The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.

Resolutions

by Dessa Rodeffer, Quill Publisher/Owner

January 9, 2007

The idea of making resolutions, is to make something better, or as Webster puts it, "mend my ways." The synonym listed is "courage."

That makes me stop and think. It does take courage to make any kind of change in our lives. We are creatures of habit... and thus, the need from time to time, to analyze our ways to see where we are headed.

Why is it that bad habits are so easy to get into, and good habits are so hard to stick too?

Since Illinois implemented the "No smoking law in public places effective January 1st, it's a good time for smokers to muster up some courage and kick the habit.

In searching the web Dictionary for "Resolution," I found a footnote about helping smokers quit at the Colorado QuitLine at www.coquitline.org or call toll free at 1.800.QUIT.NOW for free personalized support and a quit plan, created just for you by a quit coach. It says you will get a free self-help guide with quit tools to help you be tobacco free. It says:

"Free nicotine patches mailed directly to you! You must be 18 and participate in the QuitLine program"...Patches slowly reduce the amount of nicotine in your body to help reduce your withdrawal symptoms. They do not cause cancer and have been proven highly effective in helping people quit for good!"

Did you know that 58 days smoke free; 868 cigarettes not smoked; $295.80 more money in your pocket; 15 hours of your life saved.

Smoking causes cancer, heart disease, chronic bronchitis, asthma and emphysema. (within 20 minutes of quitting blood pressure and pulse rate decrease, after 8 hours carbon monoxide and oxygen levels in blood return to normal; after a day, the likelihood of a heart attack decreases; 2 days- nerve endings regenerate; sense of smell and taste are enhanced; 2 weeks- circulation improves and lung function increases; 1-9 months- coughing, sinus congestion, fatigue and shortness of breath decrease; after 5 yrs, stroke risk is reduced to that of a non-smoker; 10 yrs. risk of dying from lung cancer is about half that of a current smoker; and after 15 yrs the risk of coronary heart disease and death become roughly equivalent to those who have never smoked.

Muster up some courage to quit smoking today!