I find that if I set a goal for myself, more times than not, I make that goal! I don't all the time because I am human. When I don't make that goal, I learn something and I go forward! That's what it's all about! I quit smoking on 02/14/2000. Some of you have read some of my articles because I put one every year, on the anniversary of my quit day, in our local paper. My hope is that, if I can help someone, even if only one person, to quit this habit, I will be happy! Oh, by the way, I was very happy when The McLoone Family entered the scene and gave me a platform for my yearly letter to the people of Hastings! Hopefully, I can help someone 'kick the habit'!

I believe it is time for me to make a confession. I had a medical procedure in 2002 which caused some forever damage to my lungs. In December of 2016, I was diagnosed with COPD. Now, all those years, I thought my smoking was the cause of my breathing problems. Two doctors in December of 2016 told me that my COPD was caused by that medical procedure in 2002, not from my smoking. Now, they also said that even though the smoking did not cause my current problems, they both said that my SMOKING CONTRIBUTED to it! SMOKING all those years did damage my body maybe not to the extent I thought, but smoking DID DAMAGE!

Now, this is not a 'pity party'! I just want my reading audience to learn from my mistakes! Through the years, I have said that I don't want to 'preach' because if someone 'preaches to me', I back away! However, I feel the need to preach this year because I care so deeply – and – because I turned 80 in 2020, I can say whatever I want! LOL!

Sometimes, we need someone to just LISTEN to us, not just to hear us – Someone who has gone through the problem someone who has walked a little in our shoes! Call me – I will listen. This is my cell number – 651-226-4270. If I don't answer, please leave a voicemail or a text. I will call you back!

AND – please say a big THANK YOU to the McLoone Family for bringing THE HASTINGS JOURNAL to our beautiful River City!

Until next year, The ex-smoker and Grandma, Gerri Lundby