Today I made my way over to The Night Owl, my old favorite coffeehouse, and planted myself at a table with my ipad and Apple Pencil. A few hours later, I looked up and realized I had actually gotten a lot of drawing done. There’s something about the hum of that place—the espresso machine, the indie music, the parade of people with their own creative worlds swirling around—that makes it easier to focus. And most importantly, it keeps me away from thinking about cigarettes.
I’ll be honest though: today came with a disappointment. I found out I wasn’t accepted to Comic-Con San Diego for next July. I was placed on the waiting list instead. That one hurt. I’ve been dreaming about that big convention floor for years. But instead of letting the rejection throw me off track, I reminded myself—I’m already registered and ready for two huge events: WonderCon and the LA Times Festival of Books. Those are big wins. Those are major steps forward. And they’re happening because I quit smoking and put that money into my art and books instead.
Drawing helps. It shifts my focus, gets me out of the house, and makes the cravings fade just a little further into the background. And The Night Owl has an open mic—soon enough, I’ll be standing up there reading my poetry. Another reason to stay smoke-free so I can actually breathe while doing it.
Slowly but surely, the cravings are loosening their grip. One day soon, they’ll be almost gone. And I’ll still be here—drawing, creating, staying alive, and moving forward.
I got this.
by Dan and Bonkers
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