Below is the very first entry by Cody Winzeler of Long Beach, CA on 4/11/21. Thanks Cody! 🚭
It is my hope that this deck, and helpful posts like Cody's, serve to help others. ❤
"...Actually, a deck of cards helped make quitting [cigarettes] a little easier. I smoked occasionally when I was in high school but in my freshman year of college I started smoking heavily and I've smoked 1-2 packs/day for the last 8 years. I stopped smoking a little after the lockdowns started but it is hard... as I'm sure you know. Going out in public and having this thing in my pocket that is about the size of a pack, being able to feel it and mess around with it, helped me to feel more comfortable when I would get a craving. Plus, having the cards gave my hands something to do when I'd get anxious. Anyway, I think the deck is a super cool idea and I'm sure you'll see a lot of success with it... It is difficult but no part of me regrets it at all. Honestly, I still smoke occasionally but I went from 1-2 packs a day to 1-2 cigarettes a month.
One thing that really helped was to stop thinking of myself as [a] smoker. If someone offered me a smoke, instead of saying I quit or I don't smoke anymore, I just say I don't smoke. I don't call myself a former smoker or anything like that, I'm just a person that doesn't smoke. It's a really small thing but someone once told me something similar and I thought it was stupid but that and carrying a deck around with me have been 2 silly things I've done that have been super helpful. But enough with the unsolicited advice. Congrats on the new deck and I can't wait to see it in person!...
I think having something like stories from other people in the magic/cardist/collector community [is] cool. I was really surprised when I first got into magic and card collecting as a hobby and saw how many hobbyists and professionals smoked. I think [it's] nice to see members of the community that have quit to help support those who are still struggling to it. Most people I’ve met that were not addicted to smoking can’t really understand how difficult stoking can be and how much of a big deal just stopping for a few days is for many of us."