How I Quit Smoking

Altho I experimented with cigarettes from quite a young age and was an on/off smoker, (mostly on in later years), I don't know if I was ever really chemically addicted, altho I do know I was psychologically addicted - BIG TIME!

It would have been around 1993, when I was about 29 or so, that I made a decision quite unrelated to smoking. I decided that I had had enuff of trying to do things "my way". It wasn't working. I made the decision to embrace the Truth, whatever that might be, rather than my truth. It wasn't an instant "fix", of any description, I still have pretty severe PTSD* to this day, but I was at least willing to be open. (Ok, a part of me was willing. The journey itself is not quite so straightforward. I have revisited this decision several times before and have experienced other miraculous events as a result.)

A few things happened after that. One thing I remember foremost was when I tie-dyed a sheet purple and hung it up at my window. One day, while lying in bed, I noticed what looked very much like the face of Christ. Above it and below it were two other "faces", one was almost ghostly, the other I can't recall now - maybe skeletal? I kinda wish now I'd kept it, but it eventually faded and I tossed the sheet out when it was no longer needed. I also don't think I took it as seriously as I would now.

The other thing that occurred was that I stopped smoking. I don't mean I gave up - I literally stopped! I was having my usual smoke in bed one morning, (yeah, yeah, I know, lol!), when I found myself musing that I didn't think I would be buying any more tobacco. I was down to the last of my packet and that was, indeed, my last. I didn't smoke again for about nine whole years! No withdrawl, nothing!!!

In 2002, having had another breakdown, I decided to make an effort to get out and be amongst people. I got a job working in a unique pre-loved clothing store called Mothballs. There I met Maria and we became good friends. She is a smoker and so I was eventually tempted to have one. After that I would smoke when I was with her and, of course, I couldn't smoke hers all the time so I would buy my own. I found that if I had it, I would smoke it, but I could take it or leave it. However, after being diagnosed with cancer earlier this year, I cannot bring myself to do it again. I reckon it's even crazier to do it if you're not addicted!

So that is how I stopped smoking. I am blessed to have had such an easy experience. I would hate to go thru what many smokers do when they give up. 

*Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

The Fridge~Part 2 (Does God do Upgrades?)

I think I'd had the fridge about two years when I began to feel disappointed that I hadn't chosen a fridge with self-defrosting freezer. I really struggle with regards to domestics, (long story - part of my Post Traumatic Stress Disorder). Not having to defrost the fridge ought to have been a no-brainer for me, lol! 'Never mind', I laughed to myself one day, 'maybe God does upgrades?'

A while later, I really don't recall how long exactly, I heard the same radio station were giving away Dave Dobbyn's new-at-the-time CD - one that I instantly wanted. This was their CD choice for that weekend's giveaway. Each person who won the CD for the weekend went into a draw for the appliance of the week, drawn on the following Monday. I wasn't at all concerned with that week's appliance, (a fridge apparently), I merely wanted the CD. This was a New Zealand-wide competition, so I was extra amazed when I got thru first pop and won! Wicked!!!

On the following Monday morning I was sitting on the loo with the phone beside me, when it rang. Of course, I wasn't expecting the radio station, hehe! There I was, on the loo, being recorded to go on air. Apparently I had won the appliance! When the announcer asked me if I knew what I had won, I said a fridge-freezer. He 'corrected' me and told me it was a fridge, so I imagined a small beer fridge or something similar. I decided I would sell it and the money would go towards a trip south and I would take a friend. Cool beans!!!

A few days later, when the store phoned to arrange delivery, I told them I already had a good fridge-freezer and asked if they would be willing to sell it for me on commission or something. The bloke on the phone asked me what type I had and informed me that this one was, indeed, a fridge-freezer, not just a fridge as the radio announcer had thought. He recommended that I keep the new one and sell the older one, since I would acquire a brand new warranty. Good thinking!!! Oh ... and then he informed me my new one would be almost exactly the same as the one I had, only this one was the latest model out, having only been available instore for about three months. He then informed me of the one and only difference between the two ... the newer one was ... you guessed it ... frost-free!!!!!!!!! THANK YOU GOD, tehe!

 I was blown away and overjoyed at what had happened. Yes, it's a 'thing', it's a 'gadget', it's a 'material object', but having lived without one entirely for some time, years prior, I knew it wasn't exactly a luxury. I was so greatful that I immediately decided to give the older one to a friend of mine who needed a new one but could not afford it. It seemed the logical thing to do, given how I had been blessed. So yes, God DOES do upgrades, LOL! 
Again, THANK YOU GOD!!!

Ponder this: 
If we're not meant to have late night snacks, then why is there a fridge light? 

The Fridge

Disclaimer: This is NOT Tabitha Alice, nor is it MY fridge, LOL!
(Just gimme the grapes!!!)

Ok, so I haven't started at the "beginning" and now I am about to skip the story about moving from the beach place, but this is another series of events that seems to want to be told now.

While I was living in the flat by the sea, I made an interesting discovery, or rather learned just how easy it was to be given what I needed, wanted, or neither in particular! What started off as an inkling years before, with intermittent experiences of 'uncannily' winning stuff, soon became what I am certain would fill at least an entire exercise book! I discovered that I could win stuff on radio stations with ease and often effortless endeavours. Often I would know I was going to win, or would make up my mind I was. I have several stories to tell about this rather lucrative period of my life, but one of the best ones was to do with a fridge-freezer, or perhaps a 25" colour tele with cabinet ... here goes ...

At the time I refer to, I only had a tiny fridge with freezer box that I had bought off a friend who was moving away. It got to the point where it was becoming inadequate but I really didn't know how I could afford a bigger one. Altho I had super cheap rent in my prime seaside spot, I wasn't working and just didn't have any real disposable cash. I decided I would probably like one of the 'slimline' ones ... not too big for one person. One Friday morning, as I lay in bed, I started scanning the dial on my radio, and as I passed one station I heard them announcing a competition to win a 25" colour television set with cabinet. My immediate thought was that I could probably swap it with the dealers for the fridge I wanted! Long-story-short, I got thru that morning to answer a question and be in the draw on the following Monday. The question, incidentally, tho I no longer remember it, was identical to one I had heard on a game show on the tele only days before. I had, strangely, taken particular notice otherwise I would not have known the answer.

~Fear man or LOVE God?~

Come the Monday morning, I was certain I was the winner, even to the point where I had my hand on my phone when it rang. Funny thing, no matter how much I won, I was always just so excited and greatful. Anyone listening would have thought it was my very first win ever! I was down at the radio station with morning tea for everyone only a short time later, to pick up the voucher and sort out the details for acquiring my prize.

When the store phoned me to deliver the tele I asked them about swapping for the fridge I wanted. They eventually gave me the go-ahead to choose whatever fridge-freezer I wanted to the value of the tele, ($1,500). The slimline fridge I wanted was only $1,050 at the time, so everyone was a winner!

Again, there is a "part two" of this story. Back soon ...