A little over 2 weeks in and not a single craving for a cigarette. A big deal for those of you who knew me before the race. I have been smoking about a pack a day for a little over a year now. Before I left the country I had made up my mind that I wanted to use this trip as a way to stop smoking. However, I thought that I would have a harder time doing so. I don’t necessarily enjoy smoking, but it was a bad habit I had picked up and just haven’t been able to quit while having the same routine, and being around other smokers.
All that being said, I can’t say I have beaten this thing just yet. I have been living a good ways from any town, I haven’t had any personal money to spend yet, and have not been around anyone who smokes. So I haven’t really been tempted in the two weeks I’ve been here. It wasn’t until I was here in Honduras for a week that I saw an empty pack of cigs on the ground in the town square and realized, “Oh yea I used to smoke.” Cigarettes haven’t even been on my mind. It’s like I never even smoked, and let me just say, that feels awesome!
God has helped me keep my mind from thinking about them, and has kept me and my mind occupied on these wonderful children, manual labor on the land, and has just kept me focused on Him. I’m reading more of His word, journaling from time to time, and just enjoying the journey He has me on right now.
That being said, I’ll just keep praying that my mindset stay the course and that when opportunities to smoke arise, that I will have the discipline to not give in and continue living a healthier life, and being a better steward of the body He has given me.
P.S. Not being able to snack whenever I want, and not eating to fullness every meal is a bit of a challenge right now, but I can see God is helping me work on my self-control. I knew this would be the hardest thing for me right out of the gate, HAHA.
All is well here in Honduras, and though I don’t miss the U.S. yet, I do miss friends and family. Some prayer requests you could send our way: Team Unity; These children’s lives and their pursuit of God; Health; Safety; Guidance for my team and squad to know where/when/for whom God wants His Light to Shine.
