Can Recession Tame Your Smoking Habit, Make You Leaner, and Bring You Love?
Wendy Lapidus-Saltz
January 30, 2009
Two friends are steadfast smokers. Lately, all they have been talking about is the high price of cigarettes during this recessionary time. Almost every time I see them, the topic comes up.
And then a few months pass. I phone one of these friends on Monday and see the other that Wednesday. Monday tells me she is manicuring her own nails now, and getting haircuts every four months instead of every two so she can afford her smokes.
Wednesday says she has given up smoking to get more frequent manicures, and she notices her skin is looking better. I notice too.
I´m surprised how nonchalant she is when she mentions quitting. I recall how many times we spoke about it, and how many times I reassured her that she could do it. (As a certified hypnotist, I´ve helped lots of people quit, and every one of them has survived—most quite gracefully.)
"Bet you feel pretty good about lowering your risk of all sorts of things," I say, thinking about the many health concerns.
"I´m ecstatic. My nails look terrific. I never even think about biting them!"
I giggle to myself. She gave up smoking for better nails. And on top of that, it was easy. This time last year she couldn´t live an hour without knowing there was at least half a pack in her purse.
A client gave up her car to save on gas, maintenance costs, repairs and parking. Now she walks just about everywhere, and is becoming lean. When it´s very cold, she takes the bus. Last week she met a great guy on the bus. They´re planning a coffee date next week.
All this because of the recession?
Well Grandma said if they throw rotten apples at you, make applesauce. And it seems like a great number of people are grabbing onto that idea.
But there´s something else behind this. Something simple but very profound.
A change of environment. An alteration in routine. A mystical example of the old adage "If you always do what you´ve always done, you´ll always get what you´ve always gotten."
The flip side is: if you change what you do, other things will change. You will drop old scenarios. New situations will present themselves. Different opportunities. Different people. Different perspectives to bounce off your thinking.
If there are any benefits to our financial climate, this is one. What have you noticed changing for the better? Consider jotting it down, looking for others, and plotting to keep the best of these changes when the economy swings back. ©2009 by Wendy Lapidus-Saltz. All rights reserved.
And then a few months pass. I phone one of these friends on Monday and see the other that Wednesday. Monday tells me she is manicuring her own nails now, and getting haircuts every four months instead of every two so she can afford her smokes.
Wednesday says she has given up smoking to get more frequent manicures, and she notices her skin is looking better. I notice too.
I´m surprised how nonchalant she is when she mentions quitting. I recall how many times we spoke about it, and how many times I reassured her that she could do it. (As a certified hypnotist, I´ve helped lots of people quit, and every one of them has survived—most quite gracefully.)
"Bet you feel pretty good about lowering your risk of all sorts of things," I say, thinking about the many health concerns.
"I´m ecstatic. My nails look terrific. I never even think about biting them!"
I giggle to myself. She gave up smoking for better nails. And on top of that, it was easy. This time last year she couldn´t live an hour without knowing there was at least half a pack in her purse.
A client gave up her car to save on gas, maintenance costs, repairs and parking. Now she walks just about everywhere, and is becoming lean. When it´s very cold, she takes the bus. Last week she met a great guy on the bus. They´re planning a coffee date next week.
All this because of the recession?
Well Grandma said if they throw rotten apples at you, make applesauce. And it seems like a great number of people are grabbing onto that idea.
But there´s something else behind this. Something simple but very profound.
A change of environment. An alteration in routine. A mystical example of the old adage "If you always do what you´ve always done, you´ll always get what you´ve always gotten."
The flip side is: if you change what you do, other things will change. You will drop old scenarios. New situations will present themselves. Different opportunities. Different people. Different perspectives to bounce off your thinking.
If there are any benefits to our financial climate, this is one. What have you noticed changing for the better? Consider jotting it down, looking for others, and plotting to keep the best of these changes when the economy swings back. ©2009 by Wendy Lapidus-Saltz. All rights reserved.
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