So With All These "Progressives" Around, Why Is The Planet Falling Apart? - Guardian

[Binkie The Clown]

3. I'm reminded of something I read many years ago.

Husband (to wife): I wish you'd quit smoking.
Wife: I've tried and tried. I just can't seem to quit.
Husband: What you really mean is you don't want to quit.
Wife: No, I really do want to. I just haven't been able to.
Husband: You're just kidding yourself. Admit it. You don't really want to quit.
Wife: O.K. Fine. You win. I don't want to quit smoking.
Husband: You're only saying that because you know you can't quit if you wanted to.

I "tried and tried" for years to quit smoking and was never successful. Then, one day, sitting in the doctors office while my wife got the news that she had terminal lung cancer, I chose to quit. Right then and there. I decided I would never smoke again, and I never did. It was a choice all along. The only thing I didn't know before was that rather than make that choice, I was lying to myself and telling myself I really couldn't quit. In fact I could have decided to quit at any time, but instead, I lied to myself to keep from making that choice. Because in the end, I smoked because I wanted to, until one day, I didn't want to anymore.

"Unable to quit" simply means "I don't want to quit." I know. I've been on both sides of that issue, and told myself that I couldn't quit, for all those same "reasons".