Stewardship Tip April 21st, 2009 – Quit Smoking
The problems of one little person, to paraphrase Rick Blaine, don’t amount to a hill of beans in this crazy world. I’m a great believer in the wisdom behind that phrase from the movie Casablanca. To that end, I try to generalize the messages in this column. This week, however, at least part of my message is personal.
I had my last cigarette on April 11th. I had been thinking about quitting for some time and finally found the motivation to do it. I can’t say that the week has been easy, but I’ve made it to the first milestone.
If you smoke, I encourage you to quit. There are numerous groups that will help you. When you are ready, the American Cancer Society has put together a guide that will get you started.
I have observed that the motivation to quit must come from within. Addictions are hard to beat. If you are a smoker, you will find the motivation in your own time. Until then, make sure to dispose of your cigarette butts properly. When you fish, use an old band-aid tin, a coffee can, or a baggie to dispose of your cigarette butts. Don’t flick them into the water or onto the shore.
Why it is important to the fish: Kathleen Register’s experiments, documented in the Underwater Naturalist, noted that concentrations of 2 used cigarette butts in one liter of water were 100% fatal for Daphnia magna (water fleas). Ms. Register notes that her experiments exaggerate the exposure that may found in nature, but that the results of the experiments reveal relevant patterns. Used cigarette butts leach toxins that can disrupt micro-organisms. Toxins tend to work their way up. Help keep the toxins out of the food chain, dispose of your cigarette butts properly.
Here’s lookin’ at you, kid: In this crazy world, the problems of one person may not amount to a hill of beans. In each of our crazy worlds, however, there are people that rely on us; our problems do amount to something. Giving up cigarettes can help us to live healthier, potentially, longer lives. Our problems will, for those who rely on us, amount to something far more than a hill of beans.
If you smoke, I encourage you to quit. If I can do it, you can, too.
This week’s sponsor-partner: Green Tackle
When you shop for fishing gear at Green Tackle, you can take comfort in knowing that they carefully select their inventory to ensure their products are environmentally friendly.
Their partnership makes this week’s “Stewardship Tip” possible.
Rising demand for our weekly Stewardship Tip and a new partnership with Fly Cast America now makes the Stewardship Tip available in Spanish. Ahora, reciba el Stewardship Tip en español. Gentileza de Fly Cast America.
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