Dear
AS3,
I am Yukpa hashi. One of my Willow Nations band, a Cherokee
sister and a great friend died of a massive coronary last Sunday
night. She was only 50 years old. We are all grieving terribly
but there is a little part of me, inside, that is madder than
hell. She knew she was in trouble and that her smoking was contributing
to her problems.... yet she ignored the symptoms and now it
is too late.
I
am not telling you this to gain sympathy for me. (Although if
you wanted to send up some prayers to the Creator for her family,
I know they would be very grateful for them.) But I am telling
you this to encourage you to quit smoking, if you haven't already
done so. And also to let you know, once you opt for freedom,
I think it is possible (and hopefully probable) to turn around
any damage (at least arrest it?) you might have incurred during
your smoking years. It is not for your family that this helps
the most.... it is for you. My friend will not see her daughters
become all that they are going to become. She will not experience
her grandchildren. She was VERY, VERY foolish.... she knew better
and didn't pay attention. I hope you are paying attention. Smoking
is like playing Russian roulette with your life. Don't you doubt
that. And I know how hard it is to quit. I was age 50 (Marie's
age) before I was able to find the attitude that it takes to
walk away from this insidious addiction. You can believe that
I am feeling very fortunate right about now.
I
went in to see my doc this morning. It was about an unrelated
problem but while I was there, we talked about Marie. We have
started a course that will check me out so that I can be aware
of any health problems that might be lingering because of my
nicotine abuse. But he is proud of me that I have been quit
for a while now. He has seen the struggles that I have gone
through to quit smoking. His huge smile joined mine when I told
him I was celebrating an anniversary today. We know that each
anniversary takes me onto more safe ground so that I'll probably
be around long enough now to see my daughter become a grandmother
too. I'd like that very much.
Take
care of you.... It's really important.
And keep on keeping on, each smokefree step is one more step
towards freedom. Find your ATTITUDE and keep it,
Yukpa hashi,
DOF
Two years, eight months, 7 hours, 47 minutes and 31 seconds.
19526 cigarettes not smoked, saving $3,202.48. Life saved: 9
weeks, 4 days, 19 hours, 10 minutes.
www.talkingstick.net
