Resentments Revisited

ABOUT three years ago I developed a rather serious medical problem not related to alcoholism, which frightened me and threatened to interfere with my pleasures and my ability to perform my occupation. It became apparent that I had to stop smoking. While my life didn't actually depend upon it, certainly I must stop, to get better. This troublesome habituation, like alcoholism, is a difficult pattern to break. Cigarettes are more available at all times than whiskey and, except during a few minutes of a church service or certain short periods in some occupations, one can hold a cigarette almost constantly in the hand. I found myself chewing gum, and practicing the piano, and doing all manner of things to keep my hands busy and my mind off smoking during the difficult first two or three weeks of not smoking--the critical period in breaking any habituation.