Kevin Myers: Commitment to Change
Part of CCA Employees: Why I Gave Up Lighting Up
In 19 years of smoking, Kevin Myers, managing director, Operations (Division V) tried to quit several times. His attempts were unsuccessful until he found inspiration through work-related initiatives.
“During annual goals, Jimmy Turner asked us to establish professional and personal goals,” Myers says. “I had realized through the years of raising four children, I had set a poor example by smoking. My health was endangered, and it was time to make a firm commitment.”
Myers set a goal to quit during the annual wardens meeting in July the following year. “This commitment was between me and Jimmy Turner,” Myers says. “I decided to honor my word and my commitment.”
He made the transition gradually.
“I used Nicoret gum, but, more importantly, a commitment to change a lifestyle,” Myers says. “I realized it was important to not exchange one habit for another, so I limited the use of the gum.”
Accountability also helped him stay on track. “I told many of my peers so that they could help reinforce what I was doing,” Myers says.
His advice to others: “Set a date and stick to it. Let others know that you have established a date, and they will support you through the arduous journey. Allow yourself to get through the steps of not smoking and then prepare for a healthier lifestyle: better eating, physical exercise, and less time worried about when the next break will be for a cigarette.”
According to Myers, giving up cigarettes is just the beginning of a broader lifestyle transformation. “No more planning for and focusing on time to smoke a cigarette,” he says. “It is a cultural shift, not just a habit to quit.”
By Trish Barnard and DeAndra Mack
Sound Out
Louise Grant at FSC:
You are role model and a leader - I imagine your testimony will inspire others. Thanks for sharing.