East Kootenay News Online Weekly (e-KNOW) is proud to welcome a new addition to our regular retinue of information and views.

Meet Debbie Elliott, a single mother of two girls, aged 13 and 19. She is an artist and entrepreneur (owner of Black Door Tattoo), who calls Cranbrook home.

Elliott recently took advantage of the provincial government’s introduction of a program that allows for smoking cessation products to be covered under PharmaCare.

Premier Christy Clark announced Sept. 27, “Each year, more than 6,000 British Columbians needlessly die from tobacco use. By providing convenient and direct support, we are helping British Columbians live smoke-free and improve their health as well as the health of their families. By reducing the number of people who smoke, not only will we prevent or delay the onset of diseases like heart attacks and cancer but also avoid the millions of dollars cost on our health care system.”

Long desirous of quitting smoking, Elliott decided to seize the QuitNow opportunity and received a start on her freedom from almost a lifetime of bondage to an addictive substance – a product that was promoted as a lifestyle enhancing, reputation bolstering and aesthetics improving thing when Elliott was growing up.

Armed with a free weapon to begin her addiction eradication, Habitrol, Elliott opted to take things one step further to force herself to stay on the “right path” and she has courageously decided to share her story as she heads toward kicking her habit of 35 years – smoking.

“I’m not that bad – I only smoke half a pack a day,” she admitted Nov. 11, when she announced her intention to quit smoking. Note her intention – she has a countdown that has begun.

But we will let Deb tell her story. She is going to provide e-KNOW with regular updates on how things are going, what she’s feeling and thinking about and anything else that crosses her mind in relation to quitting smoking.

She wants to inspire others to do the same. We are proud to once again say, meet Debbie Elliott.

Friday, November 11

Today is a big day…I publically announced that I commit to quitting smoking… right after I finish this carton. There are four packs left and already the fear has set in. If you are a smoker you know exactly what I mean!

I am fortunate to have the opportunity to enhance my success in this undertaking by going REALLY public vis a vis E-KNOW and of course the phenomenon that I love to hate, Facebook! And in doing this I hope to bring some of you with me…I want to be proud of myself and I want everyone who loves me to be proud of me too. And I want to be rid of this demon. I know every other smoker feels this way…even though we all talk about how much we “like” smoking.

I have been smoking for over 35 years now. The longest time I have ever managed to stop smoking is four months…ever. I clearly remember the elation of not smoking…the freedom…the money! The health! Oh my God I felt so much better and accomplished so much more with all of the extra time I had! It blows my mind how I don’t choose that life all of the time! It’s hard not to go into all of the redeeming qualities of being a non smoker but as I smoker and to any other smoker, we know what they are. We beat ourselves up with every smoke (or at least I do), and then turn around and justify it. As the excuses leave my mouth I feel lame.

Anyway, this is it! Just putting it out there that if it’s time for you to give it a shot too…join me! Let’s start a craze!

I just thought it’s ironic too, that at this very moment I have 100 smokes left… let the countdown begin…

Today I’m excited!

Saturday, Nov. 12

Well…I had a few beverages of the alcoholic sort last night and really ripped through my precious count…down to 82 just like that. I would like to take this opportunity to thank my dear non-smoking friends who CHOSE to sit wrapped in blankets in the freezing cold while I indulged myself!

To be continued…

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