Jason Kendall of the Alton Memorial Hospital Plant Operations team might agree with the old joke that it’s easy to quit smoking, because he’s done it many times. But this time he’s sure it’s the last time.
Kendall hasn’t smoked since last Dec. 30, the same day that his wife quit – the day before their first wedding anniversary. But don’t let the date fool you into thinking it was a New Year’s resolution.
“If we had thought of it as a resolution it probably wouldn’t have worked, since most people don’t have their New Year’s resolutions last very long,” Jason said. “To me, the secret is taking it done day at a time. If you go into it thinking that you’re never going to smoke again, that really makes it seem difficult. Just think that you’re not going to smoke that day, then the same thing the next day. Then you realize a lot of time has gone by.”
The difference for Jason has been life-changing. His grandparents both suffered from emphysema as a result of smoking, his mother has COPD, and he realized he didn’t want to head down the same path. Now 36 years old, Jason started smoking when he was 18. Although he said he never smoked more than a half-pack a day, it took its toll.
“It’s nice to breathe fresh air and taste good food,” he said. “You don’t even realize those things until you can. I’ve fallen in love with my wife’s cooking. And simple things like going for a nice walk or smelling the rain when it’s coming in is really great.”
Those things didn’t happen immediately, nor did fresh clothes. Jason had to wash his clothes, particularly his winter coats, many times to get the smoke odor out.
“I have a good support system,” he said. “It’s good that my wife and I quit together. Now I never smoked in my car, or around my kids. I sure hope they don’t fall into the smoking habit.”
Jason has worked 10 years at Alton Memorial, the first five in Housekeeping and since then in Plant Operations. Now he does his work with a much clearer perspective.
“I quit for 13 months once before, but there was a lot of irritability with that,” he said. “Now I don’t crave it at all, so I’m sure I’ve done it this time. I would tell anyone that it can be done, and taking it a day at a time is the best way.”