PART 2

Bruria:
"Glad you did. Aren't farting stories the funniest, most healing kind?"

She then delivered her own smoke-quitting story. Sure enough, before too long . . .

Helene said:
"Bruria, wow! I so much appreciated your success story regarding quitting smoking! Yes, you should include your story in your web site! It could very well be an inspiration to others! Like any addiction, quitting it must be a 'one day at a time' process. Maybe even a 'one hour at a time' effort. I'm not ready yet, but I am gathering ammunition!"

Bruria revealed:
"Actually, not many people know I used to smoke. In fact, I think that knowing me, they would find it hard to believe...I forgot to mention that as a teenager I thought that smoking was "sexy" and very cool. Oh yeah, I even practiced my smoking in front of the mirror... As a fellow bizwoman, I'd like to mention the little marketing book "Positioning" which so brilliantly suggests that a PR campaign which "positioned" smokers as "losers" might do the trick. It's so true...but how do you fight denial--one of the most powerful of defense mechanisms?"

Helene repeated:
"Like any addiction, quitting must be a "one day at a time" process. Maybe even, "one hour at a time".

Bruria:
"Look, I may be wrong (I almost hope I am)... but I'm not sure that smoking is more addictive than a favorite food, a hobbie or, certainly, ha, ha, the Internet... Of course, I wouldn't utter such blasphemy "in public" cuz, heck, I wouldn't want to sound all that square..."

Helene:
"I am not ready yet, but I am gathering ammunition!"

Bruria:
"Ammunition? Now you're talking! Perhaps, not unlike women abused by a charming-sociopaths of a husband, you know...deeply habituated... You have to look at smoking as your enemy--which it is, then take the necessary steps to kill it--or else! "

Helene:
"Hope we can do "LUNCH" sometime soon. BTW--where are you located?"

Bruria:
"A little island called Manhattan."

Helene:
"Awh... Visit my web site in the meantime!"

Bruria:
"Ohh! I already have ;). Who did it? You? It's great! As for lunch, the furthest I go is New Jersey...(went there today...to stock up on Japanese food from Yaohan) But the Big Apple's always ready for another visitor. And, don't worry, there are still some very nice smokers around too...:). You're in CA, right?"

Helene:
"I'm based in Cleveland, Cleveland, Ohio. If your travels should include Cleveland, we must get together! And right now, I wish I had your healing hands here. My neck and shoulders feel like boulders."

Bruria:
"Cleveland? Why was I thinking CA? Hmm...compared to Timbaktu, you're actually just around the corner.... But talking about shoulders and boulders, I know what you mean. These days, though, I do very little hands-on work. Now it's mainly content providing! Take a look at my CTS article. Just like your site, my content is also for working people--including you. Hey, feel free to link from your site. Or shall we cross-link, perhaps?"

Helene:
"I must admit--that I am "technically challenged." I would love to begin linking my site with yours and others. I just have NO IDEA how to do it! It is one of my goals to learn how! I'll take a look at your CTS article soon. Oh, I can copy and paste. Thanks again, my friend. Hope you have a wonderful week."

Bruria:
"If you know how to get online, you can have fun. If you can copy and paste, then we're in business.:) If not, tell me what you do know, and we'll start from there."

Helene:
"Can copy and paste. However, I do not know how to download. I don't think it would be too difficult--I would just need to know how. I use a Mac. Does that make any difference?"

Bruria:
"A Mac is always better, easier, cooler...We'll get to work on it soon. In the meantime, I just can't help thinking you sound too positive to be smoking your health away...

Helene:
"I know, I know, I know..."

Bruria:
"You will, you will, you will..." So tell me, what motivated you to ask for those quitting stories?"

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