Kick the butt or kicks in the butt?

Hi,

Musing#28

Our health minister's campaign against smoking which was confined to reel life for a long time has got into real life also, with the ban on smoking in public places. This has literally thrown the smokers to the street, as other than his home in all other places he will be kicked out if he lights a cigarette. But what about those smokers who smoke on the sly with out the knowledge of their near and dear ones, like youngsters without the knowledge of their parents and yes some of those husbands without the knowledge of their wives. They have to be compulsorily on the streets for their quota of puffs. Some activist sooner or later is going to file a PIL and request the courts to pass an order declaring that streets are also public places and hence the smoking ban to be enforced in the streets also, and if that happens there won't be any place left for the smokers other than their own houses ,and who knows the maid servants may also complain that it is their place of work and hence smoking to be banned at their work place also. The only salvation for the smoker is to KTB(Kick the butt).

After having been a smoker for 36yrs, at the right time I've KTB and saved myself not only all these humiliations and botheration's but also started saving a bit of money. Having been a long time smoker, I understand the difficulty in quitting smoking, but the rewards are King size for KTB.

I'm listing 'The Eight Steps to KTB mission"(Adopted by me and am patenting the same with this blog) for all those smokers who are serious about KTB.

Step 1: Make a commitment to yourself about your mission KTB and also rope in your near and dear ones , by making a commitment to them about your seriousness in KTB and seek their full support to put up with your initial mood swings.

Step2: Create a change of enviornment by taking a break and go to a resort or health spa where you will stay for a minimum period of 15 days, where you will not have access to tobacco and also alcohol as many smokers who also drink find it very difficult to refrain from smoking while having drinks.

Step3:Go for brisk walk everyday morning minimum for 30mts. and also in the evening one hour work out in a gym.

Step4: Do not go for substitutes like nicotine patch or gum or even mints and supari. Because nothing will come near to the Nicotine queen and you will feel frustrated and depressed. On the contrary go into mourning for the death of your nicotine queen and like any mourning you get over it after 10 days. You can also as a diversion do other activities which you enjoy most like playing games either indoor or outdoor, watching your favourite movies, reading those novels you wanted to read or the gardening you were enjoying but due to work pressure had given it up or even cooking if you enjoy the heat of kitchen like the heat of burning butt.

Step 5: After having successfully KTB during this period, when you return back to your old enviornment keep on telling every Tom, Dick and Harry proudly that you have KTB and you also feel proud that you have achieved something great in your life, like having won the KBC. This reinforcement is very much necessary for the next 15 days as then only the important threshold of one month will be crossed over and any habit which is not carried out for a period of one month invariably ceases to be a habit. Mind you even medically speaking smoking is just a habit formation and not an addiction like drugs etc. Hence the so called withdrawal symptoms are more psychological than physiological.

Step 6: You open a RD account in your bank and whatever was your monthly spend on cigarettes the same amount you put in your RD every month and as the savings swells up month after month your will power also will swell up and the wills power will diminish and vanish ultimately.

Step 7 :Post the following slogan prominently at home and at the place of work

" Kick the butt early and not kick the bucket early".

Step 8 : After you have KTB successfully take it upon yourself to cause a difference to your close friend or colleague who is a smoker and motivate him and influence him also to KTB. Whether you are going to be successful or not but it will make you to be a strong advocate against smoking and if you succeed it will be a double whammy for you.

All the best for those smokers who are influence ed by this blog and are going to have their "Mission KTB".

The other smokers who are still not influenced and are not launching their "Mission KTB", please be warned you are going to get lots of Kicks in your butt from all and sundry and your life is going to be miserable.

mentor mohan