Rosalie Rodriguez
has been a smoker
for the past 14 years
pretty much all of
her adult life.
Now she’s ready
to change that.
And she’s set
a date to quit.
Rosalie Rodriguez has been a smoker for the past 14 years – pretty much all of her adult life. Now she’s ready to change that. And she’s set a date to quit.
It was a set of events involving her father that made Rosalie consider quitting for the sake of her own health.
“One of the main reasons I started thinking about it is because my father smoked for 38 years and he (became) a born-again Christian and quit
Also, there is the stress of her job. Rosalie is a forensic caseworker in the mental health field. She works with individuals in the legal system who have been diagnosed with mental health problems.
“It’s supposed to be an 8:30 to 5:30 job, but there are crises, there are situations…”
“It’s supposed to be an 8:30 to 5:30 job, but there are crises, there are situations…”
smoking,” she said. “After he quit smoking – about a year later – he was diagnosed with cancer of the bladder.”
The doctors said the cancer was caused by her father’s history of smoking. “I had never even heard of cancer of the bladder being caused by smoking,” said Rosalie.
The doctors said the cancer was caused by her father’s history of smoking. “I had never even heard of cancer of the bladder being caused by smoking,” said Rosalie.
“I’m thinking positive
and I’m thinking that
I can succeed”
It’s tough, she says.
In her effort to quit, however, Rosalie has help. For one thing, she has her religious faith.
In addition, she’s receiving support from a program (877-YES-QUIT) that has provided her with some helpful ideas.
“Wherever you’re going to go, take a pack of tricks, as they call it,” she said. “Every time you think about smoking a cigarette, bring out your bag of tricks – like gum or a straw.”
The “tricks” will help, but ultimately, Rosalie knows that success is in her own hands.
“I’m thinking positive and I’m thinking that I can succeed,” she says.
In addition, she’s receiving support from a program (877-YES-QUIT) that has provided her with some helpful ideas.
“Wherever you’re going to go, take a pack of tricks, as they call it,” she said. “Every time you think about smoking a cigarette, bring out your bag of tricks – like gum or a straw.”
The “tricks” will help, but ultimately, Rosalie knows that success is in her own hands.
“I’m thinking positive and I’m thinking that I can succeed,” she says.
“But then I thought, you know what? I need to stop because (smoking can lead to) lung cancer and heart disease – all that and more.”
She has another big reason for quitting – her 14-year-old son. “I’m doing it for health reasons because I want to be there as long as I can to see my son and his kids and to have a longer life."
But she knows that quitting won’t be easy. Some of her closest friends smoke, and it will be difficult to avoid cigarettes when she’s around them.
And then there’s the main reason she says she smokes: the stress of daily life. For example, she worries about her bills.
She has another big reason for quitting – her 14-year-old son. “I’m doing it for health reasons because I want to be there as long as I can to see my son and his kids and to have a longer life."
But she knows that quitting won’t be easy. Some of her closest friends smoke, and it will be difficult to avoid cigarettes when she’s around them.
And then there’s the main reason she says she smokes: the stress of daily life. For example, she worries about her bills.
