“[It’s like] scoring in the Super Bowl; you’re not doing it for the fans. You’re not doing it for anyone. You’re doing it for yourself because the reason you smoke is for yourself.”
Rafael Chavez, a master sergeant at Kelly Air Force Base in San Antonio, was destined to be a Dallas Cowboys fan growing up in Mission, Texas, where Coach Tom Landry was born a legend. He even spent $75 on a Landry football card from the 1960s.
Over the years, Chavez tried many times to quit smoking. He eventually, slowly reduced hiscigarette smoking to five cigarettes a day and then used nicotine gum to fight off the urges until he was down to no cigarettes. He put his gum in the
same pocket he used to carry his pack and whenever he found himself wanting a cigarette, he’d reach in and find the gum. This is a very practical tip for other smokers who
Unlike his clean-cut hero Landry, though, Chavez had a blemish – he was a smoker.
He started smoking at 15 years old. He was a regular smoker by 18. Now many years later, Chavez decided to start over and quit smoking for good. He’s been smokeless for six months – and he says he feels like he has scored a Super Bowl touchdown.
He started smoking at 15 years old. He was a regular smoker by 18. Now many years later, Chavez decided to start over and quit smoking for good. He’s been smokeless for six months – and he says he feels like he has scored a Super Bowl touchdown.
“I want to live a life
that I can enjoy.”
are trying to find ways to help resist the temptation to smoke.
Rafael’s scored a touchdown for his health, and along the way became more like Landry, his fellow Mission native and football hero. “By quitting, you are basically taking charge of your life and saying, ‘I will not kill myself,’” he said. “I want to live a life that I can enjoy.”
Rafael’s scored a touchdown for his health, and along the way became more like Landry, his fellow Mission native and football hero. “By quitting, you are basically taking charge of your life and saying, ‘I will not kill myself,’” he said. “I want to live a life that I can enjoy.”
“[It’s like] scoring in the Super
Bowl; you’re not doing it for
the fans. You’re not doing it for
anyone. You’re doing it for yourself
because the reason you smoke is for yourself. You have to do it for yourself and then others will see the results,” Chavez said.
Chavez started smoking because it was something to do with his friends, and because he would get a smoke break at work. It was almost a reward because the nonsmokers didn’t get the extra break. He was smoking almost a pack of cigarettes a day.
Chavez started smoking because it was something to do with his friends, and because he would get a smoke break at work. It was almost a reward because the nonsmokers didn’t get the extra break. He was smoking almost a pack of cigarettes a day.
