Welcome to Livlife. Where I am living my life out loud, for all to read.

By now, you all know that I'm a non-smoker. Really, the only part about this that has been tough has been trying to figure out how to best utilize the time that I used to spend smoking. For instance, driving in the car--well, now I sing like an American Idol, and it's fun!

 

Breaks at work have been tough. Usually I would spend them outside smoking. I liked being outside for that time even when it was cold or snowing or raining so I don't want to stop doing that. My job is indoors, sitting, so I have decided that I will still spend my breaks outside.

 

But what to do?

 

Well, just walking aimlessly has been the routine since I quit, and that's great. Healthier for me in a lot of ways, that's for sure.

 

Today, my afternoon break rolled around and I grabbed my coat to head outside for my walk.  In a drastic change from all last week, it has been cold here-today only 32 degrees. (Last week in the high 40s to 50s). But, it is so bright and sunny out today, it looks a whole lot nicer than it actually is. Undeterred, I set out for my walk, through lovely Augsburg Park in Richfield. (Fortunately, my library sits on the park grounds, so I don't have to walk TO the park to walk in the park). I am walking and thinking that it is actually quite a beautiful day, even though it's chilly. With the sun shining and a light breeze bringing the smells of spring, I was enjoying myself. As I headed down the last curve of the trail (right before I have to turn back) I registered the fact that for the first time....EVER....there were no children on the playground. None. Zip. Zilch. Nada.

 

There are always kids on the playgroud part, even if just kids from the high school hanging out. But then, it is spring break.

 

Suddenly, I was overcome with the childlike urge to play. So I did.

 

I climbed, I jumped, I did the twisty slide and the tunnel slide, I tried the monkey bars (but I have no arm strength and I am too tall, so I could just walk them) I spent a minute on the swings; and I was laughing the whole time. Part of it was that I felt kind of silly playing out there by myself, but mostly I was laughing because it was fun.

 

And then I thought....I would have never done this as a smoker. It's true. Smokers don't play outside...they smoke outside, that is what outside is for-to a smoker. And for the first time, I felt lucky to be a non-smoker, finally.

 

As I walked back to the library to get back to work, I couldn't stop smiling. My day is actually better because I was outside and didn't smoke. It's good. Very, very good.

 

12 days.