I got an email from a person who had quit smoking on an online support group I helped at for a while many years ago. She has recently celebrated her 10th year of having successfully quit smoking. Her comment below was enlightening for showing how happy people are for having broken free from nicotine addiction and giving a personal concrete example on how to help your kids avoid making the same mistake with this new product and any product that will likely come around at some future time to get them hooked into a lifetime of nicotine addiction: "Great job Joel! Thinking back to my early years, the many folks who told me how difficult it was to quit after starting … I never believed them. Thought they were so weak while I felt so strong … I knew that I could quit anytime I wanted and it was silly they couldn’t quit too. In fact, even once I had my forever quit, I did not realize that I was indeed an addict. Always thought of myself as a rebel bucking the system. Not the fish on a hook that I was. It was an awakening for me while working on sustaining my quit to discover that I was an addict. That I was as hooked as any heavy addict and with hooks inside of me that would take a lot of work to get out of myself. And keep out. My eldest son was smoking before I even knew and my sister was giving him cigarettes against my will. She would say that I am a hypocrite for not allowing him to smoke. He continues to smoke 30 years on … But I didn’t make the same mistake with my second son. I started teaching him and rewarding him with certificates for every year he did not smoke from the age of 12. Promised him a hundred dollars per year to be paid on his 18th and 21st birthdays. He broke the cycle. And I happily paid him $1,800 and $2,100 respectively. Ten years later and he still thinks that smoking is disgusting. And also, is aware of the addictive properties of nicotine after the years of warnings to stay away. This son accepted my warnings and looked forward to his certificates for his wall and the money coming down the road while I happily puffed away on cigarettes. Two years after his 21st birthday was when I took my own advice … stop & reward myself in a million different ways. Rewards like seeing the benefits of not smoking - fresh breath, sweet smelling skin and hair, fatter wallet, staying with the party instead of outside for a cigarette, etc. Then the monetary rewards, the clean clothing, house and car rewards, no longer jonesing for a hit reward, and on and on. We people. We need a vision to reach for. A vision beyond our sorry state of now. In whatever hole we have dug for ourselves, knowing that we can get out and how it will be when we do sure have a lot of power. Have a great day and keep putting out those videos!"
Yes I know your material Joel. You helped me quit my nasty 3 packs a day habit dang near 25 years ago. I've taken a bazillion nice, clean breaths, and have saved hundreds of thousands of dollars.You couldn't pay me to reintroduce nicotine into my system. Thanks Joel! Your library has made all the difference for me and so many people are in your debt.
Just found your stuff around Christmas. Quit on Dec 30th 2023 and I have to say it has been the smoothest my daily life has gone in a few years, being able to just do what I do without having to math out when I can get a fix. I love your practical approach and your strong evidence to explain why it is worth being so pragmatic about such a horrible thing. I cannot thank you enough.
Here is the link to a UA-cam video that illustrates the kind of life of that usually results when recreationally introducing an addictive drug into your life: ua-cam.com/video/HUngLgGRJpo/v-deo.html
I got an email from a person who had quit smoking on an online support group I helped at for a while many years ago. She has recently celebrated her 10th year of having successfully quit smoking. Her comment below was enlightening for showing how happy people are for having broken free from nicotine addiction and giving a personal concrete example on how to help your kids avoid making the same mistake with this new product and any product that will likely come around at some future time to get them hooked into a lifetime of nicotine addiction:
"Great job Joel!
Thinking back to my early years, the many folks who told me how difficult it was to quit after starting … I never believed them. Thought they were so weak while I felt so strong … I knew that I could quit anytime I wanted and it was silly they couldn’t quit too.
In fact, even once I had my forever quit, I did not realize that I was indeed an addict. Always thought of myself as a rebel bucking the system. Not the fish on a hook that I was.
It was an awakening for me while working on sustaining my quit to discover that I was an addict. That I was as hooked as any heavy addict and with hooks inside of me that would take a lot of work to get out of myself. And keep out.
My eldest son was smoking before I even knew and my sister was giving him cigarettes against my will. She would say that I am a hypocrite for not allowing him to smoke. He continues to smoke 30 years on …
But I didn’t make the same mistake with my second son. I started teaching him and rewarding him with certificates for every year he did not smoke from the age of 12. Promised him a hundred dollars per year to be paid on his 18th and 21st birthdays. He broke the cycle. And I happily paid him $1,800 and $2,100 respectively. Ten years later and he still thinks that smoking is disgusting. And also, is aware of the addictive properties of nicotine after the years of warnings to stay away.
This son accepted my warnings and looked forward to his certificates for his wall and the money coming down the road while I happily puffed away on cigarettes.
Two years after his 21st birthday was when I took my own advice … stop & reward myself in a million different ways. Rewards like seeing the benefits of not smoking - fresh breath, sweet smelling skin and hair, fatter wallet, staying with the party instead of outside for a cigarette, etc. Then the monetary rewards, the clean clothing, house and car rewards, no longer jonesing for a hit reward, and on and on.
We people. We need a vision to reach for. A vision beyond our sorry state of now. In whatever hole we have dug for ourselves, knowing that we can get out and how it will be when we do sure have a lot of power.
Have a great day and keep putting out those videos!"
glad you still posting Joel. you helped me quit and I'll never take another puff, or gum, or Zyn, or patch :)
Yes I know your material Joel. You helped me quit my nasty 3 packs a day habit dang near 25 years ago. I've taken a bazillion nice, clean breaths, and have saved hundreds of thousands of dollars.You couldn't pay me to reintroduce nicotine into my system. Thanks Joel! Your library has made all the difference for me and so many people are in your debt.
Another important video on the ways the tobacco industry continues addicting our youth. Thanks, Joel
Three years now,and indebted to you for providing so much positive information on your website.
Just found your stuff around Christmas. Quit on Dec 30th 2023 and I have to say it has been the smoothest my daily life has gone in a few years, being able to just do what I do without having to math out when I can get a fix. I love your practical approach and your strong evidence to explain why it is worth being so pragmatic about such a horrible thing. I cannot thank you enough.
Its so nice to see you Joel!! You are the one that helped me stop smoking. 3 years clean now!!
Love to see Joel! ❤
Thank you, Joel. The business of addiction is so abhorrent.
3 years nicotine free, thanks to you Joel. Can't thank you enough.....Also great to see you. God bless you 🙏
God Bless ya Joel for CARING.
thank you for all the investment in helping people over-smart their addiction over the years
Ex smoker, quit cold turkey. Been on and off Zyns / nicotine salts for 3-4 years now. I don’t know if I will be able to get over this one.
Here is the link to a UA-cam video that illustrates the kind of life of that usually results when recreationally introducing an addictive drug into your life: ua-cam.com/video/HUngLgGRJpo/v-deo.html
Woe to them that invent things that destroy life! They will certainly pay the price.