one of those harsh realities that was waiting in the wings.  His esophagus was removed, a few lymph nodes, and even a rib.  But it was too late.  The cancer had spread.  For Bogart, it was a matter of "if" anymore, it was a matter of "when." 

Having witnessed first hand the withering affects of cancer first hand, my mother passed away in 1998 from cancer, and my aunt passed later the same year, I quickly put two and two together.  Bogart's smoking and drinking lead to throat cancer and he had withered to 80 pounds of his former self before he died.

The reality of death is one of those things that is very hard to look at, but when you do, it can also be quite liberating.  We're all going to die sooner or later.  Me?  I choose to do it as later as possible and I'm not all that interested in withering down to 80 pounds of my former self nor do I want to die in intense pain. 

The tragedy of Bogart's death is that it hasn't been used to the fullest to educate people...  actually, no.  Never mind.  Sometimes I forget that tobacco, cigarettes and nicotine are as powerfully addicting as heroin and most addicts need to find their own way home or die trying. 

Bogart has inspired me in life and in death and continues to teach me from beyond the grave what it means to be a man.  His strengths far outweighed his weakness.  He is a teacher.  When you look at his body of work, what he stood for, how he lived and how he died, you are left, as always with Bogie, wanting more.  That is the real tragedy.  Gone too soon.  I know for me, that his tragic untimely death will not be in vein as I have stopped smoking and will never again pick up the habit. 

And now, I find it vital to spread the word to all that it's time you too kicked the habit...  schweet hart.

Take possession of your own mind...

"...and you may soon make life pay off on your terms.

Your mind is unquestionably your most valuable possession. You may lose every material thing you own, but knowledge can never be taken from you. With it, you can earn a new fortune, build a new home, and buy anything you truly desire. No one else can control your thoughts; even the cruelest tyrant cannot force you to think about something you refuse to accept. When you make a deliberate decision to take control of your mind and feed it positive, constructive thoughts, you are on your way to taking control of your life. The thoughts you allow to dominate your mind will determine what you will get from life. "

You might even be able to stop smoking!  Once again, applicable wisdom in my in-box from the Napoleon Hill Foundation...

Stop Don't Quit: Take My Breath Away

Another Gem From Napoleon Hill

Your Job Will Never Be Any Bigger 

Than Your Imagination Makes It
 
Daniel Burnham, the turn-of-the-century architect and civic planner whose plan for the 1893 Chicago World's Fair had an enormous influence on contemporary civic design, was quoted as saying, "Make no little plans." He knew that to achieve great things we must have grand ideas. If you can imagine it, you can create it. And if you can create in your imagination the job that you would like to have, it is possible to create it in the real world.

OK people, what does this have to do with not sucking on coffin nails?

How to Stop Smoking Without Killing Anyone Arrives at The White House

Label/Receipt Number: 0310 1230 0001 5659 8314
Expected Delivery Date: February 4, 2011
Class: Priority Mail^®
Service(s): Delivery Confirmation^™
Status: Delivered

Your item was delivered at 4:14 am on February 11, 2011 in WASHINGTON, DC 20500

Michelle Obama confirms president has quit smoking

Inspiration:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/yblog_theticket/20110208/ts_yblog_theticket/michelle-obama-confirms-president-has-quit-smoking

Rant:

OK, so for those of you playing at home, I have sent two copies of my book, How To Stop Smoking Without Killing Anyone to the White House.  Yes, the White House.  In it was one copy for Obama and another for Senator and House Speaker, John Boehenr.

I sent it Delivery Confirmation and here's where we're at so far:

"We attempted to deliver your item at 11:20 am on February 06, 2011 in WASHINGTON, DC 20500 and a notice was left because an authorized recipient was not available. You may arrange redelivery by visiting www.usps.com/redelivery or calling 800-ASK-USPS, or may pick up the item at the Post Office indicated on the notice. If this item is unclaimed after 15 days then it will be returned to the sender. Information, if available, is updated periodically throughout the day. Please check again later."

I've been "checking back later" all week now and getting this same message.  And now I'm smacked with this article from Yahoo.

"Michelle Obama confirms president has quit smoking"

Son-of-a...!!!  Now does this mean all hope is lost?  No way, because even though the title is interesting enough to get people to read it, it's the meat and potatoes of the article that is most valuable.  The best part is the comment from recipient number two, John Boehner which I'll get to in a minute.


Has Obama actually quit?  Well, I hope not.  That makes more since when you've read my book.  Clearly, here you'll see a prime example of someone who's trying to quit (which I contend is impossible to do so don't bother trying) and consistently falls off the wagon.


"Have I fallen off the wagon sometimes? Yes," Obama said in June 2009. "Am I a daily smoker, a constant smoker? No."


Now check out Robert Gibbs!

"This past December, White House press secretary Robert Gibbs said he hadn't witnessed Obama smoke in nine months, but didn't confirm outright whether the president had quit."

So does that mean Obama was seen running into the bushes behind the White House and came back with a distinct odor?  Who knows really.  Hell, if people are still leery about JFK and the moon landing, then you can pretty much bet the farm on Obama reaching across the aisle to bum a smoke off of Boehner once and a while.

And speaking of Boehner...

"Tobacco is a legal product in America," Boehner told CBS in an interview. "The American people have a right to decide for themselves whether they want to partake or not. There are lots of things that we deal with and come in contact with every day--from alcohol to food to cigarettes--a lot of the things that aren't good for our health. But the American people ought to have the right to make those decisions on their own."

A-F#$%&-ing Men Brother!

Preach the word, my man.  This, I'm sure is exactly what George Washington and the rest of the founding fathers had in mind when they formed this great nation.  The freedom to destroy ourselves any way we see fit!

"It's something that I choose to do, and you know at some point, maybe I'll decide I've had enough of it," What point will that be specifically?  When you get winded going from your bed to the bathroom?  When your phlegm has this brownish red tint?  When there's a lump in your throat and your NOT about to cry?

Should tobacco be legal?  Yes.  But I'm also for legalizing marijuana too.  Tobacco isn't the issue.  Neither is Pot, Jack Daniel's or McDonalds.  All addictive toxic substances.  The Guv-a-mint does not need to involve themselves with individual rights when it comes to the freedom of choosing what goes into it's citizens body.  This is about you, not the Gov.

You, the citizen have the right to smoke.  Doesn't mean you should.  You have the right to jump off a cliff too.  Doesn't mean it's a good idea.

JUST STOP!  DON'T QUIT!  STOP!  See the difference?  No?  Buy my book!  Obama, read my book!  Please!  Then shove the other copy in Boehner's hand and make him read it.  Here we have the leader of the free world and if said leader goes down and takes Biden with him, then Boehner's the leader of the free world!  These men have an example to set and a message to deliver to the country, the free world and most importantly the people that look up to these men as leaders, the kids.

What message is that?

That even in a nation of freedom, opportunity and choice, I the individual choose to not smoke, I choose to respect and honor the body God gave me for this magnificent journey, and I choose to keep myself at a level of conditioning that will allow me to defend this great nation on a moments notice.

So, we'll keep checking at USPS.com.  If you too want to track the package, the number is:

0310 1230 0001 5659 8314

Hopefully, if Obama has quit or stopped, then reading my book will only solidify his decision and God willing Boehner will get it.  And when I say get it, I don't just mean my book.

Obama and Boehner ALMOST get copies of my book...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JrYv-i6IsnQ

Click here for the update...  more to come.

An open letter to all

BELOW IS AN EMAIL I SENT.  NOW, HERE ON THE BLOG, I ASK YOU TO DO WITH IT AS YOU SEE FIT.

Dear Friends and Family,

I trust most of you know, I have written my first book.  How To Stop Smoking Without Killing Anyone.  In this book are the tools, tricks, actions, and behaviors that were vital in helping me kick the habit in 2002.  It chronicles my story and experience as a smoker becoming a non-smoker.  How To Stop Smoking Without Killing Anyone, then shows how anyone can use the same tools and techniques I used to stop smoking to successfully stop themselves.

Why are you receiving this email?

In a nutshell, I need your help.

As I started 2011, I set a goal for myself to sell 5000 copies of this book by or before 12/31/11.  I picked that number because I read somewhere that most books that get published never sell more than 5000 copies.  "Well, not me" I thought!  "I'll sell 5000 in a year!"  Puffed up chest and all!

As time went on, I started blogging more and more about not smoking.  I continued doing more and more research into smoking, addiction, getting "clean" and seeing the consequences of smoking and smoking addiction.  Suddenly my goal began to change.  Actually, it began to evolve.  I started this book with the intention to share my story, have a few laughs and hopefully make some money.

Things have changed for me.

I still want to share my story and I definitely want to have a few laughs.  But putting all of that aside for a second, what I really want to do is to empower smokers.  5000 to be exact.  5000 this year to be more specific.  I want to empower smokes to stop smoking.  Cigarettes are a cruel bitter sweet dysfunctional relationship that will eventually lead to checking out of this life way sooner than necessary.   Cigarettes in my opinion are a passive aggressive form of suicide and if that's too "heavy" for you than at least acknowledge that if you're smoking daily, you're self medicating for something.

I genuinely want to help others stop.  Smokers need healing, tough love, and motivation.  It's time to kick the habit.  It's time to love yourself a little more than you did yesterday and it's time to pass this email forward.

That's what I need your help with.  You can breathe easy, there will be NO pass this on or else curse!

Do you know a smoker?  Do you know someone who knows a smoker?  Is there a loved one in your life that needs this book? 

I'm looking to get 5000 people this year to make a small investment in the quality of the rest of their lives.  How To Stop Smoking Without Killing Anyone, is not preachy.  There will be a few in your face moments, but keep in mind, I bill myself as a smoker who doesn't smoke.  If you're a smoker, know that I speak your language and this book is for you.  Know that you don't have to give up any part of yourself or your identity to stop smoking. 

My father wrote something interesting in the forward of the book that says we all "smoke" something.  So for those of you non-smokers with a habit that needs kicking, this book may come in handy as well...

So, if you're receiving this email, know that all I'm asking you to do is forward this on to the people you know who may benefit from reading this book.  I think it goes without saying you're welcome to get a copy for yourself, but what's most important to me right now is to find a way to get my book between the fingers of 5000 smokers this year.   Then, I want those 5000 smokers to accept my challenge to "stop, but don't quit."

Thank you for taking the time to read this and a double thank you in advance for deciding to help me help others...

Sincerely,

David R. Bradley 
THE WEBSITE:  http://www.stopdontquit.com/

Words of Wisdom from Napoleon Hill

"When the going is hardest, just keep on keeping on, and you’ll get there sooner than someone who finds the going easy.

If you think achieving great heights of success will be easy, you either don't understand at all how the process works or you have your sights set too low. Reaching the top of any field is difficult, time-consuming, and often tedious. The reason it isn't crowded at the top is that most people won't do the things that are necessary to achieve success. They are all too willing to give up when the going gets tough. If you need inspiration to persevere, read the biographies of men and women who have achieved greatness in their lives. You will find that they prevailed because they refused to quit. They continued to toil alone long after the masses had given up and gone home."

This one was in my in-box this morning.  It comes from The Napoleon Hill Foundation's Thought for the Day.  Clearly, I don't need to explain how this applies to kicking the habit...  I'm also, as you'll find out when you read my book, a huge proponent of going cold turkey which makes this quote about success even more relevant.  This also show's how, even though the topic of the book is how to stop smoking, success in ANY endeavor will require you to dig deeper than you thought you'd have to and go farther than you thought you could go.

So, smokers and non-smokers alike, how does this apply to you today?

John Boehner Smokes and So Does Obama

Is Obama still smoking?  What about Speaker of the House John Boehner?  He smokes!  What are you going to do about it Dave?  Good question!  Watch the video...  will keep you updated as to the results and response.

Why Should I Stop Smoking? He Wanted You To Know

Why should I stop smoking?  This seems like a silly question to me.  In my book, How To Stop Smoking Without Killing Anyone, I mention that if you don't know by now that smoking is bad for you then pretty much you have been living under a rock for 45 years.

Strangely, people decide to pick up the habit anyway and even stranger, people continue to play Russian Roulette with Big Tobacco.  Big Tobacco's gonna win.  If you haven't seen The Deer Hunter, go watch it and then and get back to me, because that is exactly what happens when you play Russian Roulette with Big Tobacco.

I found this article while searching for topics to write about.  One of the things that I didn't want to do in my book, How To Stop Smoking Without Killing Anyone was to get all "preachy" on you.  I'm still committed to that, but sometimes a good tall glass of Reality Check is just what the doctor ordered.  Besides, once I read this article, I felt morally obligated to pass on his story.

So, here we have Bryan Lee Curtis.  In 1999 he was in his early 30's.  He worked in construction, had two kids and was a regular American trying to make his way in the world. 

He was also a two pack a day smoker.  Bryan started smoking when he was 13.  Most kids who start, get started around this time.  He felt he had plenty of time to quit smoking.

One day, suffering from severe abdominal pain he went to the hospital to find out that he had oat cell lung cancer.  This is a very common form of cancer associated with smoking.  It also happens to be incredibly aggressive as far as cancers go.

The attitude of "it won't happen to me" has got to be the worst form of denial and self loathing I can think of.  Why self loathing?  Let me explain that a little later.

At the time of Bryan's diagnosis, they attempted to slow the progression of the cancer with chemotherapy. Notice, I said "slow the progression."  Not stop the progression, not cure the cancer, basically what that means is delay the inevitable.  Brian was going to die from this cancer.  He's 34 years old with lung cancer.  Rare?  Maybe.  Becoming more common than you thought?  Yes!

Bryan Lee Curtis died 9 weeks after his diagnosis.  He was 34 years old.  He started smoking at age 13.  It took 21 years of smoking to kill him. 

For the skeptics and people in denial, those thinking he's an exception, to those who will justify their own addiction when they read the whole article and see that in addition to construction, Bryan was also a roofer.  So clearly his lungs were exposed to all sorts of additional crap that probably exacerbated his condition.  Besides, you're thinking, I don't smoke two packs a day, I only smoke "X" cigarettes a day. 

For those of you in this frame of mind, I understand where you're coming from and I agree with you.  Because I too thought that.  Granted I haven't had a cigarette since May 2002 and you very well may be still smoking but I was immediately skeptical as to how a 33 year old man gets lung cancer.  Well, two things immediately came to mind.

#1 - Please grab a copy of my book and turn to page 28.

#2 - It's your addiction talking.

What?  Yes.  Your addiction is louder than reality.  Let me say that again. 

YOUR ADDICTION IS LOUDER THAN REALITY!

How do I know that?  Mainly because while Bryan Lee Curtis literally wasted away in under 9 weeks flat and then did everything he could in his highly limited capacity to share with the world the consequences of his decision to smoke, his own mother, wife, nephew and several other family members continued smoking.  These people even smoked in the house he lay dying in.  In fact Brian also continued to smoke until he was to weak to do so.

His funeral was an open casket funeral.  He wanted everyone to see the ravages of his disease brought on and exacerbated by smoking.  But after the funeral, people went outside an lit up.  Foolish. 

I too am guilty of this blindness.  My mother died of cancer.  My aunt.  My Grandfather.  You know I had a cigarette after every one of those funerals. 

Now for those of you who've never dealt with nicotine addiction, this has got to sound like the stupidest thing you've ever heard.  How can you watch someone die from cancer and continue to do the very thing that will most likely land you in the exact same spot?

Stupid, huh?

Yes it is. 

Nicotine and the habit, addiction and compulsion that is the cigarette is very, very powerful.  You have an unbelievable task and challenge ahead of you should you decide to quit.  Wait!  Stop, don't quit!  Just stop.  You decided to start, now decide to stop. 

Need help with that?  Get my book.  Need some motivation with a little tough love and humor thrown in for good measure?  I told you in the beginning, I wouldn't get all "preachy" on you and I won't. 

But I will leave you with this...  Bryan's story needs to be told.  This is what can happen.  This is what can be the final result.  Sue Landry first published her story in 1999.  You can find it here:  http://www.sptimes.com/News/61599/Floridian/He_wanted_you_to_know.shtml  Take the time to read and reflect and then ask yourself what you can do to just help one person stop.  Me?  I wrote a book.  What can you do?