3.25.08

TFFL Episode 2

Nothing great in the world
has been accomplished without
passion.
- Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel

Let it not be said that the Hispanic culture is lacking in passion.  I’ve always known this to be true - at least from a distance - that this passion runs deep in the Latino community.  But after experiencing firsthand Miami’s own “Calle Ocho” festival, deep in the heart of Little Havana I know this to be true.

The conglomeration of sights (1,000,000 people of all backgrounds), sounds (many infectious genres of music) and tastes (dishes that cause the mouth to water at first reaching your olfactory nerve) created a veritable cornucopia of Latino life not often found all in the same place at the same time.

Let it also not be said that an anti-tobacco campaign doesn’t evoke passion from both sides of the debate - both of which I enjoy seeing greatly.  The passion that is so exuded by those that argue the pro-tobacco side of the issue is most certainly the same passion that they will tap into when the time arrives that they finally decide that for their sake and the sake of everyone around them that they need to quit tobacco.

They will then work towards freeing themselves from that habit with the same gusto that they have used to argue that they have the right to that habit in the first place.  And as addictive as the additives are in tobacco products, that same gusto is absolutely going to be as necessary as the three rocket boosters that cause the space shuttle to have enough force to escape the earth’s gravity.  Even the space shuttle can overpower the bond of gravity with enough determination.  So too can someone be freed from this habit.

At Bike Week in Daytona, we met a guy whose father died of lung cancer from smoking cigarettes yet he was still smoking and by looking into his eyes you could tell he genuinely didn’t want to be.  The habit and addiction is so strong that not even the gut-wrenching life-altering pain of losing a loved one has been able to sway him from his self-destructive habit – YET.

The addiction to nicotine is something I cannot identify with.  But as we are out and about, make no mistake, we aren’t here to preach to or condemn tobacco users.  We accept people at the intersection of our paths at an event and we care enough not to leave them there if they truly want to make a positive change.

We’ve engaged in conversation with those who want to quit or are in the process of quitting.  We’ve talked with those who have quit but are still using the patch to help balance their moods as nicotine has affected them that severely that they don’t want to be a burden to their families due to mood swings from withdrawal.

Part of our team recently went to a YMCA in Ocala.  While there, they encountered a rehab group, which included people that were there for various reasons.  They all thought Qwitter (http://qwitter.tobaccofreeflorida.com) was a great idea because it is based on the support-group premise – and they all know first-hand what it means to need support to overcome something. 

One man in this group had received two DUI’s and was on the verge of losing his license.  But he loves riding his motorcycle too much and isn’t going to let anything get in the way of something he cared about.

So can be the case with tobacco usage keeping us from hurting our loved ones just by seeing us chained to that habit.  If tobacco-usage is as innocuous as the peer-pressure and advertisements have made it seem, then why is it always such a stake to the heart of friends and loved ones when the habit begins – and continues.  W. Edwards Deming said, “It is not necessary to change.  Survival is not mandatory.”  If we are true to ourselves and don’t allow our pride to get the best of us, we can make this positive change and we can survive to live full lives of impact for the betterment of this world.

We welcome ALL of your comments and all means all.  Good, bad or indifferent. 

Write about our website. 
Write about our videos. 
Write about or respond to our blogs. 
Write about our television and radio commercials. 
Write about our magazine ads, newspaper ads, billboards, flyers, bracelets, temporary tattoos, beach balls, Frisbees and stickers. 
Write about tobacco legislation. 
Write about your rights. 
Write about your freedoms to engage in activities you’re legally allowed to engage in. 

There is no page limit and your parents, mentors, professors and teachers would be proud that you’re fulfilling Florida’s mandated Gordon Rule – even if it isn’t done during class-related time.

When you write about these topics or tell us how you feel in person, we know you’re out there and we know you’ve heard.

You won’t hurt our feelings because we know the seed of tobacco-freedom has been planted.

The first step on the ladder is often the most difficult.

We’ll be there with a hand up.

Have a strong day.

Tobacco Free Florida out.