The Runaway Guide

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How I Overcame Addiction

August 7, 2015 by The Runaway Guide 12 Comments

kid smoking a cigaretteBlack boogers. Cat’s butt breath. Phlegm filled coughs. Overall brain deadness.

Yet every morning I would spark up a lip burning debate with my good friend the cancer stick.

I would smoke two to enhance my coffee buzz, a few to loosen the bowels, and a dozen to write a blog post.

Everyday for over 10 years I got closer and closer to becoming an 85 year old sea captain.

That is until one fateful day in the spring of 2015.

I remember it like it was yesterday. I was at a small pub by the name of Gringos Locos at my port of call in Panajachel, Guatemala. That night I induced enough beer and cigarettes to kill a sea lion. Not one of those baby ones, but one of those big blubbery great white shark lunch ones.

When morning came, I found burns on me legs, bruises on me ribs, and for a good 5 minutes hadn’t the foggiest where I was. With each wheeze my lungs cried out and my liver cringed. I had never felt sicker. I had also never felt more lucky to be alive. It reminded me of that time we were caught in a typhoon…an old norwegian sea captain drinking a beer on a beach

1) I Decided To Choose Life

I couldn’t be a veteran sea captain walking on his last pegged legs any longer. I finally understood that if I was going to lay strong foundations for a successful life, I needed to revive the health and brain power of my 20 year old self. 

I knew I had to quit smoking and embrace life again. 

marlboro label warning

2) I Was Afraid

However, the first few days were brutal. The cigarette monster that now inhabited some place in-between my lungs and stomach needed food and so I fed it. I threw dorritos, gummies, and popcorn at it. I slept as long as could hoping to ignore it. I did everything I could to dissipate the monster but nothing seemed to work.

So I punched the air, I punched the ground and I even punched myself. Eventually I uncovered the source of my anger.

Without tobacco’s artificial highs and prolonged lows, I had forgotten who I really was and I was afraid to find out.

thailand-hammock

3) I Quit Everything

I was so afraid that I quickly ended up substituting cigarettes with beers. I drank beer everyday, attempting to recreate the emotional haze that tobacco had provided for so many years. But after two weeks and an aching liver, I knew that beer would not be a sustainable substitute.

If I was serious about quitting smoking, then there was no choice but to get rid of tobacco, alcohol and every bad addiction like it.

thailand-om-elephant

4) I Found Myself Again

So I quit everything I knew fed my depression and emotional fog, and recalled all those things that would surely make me happy. I started running along mountain ridges, swimming in Lake Atitlan and exploring Maya villages. I began eating lots of papayas, chia seeds and healthy foods. I got addicted to everything that made me high when I was a kid. Natural highs.

After 3 weeks, I remembered who I really was again. I wasn’t a depressed old man whose only happiness lie at the bottom of a bottle or at the end of a cigarette.

I was in my 20’s, eager to satiate my curiosity of the world, to meet new people, to push my body up volcanoes, to live life and be happy.hanging out of a train in budapest

6 Months Later

I’ll admit that I’ve fallen from the top of the mast more than a few times now. But when I do, I hoist myself back up. And each time I do, I can see land clearer and more brightly than before.

Because ultimately I’ve made up my mind.

I’ve chosen now over later and life over death.

Like Lao Tzu the founder of Taoism so wisely proclaimed, “Only the fool succumbs to addiction”…And I ain’t no fool no more Mr. Tzu!

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Filed Under: Health & Spirit Tagged: happiness, health

Let Me Know What You Think!

  1. Micamyx|Senyorita says

    August 11, 2015 at 9:11 pm

    What an enlightening confession, Leif. I lost someone very special because of the points you mentioned. I’m happy to hear that you’re doing your very best to improve your health and spiritual life. Hope to join one of your tours soon or even just meet you in person! Cheers to a better life! :D

    Reply
    • The Runaway Guide says

      August 13, 2015 at 11:05 am

      Hey Mica, I’m sorry to hear that. Doing my best :) Hope you join me one day too! That would be great. I’ll give you the travel bloggers discount too :)

      Reply
  2. carla dailey says

    August 11, 2015 at 1:51 am

    Think that is great stay the course. Want to travel with your group tours. Are you still doing them? Do you have room on any tour coming up? Love your truths.

    Reply
    • The Runaway Guide says

      August 11, 2015 at 9:32 am

      Thanks Carla! Yes, the next tour is happening in Thailand on Aug 21st. Check it out in the “Tours” Tab above.

      Reply
  3. Nicole says

    August 8, 2015 at 1:29 pm

    Good on you, Leif!

    I’ve had friends try to quit smoking or drinking and it is no easy feat. Here’s to many many more years of adventures (now your body is healing itself!) and more money to spend on life!

    Reply
    • The Runaway Guide says

      August 10, 2015 at 1:55 am

      Thanks Nicole! Here’s to more adventures to you too! Enjoy the frat parties ;)

      Reply
  4. Tom Edwards says

    August 7, 2015 at 12:48 pm

    Good for you, brother! I quit smoking about a year and a half ago, minus a small relapse for a month when I was in South America this past winter. It’s crazy how much tobacco rules your life when you’re a smoker. And crazy how much better you feel even the first couple weeks after you quit. I don’t think I could ever give up beer though!!! :)

    Reply
    • The Runaway Guide says

      August 10, 2015 at 1:57 am

      Hey Tom! Good on ya :) They say tobacco is more addictive than the harder stuff and I can believe it. I’m definitely not giving up beer ;) Just cutting back and drinking in moderation, something I could’t do before.

      Reply
  5. Cacinda Maloney says

    August 7, 2015 at 11:03 am

    Sweet! You ain’t no fool no more! Now keep it up.

    Reply
    • The Runaway Guide says

      August 11, 2015 at 4:07 am

      Thanks Cacinda!!! I will!

      Reply
  6. Trish says

    August 7, 2015 at 10:04 am

    Wow Leif,
    As I’ve watched you experience your demons over the years and appear to be running away to find happiness now it’s clear you’ve come full circle . Just like me, no one could ever tell me what to do, I had to learn on my own.

    Reply
    • The Runaway Guide says

      August 11, 2015 at 4:08 am

      Thanks Aunt Trish. Yup, I’ve always got to learn the hard way ;)

      Reply

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Who Is The Runaway Guide?

When I was 16 I ran away from home and traveled the world with nothing but the clothes on my back. Over 10 years later and I'm still "on the run," surviving in style, thriving off adventure, searching for that elusive road to enlightenment, and cultivating the life of travel that I want to live. More...

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