I absolutely love this picture.
I took it while delivering training with Peter earlier this week. During a break Peter was telling me how he had gone, at that point, 33 days without a cigarette.
Now, that is a very significant achievement – as anyone who has given up smoking will testify. I suggested to Peter (sincerely) that he should celebrate this success and Peter agreed (sincerely).
So here you go – captured for posterity – Peter McDermott celebrating his recovery success.
And yes – that is a REAL smile you can see!
{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
Notwithstanding some ongoing uncertainty about the concept of tobacco recovery, for me this is genuinely a candidate for the most unexpected and pleasing recovery story of 2011. I had wondered if it might jinx things to say something like that and make any subsequent lapse more serious, or maybe this and other celebrations of Peter’s success elsewhere will be a source of strength during time of any future cravings. And then I realised I shouldn’t get too vexed about it because this is, after all, Peter McDermott and he mostly doesn’t give a flying fuck what other people think*, which is one of his strengths.
*Not in an ICD-10 Dissocial Personality Disorder way, but more in a “I know my own mind and if you don’t like it you know what to do” kind of way.
Congratulations Peter! I have fond memories of our conversations during my 2009 visit.
With best wishes, Bill
Thanks, Bill.
I did have a few moments in Rome last week. Damned Europeans, smoking up a storm, tempting me. And the last time I quit, I relapsed on holiday in Amsterdam, so it’s definitely a vulnerablity for me, licentious foreign cities filled with nicotine afficionados.
But my Quit Counter says I’ve got 70 days today. That’s 70 days of total nicotine abstinence. Couldn’t have done it without the Champix though.
P.