Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
Day 20 of the Obama
Day 5 As a Non-Smoker
I quit smoking last week…again. In fact, quitting smoking is something I’m actually pretty good at. Avoiding the temptation to believe I have it licked, even after several years, is what I have yet to master, so here I go once more where I have certainly gone before. However I am employing a couple of different tactics this time around and I’m hopeful that this will be the last time I go through the hell of withdrawal from my nicotine addiction. After having had success with both acupuncture, (twice) and laser therapy (very cool), I have opted for ‘cold turkey’ as my method of choice this time around. Also different this time is my decision to be very public about quitting. On Wednesday, which was “Day One”, I posted on Twitter my intention to smoke no more. It is important to me to note here that the flood of support and encouragement I have received from the Twitter community has been quite overwhelming and enormously encouraging. Non-smokers, ex-smokers, fellow quitters, as well as those who know not the pains of the addiction but just want to see me succeed, have all sent messages cheering me on. God Bless You! I want you all to know that I am doing my absolute damndest to avoid disappointing any of us. There is something to be said for the idea of being held publicly accountable.
Accountability is of course, a two way street and it seems to be an increasingly more hazardous road to travel for those with a public profile. Just ask Michael Phelps and Christian Bale who both seem to have had the kind of week last week, of which Dante would be proud. You see, Americans love the win. We see ourselves as winners and as such, we are failure adverse. There are few things that ignite the negative passions of the American public as much as when our winners disappoint us. We seem to have a somewhat schizophrenic, love/loathe relationship with celebrity in American culture. As much as we love seeing someone rise from relative obscurity to conquer the heights of achievement, we also seem to relish it with equal zeal when our heroes stumble or fall. Stumbling and falling are after all, the most human of human traits, but after investing so much of our energy and goodwill in the celebration of our heroes, we hardly have the patience for them to demonstrate human frailties. Although F Scott Fitzgerald once wrote, “There are no second acts in American lives”, I’m not so sure I agree. If there is anything we love more than a winner in this country, it’s a winner who has failed epically and has dared to rise yet again. Just ask NBA MVP, Kobe Bryant or Oscar nominee, Mickey Rourke. We are suckers for the “comeback” in this country.
I work hard at having a balanced relationship with my fame. I was all of 19 when I did ROOTS and will be turning 52 in a matter of days. What that means to me is I have spent most of my life in the public eye. Over the past 30 plus years I have survived the full range of intensity of the light of fame, from white hot to cool blue and all of the degrees in between. At the same time I still see myself as the guy I was before all of this happened in my life. To this day it trips me out that I was such a HUGE fan of the original Star Trek series and today I am a part of that history. Getting to meet and then getting to know Gene Roddenberry was a dream come true. He was a hero of mine, this amazing visionary who had created a future realm that I wanted to help birth into being. It was however, confusing to me and disappointing to discover that this “great man” was also human. Ultimately, and this revelation has only come in the past few years, I have come to really appreciate those parts of Gene I couldn’t reconcile when I was a younger man. Those parts that he himself had already embraced and made peace with. Since then I have tried to be more forgiving where my heroes are concerned.
On the smoking front, one valuable piece of advice I received last week was about the potential for relapse in quitting an addiction as insidious as that of nicotine. I was counseled (should I succumb) to not see it as a failure, but as a part of the process and get back on path of commitment immediately. The message I took away was to not be too hard on myself. Sage advice indeed! As a general rule I am trying to be less judgmental of everyone in my life, including me.
It was legendary coach, Vince Lombardi who said, “Winners never quit and quitters never win.” I’ve come to believe there are exceptions to every rule. Just ask all those folks who have quit or are quitting smoking…and all of their loved ones who celebrate that heroic effort. However should any of us fail, it’s nice to know that redemption is just around the corner because a part of being human is being on the comeback trail.
…I’ll see you next time… but, you don’t have to take my word for it.
LeVar
PEACE
Join my Tweeple →
{ 1 trackback }
{ 250 comments… read them below or add one }
Day 5 of public accountability. You’re gutsy to go that route, but I’m sure the support will help you through. We’re all pulling for you.
Take Care.
I’m proud of you, man… and I cheer silently that you can continue to overcome the habit
Keep fighting the good fight.
Congratulations on commiting to quit smoking, LeVar! I really like the advice you got, if you succumb, its not a failure, but more a bump in the road. You’re not truly quitting quitting unless you quit quitting. (Now my head hurts!)
Much luck on your journey!
Wow Levar! That’s amazing. I plan on continuing to cheer for you!!
Really, good for you!! My parents are ex-smokers and the only quit when my sister and I were teenagers and we pushed them too. My mother has always said that when she looked at us pleading with her to save her life for us, she had found all the motivation she ever needed.
So other than wishing you luck, I also hope that you find that: the motivation that will push you like nothing else before it.
And yes, please do remember that you are human. Humans fail and they succeed, but they remain human through it all!
=)
Well done, LeVar. Hopefully you inspire more people each and every day.
Good luck with this. I’ve had a similar issue with my weight. Loss a little, gain it back. Last year I lost a bunch and then started gaining it back. So this time I’m posting weekly weigh-ins on Twitter and Facebook. It is very motivating to be public about it.
It great that you quit smoking. I did that like 5 years ago after smoking for 16 years, at the ent i was smoking like 1 pack daily. I made like 5 attempts, with chewing gum, patches, etc.. At the end going vol turkey with a homeopatic spray that tasted disgusting every time i wanted to smoke, worked out. The first 2 weeks are the most difficult, it get easier with time.
And, food will start to taste much better after 1 week, you will be amazed.
Congratulations again on the decision to quit, and on 5 successful days! I’ve had family quit smoking and so I have some vague idea of what it’s like. You’ve got all my well wishes and support.
Your comments about public accountability ring true with me in a completely different way; I’ve made a habit of posting my trips to the gym to my twitter account. Not because I think my followers are fascinated that I’m going out to do some running. I do it because even if nobody reads it, or reads it and doesn’t care, I will know that it’s out there in public and that people might have seen it, and it’ll be that much more difficult for me to live with not going through with it. It’s accountability to anyone who might happen to read it - but it also adds that much more to the accountability to one’s self.
I won’t say good luck. I’ll say good determination instead. You can do this!
From what I’ve read, quitting smoking can be as difficult as quitting heroin, especially the hardcore way like you’re doing it.
You’re doing an amazing job and you have so many people behind you on this…
(@pantherapardus on twitter)
Thank you for sharing your journey. I am enjoying sending you a daily dose of encouragement via twitter. All the best.
Mr. Burton,
I applaud your efforts to quit smoking - and to make it public takes courage. By doing so, I hope you get the encouragement you need to see it through. BUT, should you not for one reason or another - regardless of what anyone says, it’s okay too.
It is a strange relationship with the public, I agree. I think watching celebrities rise and fall is a human trait. Back to the beginning of early civilization, tales of heroes and gods - all of them fallible. Today’s celebrities are the modern-day heroes - everything is larger than life. They are more beautiful, more talented, have more money than the average person. When they stumble, it reminds us that they are human.
As a child, I sat and watched Reading Rainbow with enthusiasm, and I attribute my love of reading and ultimately of writing, to the positive influence you gave.
When I was a bit older, for seven years, Star Trek was a big part of my life and fueled my imagination and my love for science, wonder and a hope for the betterment of the human race.
I’m certain you have influenced countless other people, and will continue to do so for many, many years to come.
If we can offer you but a small bit of encouragement, then that’s the least we can do - for many people you will always been a hero.
I’m one of the many ordinary well-wishers out there. With your blessing, I’ll continue to cheer you on. I love the notion of “… not see it as a failure, but as a part of the process and get back on path of commitment immediately.” I’ll be shamelessy stealing that for use elsewhere in my life.
This probably has nothing to do with this post, but I had to say it.
I recently spent a few weeks showing Roots to my classroom full of at-risk ninth graders. All 32 of them, all different races, socio-economic backgrounds, abilities, sat mesmerized through the whole thing. Fascinated. A few of them, who wouldn’t dream of picking up a book before, have checked Alex Haley’s novel out of the library and are struggling their way through it, whereas 2 months ago they would have given up after the first page.
And I just wanted to thank you for that.
Congrats! I find it really interesting that you’re actually choosing to feel the withdrawal full-on this time (as opposed to acupuncture & laser therapy which helped you in the past) — I wonder if you’re trying to deliberately tell yourself that THIS IS WHY you’re not starting again.
I think the public accountability is a great idea - I started doing something similar on my livejournal account (regarding establishing daily health habits) about a month ago, only locked posts, so a grand total of 60 people can see it. And even with that much, it’s become much easier to make/break the habits I’m blogging about than it would be otherwise. Being able to use peer-pressure for the force of good is brilliant! But doing so where the whole world can see and over 12 thousand twitterers DO see? Damn. You have my respect. Well, more of it.
I too was a fan of Reading Rainbow as a kid.
Anyhow, I just wanted to wish you the best. I’ve never smoked, but having treated smokers (with acu) I can imagine how hard this has to be. It sounds like you’re past the worst, but as you probably know, the nicotine won’t all be out of your system for another 5 weeks or so. Be gentle with yourself, but vigilant for the next month or so. Good luck!
Your undertaking a life long commitment and away of life. While I am not a smoker I know many people who are and a “second” mom who does from it. I congradulate you on your acknowledgement of what you are doing, where you have been and where you are going. Temptation is always around the corner but every day you have successfully resisted is a day to celebrate.
A fellow twitterer @WyattLeCadre.
LeVar: Many congrats for taking the extremely public pledge to quit and stay quit. My wife has been a smoker for more than 20 years, and has tried and tried and tried to quit. She was able to stop here and there for months at a stretch, but something always drew her back to the ol’ habit.
Now, after visiting her physician for a bad cough, she finally heard the word “emphysema” - and this has scared her s###less. Nothing like a medical professional to make you go cold turkey!
I wish you success in your journey; my thoughts are with you, and all those who try to get healthier. To quote John Lennon, “and curse Sir Walter Raleigh; he was such a stupid git!”
peace
-Dave
Way to go, Day 5! You can do it! I’m pulling for you!
If you succeed, we will cheer you on. If you falter a little along the way, we will cheer you on. If you fail, we will cheer you on next time. Good luck!
It’s significant to me that you mention heroes and smoking in the same post. When I was a kid, I idolized the associate minister at our church. She was fairly young, just out of divinity school, and she also played in a local folk band. When I found out that she was a smoker, I was devastated. My mother has asthma, and so I was raised in a non-smoking household, with the belief that smoking was evil. That this wonderful woman, who played with me and sang and taught and was so glorious, was a smoker really shocked me. I don’t remember whatever happened to her, but I have always remembered the feeling of pain from seeing the all-too-human truth about one of my heroes.
Oh no audio recording :(, also no need to put the date at the top of your posts seeing as wordpress does that for you. search for “by LeVar Burton on February 9, 2009″ and you will find it for this post.
I’ve Tweeted at you, but the things that helped me quit cold-turkey 5 years ago — being very very public about quitting (more people to be sad if I caved in!), playing gory video games (Unreal Tournament was a Godsend, seriously!) and keeping my hands busy — I was already a knitter, but man, did I knit a lot more when I quit smoking.
You just have to tough it out — at day 5, you’re doing great. I think I remember that, after a week or two, the nicotine cravings ease up a lot. You can do it — I’m a total wimp, so if I could do it, you can!
Seriously, good luck in this endeavor.
Congratulations for quitting the smoke. I just took it back a couples weeks back after being 5 months clean, so clearly i’m not a very good example for you to follow. I just wanted to say that i always get very happy when i see people quitting that nasty habbit. Maybe a couple weeks from now on i’ll take your example.
Greetings.
Good for you LeVar! It’s tough to do stuff like this — quit smoking, lose weight, whatever — by yourself, let alone do it in the public eye! Props to you. And, happy birthday soon. I’m in my mid-50s and lovin’ every minute of it!
Have recently given up smoking myself and I feel like a million dollars.
And so will you! Good luck !
But I have now got an addiction to chomping on celery sticks…..
Levar,
it takes an iron will to be able to quit smoking and I wish you all the luck in the world and am pulling for you 100% I have been a smoker for years and like you have succeeded at quitting many times without being able to stay that way.
I have a hard time grasping outlets like TMZ (etc.) who seem to relish in the failures and falls of others whether famous (Phelps & Bale included) or not and are way too hard on them…as they, like you and I are just people.
I am spiritually boosted by the fact that you have quit before, have failed and are trying again… it is nice to know that you are no different than I, and realizing that I too can try again and if I should fail, that doesn’t make me an overall failure any more than it makes you an overall failure. Which is a good reason to always keep trying.
By the way, your amazement at the twitterverse that immediately stood behind you when you joined was very endearing.. you see, we were always out here and have always cared for and admired you and wished some day for the opportunity to thank the Man who helped us learn to read, taught us strength and determination as Kunta Kinte and Gave us hope for a colorblind future as Geordi La Forge but you were always trapped in that box and we were on the outside looking in… so you have years of saved up gratitude coming to you and a family out here that you were not aware of… so welcome home LeVar =)
Take Care and Godspeed,
- Jason
@jasonlmoore
Hi Levar,
I’ve been following you on Twitter for a little while, and definitely congradulate you for not only quitting, but doing it so publicly. I don’t think I could do that. It’s already been said in this thread, but every day you make it withouth a smoke is a day worth celebrating.
I’m arush on Twitter if you want to follow me back.
Congratulations Levar,
Hope you stick with it. Your body and mind will thank you for it.
I miss the audio version of your blog posts
Ari
I love that you end with “You don’t have to take my word for it”. For all of us Reading Rainbow fans.
Congrats on making it 5 days! Woo hoo! I wouldn’t worry if you give in and have a smoke one day. When you catch yourself there is only one thing you can do. Start over again. Wasn’t it Anne of Green Gables who said “Tomorrow is a brand new day with no mistakes in it”?
As for Mr. Phelps, living near Baltimore, I’m getting a little tired of hearing about his mistake. He is at that age and he hasn’t had a “normal” (whatever normal is) life. He was going to make mistakes at some point. I may not agree with what he did for very personal reasons but it was his mistake to make and now he’s paying the price for it.
And Mr. Bale…well…at least he didn’t hit anyone. Not that I agree with what he did but I also think it was blown out of proportion. Another thing I’m sick of hearing about.
There are so many more important things going on in this country right now. Why aren’t we focused on those issues instead?
I’ll get off my soap box now. Keep up the good work on not smoking. I’m really enjoying your blog and tweets.
Hi Levar,
Great post! You could have easily been a writer if acting had not worked out for you. I guess there still is time….
Smoking is the hardest habit to break, next to chocolate cake. Imagine those that are addicted to food and are hopelessly overweight. They have an immense struggle since food is all around us and is actually necessary for life. Giving up smoking is not much easier. So I must say you have your work cut out for you. And yes slipping is much like having that piece of cake. You just have to recommit.
I feel blessed that neither food nor smoking has a hold on me. While I did smoke for some time and I could stand to lose 20 pounds, neither addiction took over my life like alcohol. As a teacher, I knew that if I did not quit I would lose my job, my calling, my passion. I am now 7 months sober. But there is not a day that goes by that I don’t have to recommit. I do this by visiting fellow blogspots. If you visit mine you will see the phenomenal blogs that keep me committed to a life of sobriety.
See, being a teacher is like being a rock star. You can’t go to the grocery store without being seen by innocent little eyes and shrieking mouths, “Oh, Mrs. D……..” Therefore, I sort of get the public scrutiny thing. Little ones hold you in the highest esteem and that is a tough thing to live up to. I knew if they saw me blitzed, picking up some more wine that I would no longer have their adoring eyes. It would become disdain.
So as you enter your commitment, I wish you the best of luck. It is not easy!!!! There are studies why some people crave nicotine and others crave alcohol. It has to do with levels of serotonin and dopamine. Those low in dopamine crave the alcohol. The body is just trying to right itself. And because we are thrill seekers as animals, it is only natural that we search out substances that alter the state of mind. It is the thirst for that feeling much like falling in love for the first time. Unfortunately, we can’t fall in love everyday.
Maybe that is what we are supposed to do: fall in love with God’s creation everyday, noticing the magnificence all around us.
Who knows? If you find the key, please share.
Chris (Smiles)
Way to go, LeVar! I quit about a year ago (also cold turkey, but with a “quitting buddy”) and I know how absolutely heinously hard it is. I wish you all the strength and stamina you’ll need in the coming weeks, but remember, it only gets better from here!
(@ruinedangel)
My thoughts and prayers are with you, sir. Keep breathing! (and keep blogging)
~Joe
Best wishes and success in your pursuit to quitting smoking. Announcing your intention on Twitter & your Blog is an excellent way strengthen your resolve. As a university student I did a report for a Human Kinetics course on goal-setting; where the principles can be applied to many different types of goal-setting situations. My favourite book on the topic was written by Rick Hansen; who was an athlete that wheel-chaired across Canada to raise funds for spinal research in the 1980s. He said that “going public can add incentive by increasing personal accountability” (if anyone is interested the book is called “Going the Distance”, not sure if it’s still in print).
Cheers,
Patricia
What a wonderful post, LeVar you are a truly an eloquent, intelligent, and expressive writer. Best of luck with quitting, you’re doing so well! But I agree with the advice you’ve been given, don’t let a slip-up (if it happens, hope not!) affect your resolve, just keep going!! You can do it
Levar, stick with it. I am so effin proud of you for getting back on the saddle and quitting. Now, quitting smoking is a lot different than quitting maturity. But I can tell you I have been maturity free for the last ten years! And if I can do it, you can also stay clear of the smokes.
Beautiful post, such a genuine person. I knew I had finally quit for good when I was sick and tired of it. Running to the store, burning holes in things, emptying ash trays, the yucky film on the windshield, the whole works. And when I backslid, thinking “Ugh, why did I do that. No more.”
My mother quit the day I left for college. Still puzzling over that one.
LeVar, I’m glad to see that you’ve broken the habit of smoking once again. I hope that this time, you’ll be able to continue what you’ve managed to do for the last 5 days for the next 5, the 5 after that, and every 5 for the rest of your days.
I do want to mention one thing that helped my mother out when she quit cold turkey. She had been smoking for all of my life (and I’m not sure for how long beforehand) when she decided to quit when I was a teenager. One day, she was out with a few friends and was smoking when she looked at the cigarette she had in her hand and thought things and went “Why am I doing this?” She put that cigarette out and never had another one in the almost 20 years since then.
This isn’t to say it was easy. It wasn’t. Especially when, after a few years, my father passed away. With all the stress upon her, she would feel the urge come upon her. But then she reminded herself, “Jim (which was my father’s name as well) would be so ashamed of you.” That desire not to disappoint the man she loved helped her through those dark days.
However, there was another surprisingly simple thing that she would use that also helped her, especially during the first days of quitting. She bought a box of straws. Two, in fact. One for her desk at work, one for here at home. When she had the urge to smoke, she’d take a straw and put it in her mouth and chew on the end. The sensation of size was about the same, and it helped deal with those subconscious urges she would get to smoke. Hopefully, something like this could help you as well.
I wish you all the luck in the world, and as one of the thousands of people following you on Twitter, I’ll be pulling for you as the days pass.
Congradulations on 5 days!
Your Blog reminded me of the opening scene in the movie Patton with George Scott playing Patton giving a pep talk to the mass of unseen troops as he stands infront of the American Flag. I know I have always found that scene to be very inspirational.
I am also one of the people following you on twitter and I think it is fabulous to get a glimps at who the person is that was part of my childhood on Reading Rainbow and my teen/ adult years on Star Trek TNG. It is really a wonderful oppertunity that I’m glad I have a chance to enjoy.
I’m an ex-smoker who is incredibly proud of your effort, commitment, and humanity. You can do it!
Wow. Just saw the Soup clip. Cracked me up. Good stuff. You got any new projects in development?
Hopefully, your Twitter and Blog followers can provide some legitimate aspect of support.
I see you have yet to post the audio version of this latest post. No worries, I could still here your voice when I read it. Funny!
My friend gave up smoking cold turkey three years ago and has not touched a cigarette since. My wife hasn’t smoked a cigarette in six years, though she was not addicted, but just a “bar smoker.” If they can do it, I know that you can too. Fight the demons and live to breathe fresh air for another day.
52?! No. Freakin. Way! You do not look anywhere near 52.
I’ve not had the nicotine monkey on my back but know loads who have. Best of luck
What an inspiring read top to bottom. Thanks.
~Nancy
I’m a longtime fan, and wanted to tell you how much I’m enjoying your Twitter/blog posts. But mainly had to say best of luck with quitting smoking - it’s a great thing you are doing, for you and your family. It’s something my father (also a huge fan of yours) has never been able to quite kick, but I’ll tell him about your story, and maybe it’ll give him one more reason to try.
God bless!
I am done with the bonds thing… arresting the piano play at the whore house doesn’t make since. All these guys are getting off for spilling their guts… now that the jig is up.
Spending all this money on going after bonds is stupid. Spend the money on education and maybe realize it’s a sport, a game.
Don’t be surprised that after putting such a huge premium on athletic performance your high school kid takes growth H and steroids. And who you going to be made at… I am looking for the anus that made the drugs available and god help the coach that new and didn’t stop it Growing up I found that the more violent I becamein FB the more praise. (69 they weren’t in the news yet) Steroids were available to me but by dad was against it. BB started lifting by far the greatest gain came from that. Steroid change the way one thinks if you feel like superman you act like superman… nut your not superman. I say give BB and the other athletics immunity to go around to High schools and lock up the pushers
You are in my thoughts and prayers as you take this journey. You are not alone.
You don’t know me from Adam so words of encouragment shouldn’t matter. Do it for yourself.
That said, I miss Reading Rainbow.
@angrymessiah
“Failure” is definitely not something we embrace, culturally. There is a sense of all or nothing, of throwing it all on one huge charge over the hill (and we know how well that worked for Custer) towards glorious victory. I think it does people such a disservice. Fail at school, your life is ruined (they start this in grammar school) and you’re going to be making fries forever. Fail at quitting a bad habit and you’re morally weak. Or something. Get laid off or fired and you’re a lousy provider and morally weak. And yet… so much about our culture is also geared to take advantage of people’s failings and weakness and humanity!!
Personally, I cry B.S on all of that. I think we are forged in our failures, or can be if we are willing to keep coming back to try again. Life is a kind of crucible.
Wow, this turned into a whole big thing and what I really wanted to say was, “Good luck. I appreciate that you’re doing this. I’ve done it twice. It’s tough, but you can do it. Hang in there. Don’t get discouraged if you slip, just grip tighter when you find another handhold.”
One edit recommended - February 9, 2009 not 2008
Good luck!
Congrats and best of luck, LeVar! I am loving these audio blogs, keep it up!
You’re an inspiration to me L.B. - I’m a better person because of your example. Still not perfect, but, it ain’t over yet.
Wow.
Great stuff. I decided to listen to the audio version of this post on a whim and I am truely impressed. Your delivery makes me think why I haven’t been producing audio versions of my post all along.
Thanks.
Day four for me LeVar. I’m finding that walks and deep breathing is helping fight the cravings. Good luck to you and thanks for being public about it, it gives me hope and faith that I, too, can quit after 20-or-so years of nicotine addiction.
Remember, you’re not giving up pleasure, you’re giving up poison and addiction!
Read the book. It works. Seriously. Allen Carr’s “Easy way to quite smoking”
Beautifully said, with some wonderful lessons for all of us. Thank you!
I’ve been following you on Twitter (@TKELC) and any addiction - be it smoking or food, is difficult to kick. Having recently discovered a gluten allergy, I have had to use the same ‘cold turkey’ techniques I used to quit smoking. And - I have found that the urges and cravings are very much the same. A hot, crusty roll, slathered in butter - so good I can taste it and smell it…but eating it would make me not breathe so good, is no different than the sweet scent of a clove cigarette and the heady rush of that first inhalation to me. Both made breathing difficult, made me less active and less healthy…both could conceivably kill me…and yet, I crave them.
For me, it really came down to this - “Am I going to let a THING win over my willpower? Am I going to lose to a THING? Something I can do without, and live without? NO!”
I am not going to surrender my life and health to a THING..an ITEM…an inanimate piece of garbage.
No…it is not easy. Twelve years later, and I still have days when I could easily pick up a cigarette - but I remind myself about how good I feel without that in my body, how good it feels to take a deep, deep breath and not cough. How good it feels to -taste- things (Yeah, smoking kills those taste buds) and how nice it is to walk up and down stairs without gasping for a breath.
Being publicly accountable is good - good motivation and a good ‘pause a moment’ tool to use on yourself. Hang in there, keep fighting, and know you have one more person rooting for you. And that other person is right - get back on the horse if you fall off - don’t let the horse win.
Don’t let the THING win.
I love your blog!
I think it’s great the way you make an audio post with each entry! I wish I thought of it first. Hope you don’t mind if I borrow your idea…
-Mark
time for some merchandise so i can stop feeling guilty for getting this for free!
Hi LeVar!
I don’t think it’s black and white, but shades of grey. I think you’ve correctly earned the right to call yourself a non-smoker beginning with your first decision not to have a cig. when given the opportunity. If you later have a smoke, you’re a smoker, but only until you choose not to smoke again. Take the long view, are you becoming more non-smoker than smoker compared to the past? If so, you’re succeeding, relish it.
I think it was Bill Shatner’s, “Raw Nerve” I was watching when he made a comment in relation to his guest about addicts being fearful of the consequences of relapse. It becomes its own secondary affliction, the fear of what might happen if you should slip.
And if my memory is right, Shatner wrapped that thought with a tidbit about a man who’d ordered a non-alcoholic drink at a bar with friends, but the bartender misunderstood and added vodka to it w/o his realizing it. When he learned what was in his drink, he abruptly left the gathering and went straight to bed, as he was so paralyzed about what might happen next.
You’ve quit for various reasons, health, style, consideration of others, and so on. I think you’d be served by not making it a binary thing.
100% smoke free, meaning you never picked up a cigarette again, ever!? It might seem daunting, because it is daunting. You just can’t predict the future. So kill that and keep your actions short-term, and your evaluations long-term. Don’t build it into a mental bloc of paranoia. You don’t win or fail in this all at once, but by degrees.
By being earnest and honest with yourself about keeping the trends down, you will allow yourself to repudiate failure and accept the value of the progress so far made. That satisfaction will power you on to the next milestone.
…until you forget the whole issue.
And at that point, you’ll have been already free chemically for eons, but now you free in mind as well.
I’m learning from your media, that you’re a big proponent of the concept of peace. So, I won’t curse you with “good luck,” but empower you with a wish for peace of mind in your mental journey. Progress is progress.
Best of wishes to your commitment. I had an on again, off again habit with smoking at one time. The final time I quit cold turkey, now about 3 years ago, and could not be happier. It is not easy and you can only really avoid the urge by filling those gaps of time when you would most likely light up. So for now when ever you feel that blog or twitter instead.
Hey Levar,
I’ve always felt from my readings of your interviews and the professional path you’ve taken that we were of similar paths.
First of all congratulations on quitting smoking. Although that’s not something I ever got involved in, I recognize the difficulty in quitting and sticking to it!
Secondly, one of the great things about you, is your constant curiosity of the world around you. It shows in everything you’ve done- A desire to know more and improve on the things you already know, and I have the utmost respect for that.
Cheers!
Jack
If it was possible, I would take the gene I have against addiction (specifically against nicotine addiction, I haven’t tried anything else really) and give it to you. If I smoke more than 1 cigarette every 4-5 hours, I have risks of being very sick (smoke 2 in a row and I’ll need a trip to Mr. Toilet).
Even through that though, I still smoke 1 cigarette a day, for 3 reasons. 1) it’s social interaction with my boss (VP of IT where I work), 2) because it’s 1 a day, it truly relaxes me and 3) free 15 min break at work!
My dad quit smoking many, many times. This past time it has stuck for two years and counting! I love your outlook and I believe that will improve the likelihood of success. “You change when you decide to change” John Pelizza You have decided to change!! Congratulations for that already!
Happy early Birthday. You’ve given yourself an early gift by quitting the nicotine. You’ve given those of us who respect and admire you more years of you and your talent. Thank you~
Wow, listening to you read your blogs is just amazing. And your closing line…spectacular. So smooth, it really brought me back to my childhood. Good job on quitting!
It must be such a great feeling too, to participate in something that you loved for such a long time. I hope I get that chance some day.
Wow. I have to say that while reading your blog is one thing, listening to you read your blog is an experience. It is so well written and read and inspired that I’ve put your feed in my google reader. Bam, you’re in there. I wish you all of the best of luck in quitting, it will be well worth the effort.
Congratulations on keeping up the good work! Thanks for sharing the journey with us.
Cheers!
I had my measure of fame by the time I was in 6th grade. Between my fathers work and being the 9th 11 sibs, a kid couldn’t get away with squat! there was this kid I knew in grade school, He would say “Every one on the planet well know my name…” no I did think he was crazy because he couldn’t do (he was why talented) it but I did think he was crazy for wanting it. O well you proved that in can be handle with the right temperament, and grace.
I am going to have to correct you it wasn’t Lombardi… I think it was Coach Slaughter.
I might have to smoke one 2 night… its jam night.
Hay this is a gas….
Gave you a Tweet (check @ replies) about your limo ride to the Grammies… interesting company you keep, LOL. Have a GREAT BIRTHDAY… Didi wasn’t sure she’d make it to my wife’s 50th blow out next week… Now I’ll have to insist she show up and tell us LeVar Burton stories!
My father went “cold turkey” on the smoking…. He says it was easy, but I don’t believe him. Hang in there!
Phelps… what country are we living in! thats bull! leave the dude alone! am I am glade people don’t follow me around with a cel phone/camera. We should find the “artiest” that took that picture! follow him around… what an ass. DA is a retard… if I am on the jury… doesn’t even look like Phelps!
I’m glad I don’t smoke. I hear it turns your lungs black… My granddad on ma’s side had ulcers from it. My granddad on dad’s side had lung cancer from it…
Great post, and a great blog. I love the mix of having a posted written blog with a narration of that post. This is a great way to draw in the reader or listener into feeling more dynamic with the blog.
On the smoking front, keep it up. We ALL support you and wish you the very best in kicking this habit.
I look forward to your next post.
“Quitting smoking is easy. I’ve done it a thousand times.”
-Mark Twain
Wow, cold turkey. You’re a stronger man than I!
Last time I quit, I managed to go just over a year and a half, with help from the patch. Though, I was on the patch the entire time
Keep strong, bud, you can do it!
hi! i think it’s awesome that you are quitting smoking! i am a sixth grader who has to do a report on a famous person, and i got you! when i was a little kid i would always love to watch your show! well, im off to look for more facts about you (thats really weird!!! LOL!!!!) so wish me luck!!!!
totally ur’s
Hope Sparks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! =-)
Hello Lavar, my name is Pleasant. My brother the NYC percussionist, composer David Pleasant performed many years ago in an episode of Reading Rainbow with you. I still have the autograph you gave him for me. You wrote “Jalal in the Light”. Thank you for inspiring me Levar! I have continued to Walk in the Light and have stayed true to my beliefs about unity and love between all people. I am a full-time visual artist now and have done some wonderful things. It is not always easy but I contiinue to work hard, thanks to Great inspirational people like you.
I appreciate your website lotsa my man! And your new tattoo! If you ever pop down to Savannah again. Let me know, would love to meet you!
Kindest regards.
ps
I hope you can kick the habit of smoking. We love you man and know that you will defeat it!
Levar - I saw you in a movie last night, I was thrilled to see you on TV again. Anyway, regarding addiction, you should google something called the “Hungry Ghost.” It refers to a Buddhist (I’m not Buddhist) concept and has really helped me in dealing with my own addictions (food and spending). Just wanted to pass it along.
I quit smoking about 5 years ago, and now I’m a tobacco cessation education for pregnant women. One thing I’ve learned is that people who understand that failures will occur will usually have better success at long-term quitting than people who go cold turkey right away. Best of luck to you!
Happy Birthday, Mr. Burton!
FACEBOOK is out of control. I friend just asked if I was on it. turns out I am (musta sign some time ago) and I have friends! So that’s what all those emails were about. Of course I searched on LeVar B holly crap there are a lot of LB fake pages!
Friday this week I finally move into my 1st house. 53 and my first house. You might be thinking… dude you had it all growing up why aren’t your rich or famous or rich and famous? I figure now that I am big five three I need to make some coin, too bad the Econ tanked but I am doing OK this job is spiritually fantastic less the politics. After 20 years of abject poverty (opulence of joy) The money seems like a fortune. I find my self in the basement of a science building. Many how knew me in the day might have figured that… it’s the 20 years in between that define me.
The Years haven’t been bad at all. sold a fair amount (a career worth ) of Paintings (no one would have seen that coming expect LB an BL) A actual got to play with Joe Pass, Art Farmer (some of the best in history) I wouldn’t trade anything for my relationship with Kim.
I still hate bullies. I still eat too fast, curse too much, talk to loud, in general I’m excitable. I’m big on Loyalty but I don’t kiss ass on “big” people. I love the underdog (I have been know to switch sides when justice calls for it). I can spell as good as a 5th grader. I take to many choruses and I cram the notes in that don’t belong just because I want to. I hate the sound of my own voice but can shut up.
I smoke 3 cigs a week, I can’t drink red wine like I used to but I did bench press 300lb’s the other day (on the BP machine)
gotago
Feliz cumpleaños and Happy birthday to you! May you be blessed today with wonderful things, the greatest of which is love. Shalom.
You reminded me of a quote by Mark Twain, “It’s easy to quit smoking. I’ve done it hundreds of times.”
Good luck on kicking the habit!
I quit smoking 13 years ago. It was the hardest thing I ever did.
I know the grammar in that sentence is wrong, but that’s the way it was.
After I had quit for 10 years, I allowed myself to enjoy the occasional cigar. Look forward to that. When you get closer to retirement age… you can enjoy a cigar.
There’s something in cigarettes that is far more addictive than just nicotine… Everyone I’ve known that’s done the patch or gum has spoken of the thing that’s missing. Know that you’re breaking the insidious addiction to something unholy they’ve put in those little syringes.
FEEL THE FREEDOM!
Happy Birthday LeVar!
To me, you have always been an example of decency. Whether or not this is completely true, the good will you have inspired in me should be worth some sleep at night.
Unity,
Diego Conquist
went cold turkey about seven years ago, was the only way i could quit, completely stopped now, so good luck mate
newman
uk
Hello!
I didn’t get a chance to do this with my other hero, Mr. Rogers, so I want to be able to say ‘Thank you’ to you, for the inspiration you have given and still give this day. I grew up watching Reading Rainbow and at 31, I still watch it when I have time for T.V.
Your show has showed me many wonderful things and possibilities; I am forever grateful. Many of the items on my life’s “to-do” list were because of what I saw, especially the behind-the-scenes episode for Star Trek. You work has been an inspiration and I am confident that kicking your smoking habit will be another notch on your belt.
God bless-
Another student professed her admeration for LB…
It turns out this generation is the reading rainbow generation.
Wishing you oodles of success with your quit! I’m trying again too, and have been puff-free since 1/20/09. It’s freakin’ hard! Still, I’m more committed than I’ve ever been to succeed. Hang in there and remember that a nicotine craving only lasts a very short time…just find something to refocus on and without even realizing it, the craving will have passed.
Should begetting the keys today…
Right on phelps, thanks judge, you did a good.
Waiting to give a tour of my lab… Guess they arent going to show. Biologist need engineering support to.
Levar.. congrats on your quit. I quit about six years ago… and it CAN be done. Smoked a pack-and-a-half a day. (As I’m from Canada… a pack at that time was about 9 bucks!)
Your “sage” advice was right. Don’t view a stumble as a failure… just get back on the horse and keep going. My wife had one “slip” during our quit… but she stuck with it.. and has also been a non-smoker for six years now.
Hang in there… you CAN do it.
Cheers,
T.
LeVar!
Thank you to you and your “team” so much for helping us today!
Such a fun story!
You’re hysterical!
h
Hi, Levar!
I’ve been a fan of yours since Roots. What a mad crush I had on you!
I knew you were a very gifted actor and a very intelligent man, but I had no idea you were such a wonderful writer. Like most people, my “busy” exceeds my allotted hours in the day, so I don’t read a great deal of blog posts. However, I not only read your most recent posts, I sought out more!
Your writing is genius and you could have been just as famous as an author as you are for movies and television.
I would LOVE to see a biography pour out of you one day!
Best of luck with slaying your personal dragon. I think doing it in public is absolutely the best approach - so many people are now gathered around you, cheering you on to victory. Each time someone slays their own dragon, it gives everyone else hope to overcome theirs.
I know you’ll win - it’s the year of change, after all! - Joi
Kudos to you Levar for doing this. Maybe once you succeed, others will follow, including myself. It is amazing how something like that can control you. I hate it. I envy anyone who can stop!
Good Luck!
Congratulations Levar for taking the first big step - beginning to think of yourself as a non-smoker. Visualizing yourself in a smoke-free future is a very important part of the process. After more than 15 years of recovery, I still have to fight the occasional temptation but these are exceedingly rare moments. I always remind myself of how hard it is to stop whenever I’m tempted to just take one drag …. I know that one drag will soon turn into a whole cigarette, that one cigarette soon will become a whole pack and I’ll be back to where I was 15 years ago in the span of a few weeks. Back to planning my days around my next smoke. So I remind myself of how lovely it is to breathe, to really taste my food, and to be able to smell the fresh air around me - these are the things to relish. So, breathe Levar and enjoy the freedom that brings!
I’m on Day 51, and if I can do this, you can do this
I’m glad you see potential ’slips’ as not being failures. That’s so important. Be kind to yourself. Be your own biggest cheerleader. You are doing something amazing and you deserve to feel great about it.
Quitnet.com was a huge help for me the first couple of weeks. There are some really wonderful people in the chat rooms. It helps to have somewhere to ‘go’ when a craving comes up and you’ll get real support from people who know what it feels like.
Most of all, congrats! You’ve already gotten through the worst of it - just take it one day at a time!
Man! Huge fan! From RR to TNG, I have been watching you since I was a kid (30 now), thanks for all the years! Thanks!
I went cold turkey in 2003, so I know how that feels. Although the nicotine addiction is supposed to be gone within a few days, those deep down ingrained “reaching habits” are the ones that will bug you for a long time after.
Interestingly, it was hardest at work and other “no smoking” places of my life, because such complicated habits developed in order to have a cigarette within those confines. 5 minutes before arriving at work, 5 mintues before a meeting, just after a meeting, etc.
I wish you the best, and just keep telling yourself no.
I’m awfully sad I missed you on Saturday night, Levar Burton! I was hoping the internet would tell me when I could see you in your play and pelt you with roses (de-thorned, of course). Instead, I found this wonderful blog, which has been given a place of honor and utmost priority in my RSS feed. If only you weren’t such a Big Deal, I could write you a proper letter in which I thanked you for your kindness, generosity of spirit, patience with my nagging questions, etc. etc, but I will gladly settle for a visit here.
All my blessings to you for a cold turkey victory (and not because you’ve made yourself accountable, but because you deserve the best.) Also, I hear MIB has invested his entire “I Love the 80s” fortune in tobacco.
Wow. That’s the first thing of yours I’ve ever read, and I can tell ya, I plan on reading more! You are a terrific writer; it’s obvious you write from the heart, and it’s refreshingly eloquent. I for one really appreciate what you have to say about accountability, public or otherwise. It’s something I struggle with, especially at my job where I take the responsibility of leading my humble news production crew very seriously. To that end, I also appreciate what you say about not being too hard on oneself when one slips off the path to perfection.
However, what I particularly enjoyed was reading your thoughts on your experience as part of the Star Trek history. Can’t say I’ve always been a Trekkie - but I have always been a BIG fan of TNG. That show shaped me, like many of our generation. That show was important, on so many levels. To be able to sit here and read your candid thoughts … I can’t describe it, but I feel so grateful! How
luckyblessed I am to have this tiny corner of space to let you know how much I appreciate you taking the time to share those thoughts.God Bless you, Mr. Burton. Thank you for doing your part to make this world a little easier and nicer to live in. … I daresay, it makes up for many sins; doesn’t it?
Well I’m in… need a new BBQ and I’m set.
Oh ya I forgot to tell you I switched from trumpet to Sax…
When are you going to post again?
Very inspiring LeVar! Love the audio/written combo of your blog. Big fan of all your work. Good luck with the smoking habit. Keep up the great work. I’m 33 now and I remember watching you on Reading Rainbow as a child. You da man!!!!
Keep up the great work Levar, I wish you the best on your journey of kicking the habit.
Tip to get you started
Have you ever noticed that when you wake up in the morning for a split second you don’t remember who you are. The next few moments you spend reorienting yourself with your identity. You get up and while brushing your teeth you stare at your self in the mirror, on a subtle level you are just remembering who you are. If everyday you start out like this, having to remember who you are. What are the chances that your day will turn out to be unique. What if before you tried to remember who you are you remembered what you wanted to be? This is a radically different perspective in living your day to day life. You remember who you want to be instead of bonding with an old self.
We’re pulling for you Levar! Keep up the good work. You’re right that stumbling is part of the process and though you can’t let it slide, you have to avoid becoming discouraged or self-flagellation distracting you from the acquisition of your goal.
Levar, congratulations you made the right choice (again), but that’s the key isn’t it, choice. I watched my father die from lung cancer aged 52 in a hospital room with my 16 year old sister and my 22 year old brother. I chose not to smoke and they chose to partake all of us knowing full well the outcome.
Choice, it’s a word loaded with conotations most of them good, a few bad. You have chosen to quit smoking and you have chosen to tell everyone, which with any luck, will help you to stick to that choice. It’s my experience that when we choose to do something for our own reasons we are usually able to persue that goal to it’s conclusion but when we make choices to appease others we end up following some one else’s direction. So I guess what I am saying, in a round about way is if this is a choice you made for you then I am sure you will have absolutely no problem following through. If by some chance you feel a moment of weakness coming on just remember smoking makes you less fertile, your skin look old, your hair smell, your breath stink, your fingers yellow, your voice rasp, your breath control lousy and your wallet thinner. But it’s your choice
hi Comander Laford. You better quit smoking my oldest brother died of lung cancer due to excesive smoking. God blessd.
Good luck with quitting smoking LeVar! You WILL make it. Even if you fail this time, you’ll have a second chance! I believe in you!
And that RR outro made me laugh so hard. You are the best.
Hi, Levar!
I just discovered your website yesterday. I enjoy reading your blogs so far!
I am a Navy and Gulf War veteran. I used to tell people(half-jokingly) that the Four Basic Food Groups for a typical Navy Guy back then were:
Nicotine
Caffeine
Alcohol and
Grease
After all the things I experienced while serving in the military,to me, honestly it wasn’t as challenging as quitting smoking and trying to stay on the wagon. It wasn’t until I quit that I realized just how much of a grip it had on me for so many years. It took me a long time to finally break the habit, but looking at it now, it’s eventually worth it once you come out the other side. Hang in there!!
I did want to tell you that while I was serving aboard the USS LaSalle (AGF-3) while she was the flagship for all Navy forces operating in and around the Persian Gulf during, and after Desert Storm, my mom used to send me tapes of ST TNG episodes to watch from home, which made living over in that part of the world (we were stationed out of Bahrain) more bearable for me. ST episodes did wonders for just about everyone’s morale over there back then.
Levar,
I quit smoking in July of 2001, after smoking for 2/3 of my life (24 years). I too quit cold turkey. Making the decision to quit is a difficult enough thing to do. Feb. 9th you were on day 5. I pray you’re still beating the pull. I have two suggestions.
One, the advice you got that if you do slip, not to be too hard on yourself, had a second part that was VERY IMPORTANT. To get right back on the path of your commitment to quit. Don’t let a slip be the death of your decision. Let it merely be a slip.
Second, God asks that his people call on his name (Is 12:3-5; Ro 10:13; Ps 83:18) so when I prayed for help to stay off cigarettes, I made sure to use God’s name, and I got so much help to resist cravings.
I wish you the very best. You’ve made a difficult but awesome decision. Take care!
Kim
The urge will pass whether you smoke or not.
Levar, I was a 3 pack-a-day smoker + Cigars + a pipe. Quit cold turkey, One day at a time… When you get up in the morning, don’t worry about quiting forever, just for that day.. I don’t pray, but I’ll direct all the positive energy your way that I can..Best of Luck.
PS. Hope I see you on TWIT LIve again.
OMG. I DIDN’T KNOW U SMOKED.
When I first made the decision to quit, and began the first stages of withdrawal due to lack of nicotine, I got to thinking about a bit comedian Rodney Dangerfield did years ago on the subject of smoking, that went something like:
“My wife and I came up with an idea to help us quit smoking–We agreed to only have a cigarette after Sex. I’ve had the same pack since 1975 and she’s up to 2 packs a day.”
But seriously, hope you’re hanging in there. We are all here for you! If you are ever in our area here in NH (about 50 miles north of Boston), I hope you’ll drop a line to let us know!
So where you been. I cut the tip of my pinkie finger almost clean off. It took a bit of work but I was able to hit a low C# and Ab last night. I should be able to go without the finger splint next week.
Fabulous post. I quit smoking 6 years ago after an on and off battle and it only stuck when I got “sick and tired of being sick and tired” as they say in recovery meetings!
I know you have a boatload of support, but once a mind is made up there is no turning back and you just have to make up your mind.
I was the smoker who loved the smell of it, and I thought everything was better because of it ~ now I don’t miss a hit, or a drag.
I went vegan and at 42 (in 29 days) this is the best time of my life.
Best of luck !!!
Just saw the hour interview… great… the vanity license thing reminds riding around sacto that time. It is amazing how far things have come.
Just don’t take up golf. It is a way more expensive addiction;)
One other comment. I think that the other reason ST Nemesis, suffered is that there was no value add in seeing it in the theater. The production values and effects in Enterprise’s Broken Bow were just as good as Nemesis.
I think that Nemesis had a solid story concept (lose the desert chase scence), but it was under funded and poorly executed by Mr Baird.
Mr. Burton,
Hi! I’m sure you get this all the time. I’ve written ten movies and I am prepared to do something with them. Can you lead me in the right direction? A producer liked the movie I’ve edited but only wants things to do with Canada or Australia. I’m handicapped so I can’t get to L.A. to push them. Any help would be appreciated.
Respectfully,
Harvey Stelman
Hey man quit’n the smokes, good on ya. My father’s an acupuncturist and has had a lot of success helping people with addictions of all sorts… So, Levar, if you ever get through all of these comments and find yourself reading this message, then maybe you’d think about coming out to join us for coffee, tea, pastries and bird watching. We’re trying to put migratory bird issues on the environmental agenda. If you think this might be good for you or if you’d rather send some insults my way for bugging you then please look for me at the ecology action centre in Halifax, NS. Noel Taussig, (Coordinator: The Birds Are Back Celebrity Challenge.)
I quit yet again on February 1st. How are you holding up? I tried taking Chantix but I have a terrible time remember to take a pill twice a day at the same time every day so I didn’t renew my prescription.
My doctor said I have to realize that I can never have another cigarette again. One small relapse does not equal a failure, so keep on trying, but you have to realize that you can never have one again. That was my problem. I kept thinking if I really needed it, I could have it. But I can’t and I never need it.
Hopefully I’m never quitting again.
I had trouble quiting smoking too but I made it. I wish you the best of luck Levar. Is it true that you are working on a Reading Rainbows for adults?
Add me on twitter!
Levar Burton Have a Hot Dog with Me! (Ala the Colbert Report; I am not a creep)
Where you been? my detector housing is about to ship….
Keep at it, Levar! Good luck to you.
(And pleasantly surprised to see your blog using the Thesis theme…)
Wow, I’m so impressed. Thank you for writing that entry.
I just found your website via Twitter and I’m so glad I did. I quit smoking nine weeks ago this coming Saturday and I did it cold turkey. This was not my first attempt, however. The first time I quit, it was also cold turkey and I lasted for quite a while. But with the way relationships go I was drawn to relapse and subsequently tried methods slightly less exotic than the ones you had chosen. I tried the patch, I even tried substituting black & milds for cigarettes (brilliant, huh?).
I tried again to quit cold turkey late last year and failed, but this year I knew it was going to work. This time I know it has worked. I’m even thankful that I’ve already come really close to taking a drag. I was soo tempted. It was wicked how much I wanted that cigarette. And I’m glad I got that close because I realized that I’m the one with all power over nicotine now. Those cigs can’t chase me down. They can’t call out to me. I have won. I have quit and I have won. And I am so proud of myself. And it feels so good to say that. I’m keeping this power.
Anyway, I just wanted to share. I have to say that I was the biggest, geekiest Next Generation fan, so much so I had the communicator symbol tattoed on me, you know those things are permanent? Ah well, I loved the original series as well and I also loved me some Reading Rainbow.
All that being said, I can’t tell you how big a deal it is just to be able to follow you on Twitter and leave a message here on your site and even relate to you on what has been a significant challenge in my life. And I don’t need to tell you because I can tell by reading what you said about your relationship, your REAL relationship, with Mr. Rodenberry, that you can relate. He was also a hero of mine for what he was able to create. So, yeah, this is pretty phenomenal and you’re still one of my heroes.
Thank you again, oh btw I’m an ox and if you haven’t checked out info on the Chinese Zodiac you must…should I say it…make it so…oooh couldn’t resist.
Whoa, you actually read them…I just noticed this…
I just found you on twitter today and finding out about your blog was a nice surpirse. Now the audio, which I just listened too, was the icing on a wonderfully sweet cake. I enjoyed it!
Keep being creative and strong. You’ve used your talents to make the world a better place. I’m glad that you’ve quit smoking, air is the bomb! I love it!
. . . Your Fan.
I liked the wellesley clip … but I would be “pleep” if you didn’t
Quitting smoking.
There are a couple of things about quitting smoking that you should know.
One is that if you want to quit you need to convince yourself that you really want to quit or you’ll always be going back and fourth. i quit after 11 years by reading this book called: DETOX. It takes 21 days to start a habit. You just start the habit of NOT smoking. But you have to make it 21 days. You can do it. You’ll be pissy, annoyed and have headaches, start sweating weird, feel restless… its all withdrawl symptoms that go away after a few weeks.
Depending on how long you’ve been smoking… be careful when quitting. What you’ve done to your body is make it dependent on this chemical. when you’re stressed out or sad you smoke. after eating, you smoke. right? So, you’ll go through a small depression and you’ll want to eat everything in sight. My best advice is to start taking 5htp supplement to rebuild your seratonin and st johns wort as a mild anti depressant. its all natural and very light. I’m not big on taking american medicines and they are also addictive so what i’m recommending is very mild but effective.
The thing is that your body is going to fight you really hard about quitting. Cigarettes were the hardest of all the drugs for me to quit. its the most addicting, second to heroin.
if you want any more information and i have a whole lot, feel free to ask.
Just remember, if you can make it 21 days, you’ll be fine. Just chew a lot of gum. it helps.
and the patch and nicorette doesn’t help. you need to be rid of the nicotine in your body.
Hope that info was helpful
~Satine
Hi LeVar.
As with all you have done. Your successes, your gains, and achievements, I know that you will be able to conquer this all well. It is always good to reach out for the strength of others for encouragement. I will you well and peace be unto you as you are a overcomer through this process.
Congrats on quitting, I know you can do it! I quit tobacco about a year ago, it sucked but I’m happy I did it…
Now we just need to work on getting the stale cigarette smell out of Main Engineering…
hey im really glad your trying your hardest to quit levar by the way im one of you biggest fans of star trek next generation. by the way the name is will well it was tobias but then then i started to watch star trek and i adopted comander rikers name hehehe well bye for now talk again soon hopefully
Hey LeVar, Nice to see you online. Wonder if you remember that we used to hang out in your pre Roots days….back when we were at ‘SC. I was in film school and you were in the drama department. We had some good times. You ran off to find fame and fortune! Hope all is well with you — Sandi
Congratulations! I am routing for you!
Speaking from similar experience its a roller coaster and a re training of the hands and mind, you can do it!
I know where you’re at, I smoked for 32 years. The way I quit was by using the nictoine patch only I modified the program so that I was on each patch for one month. By the end of the 90 days I felt pretty good and I had the willpower to say that “You know what, despite the fact that I’d like to have a smoke right now, I really don’t “NEED” one.”
It also helps that my wife was on my side the whole time as wll. Good luck. and please keep me posted.
Quitting smoking….good for you. I did the same thing 10 years ago - cold turkey - and have broken only a handful of times since. You can do it!!
Also…Happy Birthday a little late
Levar Burton,
I quit smoking cold turkey 8 years ago. Best thing I could have ever done. Thank you for sharing your story and your courage with us as well.
Back when I was in High School, I was talking to my religion teacher about fasting. I said that I was concerned about doing a month long fast because I didn’t want to fail. She said “There’s no ‘failing’. If you succumb, you don’t just undo everything you’ve been working at. You just keep trying.”
We often think of failure as the constant, and success as the variable. But there’s no reason that we can’t decide to make the change, and after that a failure is simply on a case by case instance.
having never been a smoker, and never having any addictions— ok, yeah, but yarn and beads don’t really count…do they?—i can’t say that i understand what you’re going through. but i have friends who’ve smoked and quit…and started again and quit. my BF is quitting again…this past election pushed him back over the edge. and my best friend’s husband has tried many times, but keeps trying. so i know what a tough thing nicotine is to beat.
anyway, i am a longtime fan (starting with Roots, all the way through ST:TNG and RR and now TWIT, Twitter and your blog) and i send you much love and well wishes and positive thoughts to you in your road to finally kicking the nicotine beast square in the ass.
I watched you on Tekzilla, and i think you should check out the website called Ning, for you social networking solutions, its a build your own friends network, Ning
You can embed widgets into it like facebook but gives you the customization of myspace, but you can also pay money each month to gain control over the advertising right for the whole network.
Example the Reading rainbow friends network, kids sign up to it you upload all the old reading rainbow shows, get libraries all around the world to make a page of there own, and you can guarantee that all the advertising on it could be non profit and kid friendly.
Or The Lavar Burton Fan Club.
You see with Ning its a network of networks, so once you have one page a personal page you can enter into a search of 100s of other Networks, and join a number of networks each network radically different from each other but retain your same profile info in each network.
The incorporation of Ning with Twitter i think is the next big merger, you can also add widgets for diggg friends feed its open sourced
Email me if you have any questions i would love to set up something to show you.
MadManincinfo(at)gmail.com
Best of luck in quitting, I went cold turkey using a product called ciggarrest in 1988 when I left the Navy. I was up to three packs a day which also included wheezing, and gasping for air every day not to mention looking forward to the first puff of the day. I can tell you from experience it can be very difficult.
I met most of the Star Trek cast and was the most suprised when I met Majel Barrett Roddenberry, she was one beautiful person that always made an impression. She was so wonderful to talk to and listen to because she shined from inside is that right? She left you feeling like you had just talked to an angel or something. She will be missed.
Levar I want to thank you for the roles you played, Especially Roots - Absolutely Wonderful! and now that I’ve just turned 48, my children watch your Reading Rainbow, Thank You! You look young for 50, keep it up!
One note, Star Trek is one of the biggest reasons why I am pursuing my aerospace engineering degree.
I quit five days ago (again), and aside from being short fused at times, I’m doing well. I found you through Michael Ian Black’s Twitter, so I’m now following you to keep up with your non-smoking progress, as I keep up with my own.
best of luck to you,
Joe
I am a die-hard star trek fan (trekee) from the first series, the next generations to the last series plus all of the movies. You are definitely a part of the classic series and I watched your “Roots” several times too and my son watches your reading rainbow. Never give up on your fight to quit smoking… never!
“Live long and prosper.”
bobby
I finally quit smoking 5 years ago, after many attempts. I used the gum for the recommended time, several times. I did not succeed until I extended the 8 week gum time to about a year ( using bubble gum). Also avoided any drinking situations parties, bars etc for about 2 years. It was still rough but worth it
So, how’s it going? Have you been able to keep it up? One day at a time, and all that jazz.
Warm thoughts your way.
Oh! And yay for The Caterer opening! That’s today, right?
So were you been…
I’m praying that you have stopped smoking. I’m glad that the play started off to a fabulous opening night!
Please allow me to comment on some of your twitters. I can only do that if you become one of my followers (vitawita).
Thanks
P.S.
I will always love you as the Reading Rainbow host. I have 7 children , all adults now, and 4 grandchildren. I write children’s books and one day maybe you can guide me to a publisher. If not you have already been a blessing to me and my family with your promotion of reading.
Hi LeVar;
I got so excited about wanting to share so much with you that I forgot to share my little testimony about stopping smoking. I smoked as a teenager and until I was about 20. I became a Christian and the desire for smoking left me. I didn’t have to suffer or struggle with quitting like so many others. I doubt if I’d be here today if I hadn’t quit because of other health issues. I will pray for you, and I hope that the battle is already over because of your current efforts. If not, just know that God can help you to do it.
Congratulations on your commitment to quit! I’m on the same road, with some ups and downs. I found this thing called the e-cigarette, and it’s pretty great as a tool for quitting altogether. You can google it if you’re interested and I’m happy to forward you the link to the place I ordered it from if you don’t want to wade through the million sites out there. There are tons, so you or anyone else reading this can easily find one. Anyway, just wanted to wish you tons of luck, lots of strength and good health. It’s difficult putting it out there, and you should be proud of your accountability and your decision to quit.
Samantha
Hi there, I quit smoking on March 8th, 2009, after my mother passed away from Lung Cancer. She smoked for 50 years and after seeing what she went through I couldn’t think of a better thing to do then quit. It has been tough but I am sticking with it and you should too. No one should go out that way. Keep it up, Sincerely, Grant
I’m a writer because of you, sir! You got me into reading! Thanks for that! As for smoking, I believe you can beat it! My prayers are with you! You ran around the Enterprise set for seven years with that horrid visor on–you can do anything!
I quit smoking 4 years ago. I got rid of a lot of my habits that I used to do in my house by making the home smoke free. Then I used the patch. It worked for me. I really wish you luck. I know how I felt because the smoking controlled so much of my life.
I just smoked my last cigarette ever and I couldn’t be happier. You have been a huge inspiration for this decision. But be confident that you can quit again. Don’t mourn losing cigarettes - celebrate all that you will gain!!
Celebrated my 12 anniversary of quitting about a month ago. The first 10 days are the absolute pits. But it gets better. I, like you, have gone through several periods of smoking & not. This is my longest, in fact I’m now approaching the point where I’ve quit longer than I smoked. I still get the occasional craving but it goes away pretty quickly. Best of luck. Persevere!
Good job on quitting. I am in your struggle as well.
Mr. Burton, good for you on those cigarettes. I pray that the urge never returns. Great blog!
Bravo and Good Luck! I have never been a heavy smoker but I still have dreams smoking and will wake up wanting one, kinda crazy considering, I just decided 1) I would rather smell like my perfume then smoke and 2) Seeing the crud it puts in my lungs..ick..the momentary buzz it gives just isn’t worth it. /highfive
Congrats on the smoking thing, i have been trying for awhile too, its tough. On a side note it is ironic that i have been such a fan of star trek, and my mother was a library director, so you have been a house hold name in our family since i was a child.
levar you dont look like a smoker it take will power and alex haley love you like a son keep up the good work you are educated and a good husband and father and i love you since u did roots
Thumbs up to the public declaration. I’m wondering how much more you’ll value every day, now…
Very few guarantee success in this way…
You go guy! It takes guts to go public and if you fall off the horse you can always get back on.
P.S. I’m on week 3 of not smoking and thinking of you.
Hey Levar,
I like it… going public with your intentions to quit smoking. I am doing the same thing with my blog, going public. As far as relapses go, I totally understand that whole cycle too. Quit, relapse, disappointment in self; Quit, relapse, disappointment in self… a deadly cycle.
I didn’t smoke for most of my 30’s and early 40’s, in fact I detested the smell of cigarettes. Then I discovered cigars at the age of about 45, and have been on the roller coaster ever since.
I quit January 1st this year, and made it all the way to April with only one or two relapse moments, so I figured I was in the clear. Then one day, while visiting Vancouver for a day, I let myself go get a cigar… and now I’m back to the same pattern, about 3 tiny little $1 cigars a day.
Funny thing is, it’s not my health that is my primary worry. I am in good shape and do quite a bit of sports. It’s more the shame of it, I live in a community that is largely non-smoking, and I don’t want anybody to see me smoking!
So like you, I went public in my blog.
Your last post was in February. How’s it going? Are you still off the sport-sticks (as they’re called here in Whistler)?
Hi handsome im just a note from the past. I remember sittin on your back porch at your old house on PCH talking about everything form GOD to Kunta Kitty. I worked for Shahan at the cross creek mall. MY beautiful daughter grew up with Reading Rainbow now she is smarter and taller than me. I also remember Merlins when your bar stoll shrunk. I have wonderful memories of you and watching movies in Westwood, We actually saw Airplane in the theatre. Never laughed so hard. Thanks for the memories that’s all. Im proud of all of your accomplishments you have turned into the fine man I thought you would. Cyndi
Hey levar, im a big fan man thanks for making my childhood tv favs especially RR, it would be awesome to contact you via email, peace.
Jesse
Jestalf19@gmail.com
P.S. i know how it is to quit smoking over and over haha.
Levar, I just found your Twitter and blog from an AOL article about the Star Trek people. How nice that you are interacting with people this way!
I am 53 years old and have been smoking heavily ALL MY LIFE. I’ve tried most all of it…not acupuncture, but hypnotism, Chantix, patches, lozenges, all the silly infomercial gadgets. I haven’t been able to pull it off either. I quit once for 4 days and it was literally agonizing. The need for a cigarette actually comes in waves like a bad stomach-ache.
Don’t remember me? You worked for my dad (Ernie R. Tyhurst) at a dry cleaners in Sacramento when you were still going to school. My mother (Marcelline) often talked about you and the strange coincidence that your TNG character was named LaForge, since her maiden name was also LaForge. Glad to see you quit smoking. I did it, cold turkey, when I was 28, and it was the very best thing I ever did. Good luck and god bless.
I have adored you since Roots. I still cry when I see the t.v. movies Dummy and The Jim Jones Story. Just knowing you are trying to quit smoking makes me feel better about my own journey. You are such a hero for African Americans.
Your voice is really nice to listen to. I love the work you’ve done over your lifetime. Really liked this post and your transparency, as much as is safely possible for someone with such fame. Your thoughts were things I have been pondering for quite some time. Thank you.
Hi Lavar
I am Cassandra Murray (Mulligan )’s aunt Lylia .I think that you will remember her;you were on Sesame Street together and shot some MOVIE stuff in Connecticut many years ago.Do you remember her.She is all grownup with little miniatures of herself at home .They are her children .We would would love to know how you are doing and how your life has been since we last saw you.I met you again in the library when you came read for the little children .LOL Cassandra did well in life she is a devout Christian graduated at NYU etc..
my email and phone number are as follows fstevens@optonline.net
Cassandra ’s is cassdavekids@hotmail.com 516-620-3172
Hi LeVar, I am a big fan,and just dicovered your site. keep strong and beat smoking mentaliy.
Blessings!
Derrick
Dear Levar:
I can still remember the day you went to screen tested for “Roots”…hard to believe that many years have gone by…Except when I look in the mirror and then the passage of time hits me right square in the eye! I am staying busy (two kids Charlie 25, ex-William Morris about to become a H.S. basketball coach (his first love) and Caitlin (19), @ University of Colorado. I am busy with a 26 episode animated Adventures of Young Dr. Dolittle and a live-action Mulan feature (China/Canada) with my old friend Steve Waterman (Alvin & Chimpmunks/Stuart Little 1 and 2). Hope you are well and happy. Congratulations on a lifetime of success in what appears to be all the best ways to succeed.
Peace,
Jeff Kranzdorf
I am a quitter! And proud of it! Hope you stuck with it and are still on the waggon!
On another note, I was so excited to find you on twitter! Been looking for you! Seriously. You see, I wrote this play which is too long for a stage play but would make a great film! And My gut, from the time I finished it said Mr. LeVar Burton! I haven’t been able to imagine anyone else crying out the words.. “…And Cut!” but you. You must read the story fully and then decide. I promise you will fall in love with the characters as much as everyone else who has read it. It’s a MasterPiece Theater Miniseries for sure, and it’s yours, if you will have it. I believe in you! Always have! Ever since you got me into reading via PBS! So Please, if you will, indulge me and read my blog via the website link I have sent here. It’s my dream to have you read it at the very least, even if you don’t think it’s good enough to film. But I think you will. I really do. Take care. PEACE!
Hope the quitting is going well. Remember, you just have to make the time between relapses longer and longer until it’s infinite.
Looking forward to your next post.
Cheers,
M
Levar, love your reflections, thanks for sharing them. FWIW, I quit smoking cigarettes in ‘84 and I still get a taste for a smoke. It’s just a matter of not giving in and not letting my mind dwell on it. It’s a good habit to quit, to save money and breathe fresh air and not cough. Praying that you will slay this dragon! -jay
I hope you keep it up. That’s a really nice thing to do.
Levar,
You’re friggin’ awesome, brother.
From my childhood days watching Reading Rainbow in the 80’s to TNG, you’ve been a part of good things I always enjoyed and which inspire and continue to inspire.
Looking forward to reading more from your blog.
Cheers,
Ron
No one ever knows what to say to keep from coming off stupid when talking to a celeb. I’ve loved RR since watching as a kid. Now I’m an aspiring author (to say the least) and for some strange reason RR has a whole new meaning to me now. I KNOW that featured book could be mine! By the way…. U & Data are the best ever! LOL
Would love to pick your brain. Following on twitter a24hrmom.
& Congrats on kicking the habit! I’ve watch my mom fight and loose for 31 years. Once for as long as 6 years =(
What better way to succeed than to celebrity blog about it?
Hey I just want you to know I’ve grown up with Reading Rainbow since I can remember and I used to live on the same street as your niece and nephew. They used to wear ST:TNG jackets to school, which I thought was so dope, and once your nephew hooked me up with 35 cents so I could buy ice cream on ice cream day at school. That was before I was old enough to fan out over a celebrity. If you see them soon tell them I said what’s up and thank you for the ice cream money.
Keep being rad, Levar!
YES! Stay with the no-smoking program! I had to try six times before it stuck, and even then I tried again several years later, but that try cured me! They taste AWFUL once you’re “clean!”
Congratulations on your successful to quit smoking. Is not that easily to get away from it, honestly..
Well done!
I would be so very honored if you would follow me on Twitter. Not only am I a fan of your acting, I think the twitter might be of interest for you. Jordan Tate and myself have just completed a screenplay (animated movie called EARTH FRIENDS) which teaches children how to get along with each other and our planet. My twitter name is JRavenHawk (Jodi Silver).
CONGRATS ON THE FIVE DAYS OF NON SMOKING. NEED TO DO THE SAME. SO I ADMIRE YOU ON THAT ONE VERY MUCH!!!!!!
Raven Hawk
After having quit smoking for three years, I fell off the wagon (really bad day at work-really bad day). But, here I am, smoke free for almost a year again. Believe it or not, I still feel the urge to smoke. I just don’t. Cold turkey both times. This time is for keeps. Never give up.
LeVar,
I’m just a bit older than you and have dealt with my own nicotine addiction too. I quit over 12 years ago, and it took me 3 years to do it! I went into therapy to learn how to change how I “re”-acted to my “triggers.” It was the best thing I’d ever done for myself. I’m also sure, being the truly intelligent person that you are, you’ve thought of this; I would encourage you to (re)pursue it.
I’ve followed you for many years, enjoying everything that you’ve worked at, though, being the trekkie that I am, LaForge will always be my favorite.
Peace, Lori
hi! I’m from Mexico, my name is also Levar, my father made me this name because it is Star Trek fan, I like my name, but I don’t know much about its origin and meaning, hopefully you or someone can answer or help me with this doubt that I am trying to solve, thank you very much and best wishes.
P.D. sorry for bad english
Hi, Le Var Burton! I had the same problem, but with patience and willingness I just make it. Now I am spending time in the fitness and think about myself and my body and I am in harmony with my soul. Try it
good for you! I was able to stop smoking with the help of Chantix, a tattoo, and the book “The Easy Way to Stop Smoking”
It’s a great reverse brainwashing process regarding why we smoke.
just remember: There is no such thing as “Just one cigarette” and you’ll be grand! Take care
im workin on that. did’nt know you smoke(ed) btw. good for you, i should be right behind you on that.
Dear Mr. LeVar Burton,
Hi! I am a Huge fan. I was wondering if it would be O.K. to email you some children’s stories that I have written. I especially want to tell you about The Panther and the Lady.
Thank you.
Sincerely yours,
Kristy Star Sisk
Hey,
Have to wonder why you haven’t been about in forever. I just found this blog today and you must be working on a project or something to not have posted anything at all for months and months. (Something a lot of the recent commenters don’t seem to have noticed.)
You spoke about quitting. “Winners never quit, quitters never win.” My approach to quitting smoking hasn’t been that I quit smoking but that I fired it. Kinda gives you a more superior feeling. Although, I have to be honest, it hasn’t worked for me. Yet. I’m getting there. Props to you. And thanks for sharing.
Mr Burton,
I came across your website and your blog about quitting smoking. I still hope that is going well for you. My Dad quit nearly 5 years ago after 40 years of smoking and suffering a major heart attack. His Dr told him basically if your goin to quit then just do it. Cold turkey is the best method is what he said. Consider it a lifestyle change and try changing some of your daily habits you do while smoking, morning patterns etc. Good luck to you. Also heard about your automobile accident and I wish you a speedy recovery and glad you were not seriously injured.
dude this shit is getting old post somthing new so we know your outthere. I won’t dis you if you didn’t fully quit the cig, hell I had one today.
Lavar,
I’m now cigarette free for close to 30 years now. Before that time it took me close to 10 years before I could completely and totally free myself from their grip.
The only thing that helped me to finally quit was to A. Keep trying and B. Reduce the physical struggle to a psychological one.
I HATED myself for smoking. So, I was finally able to to conquer the habit when “my need to like myself became greater than my need to smoke”
I was 27 years old when I smoked my last one and I remember as if it was yesterday.
Good luck. It was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done.
To smoke or not to smoke, that is the question… Started smoking when 16 (a few decades ago) because everyone did it and no information said it was bad; albeit, the bad part “should” have been obvious. In 1970, several weeks before I got married, I decided to quit and did so cold turkey. I did not know what withdrawal was so I told my doctor I thought I was for sure dying! The doctor went through the list of changes in my life and found nothing negative. I thought quitting was a good thing so I left it off the list. Once he knew I quit smoking, he (holding back his chuckles) explained about withdrawal. When I got divorced I picked up a cigarette, took a puff, and whoa! put it down calling it a mean thing and remembering how difficult it was to quit and how luring the idea of smoking is for me.
So–I congratulate you on quitting smoking. My Dad took years to quit and quit for good once he added up the money he spent on cigarettes and related items. He then put the same amount of money in a jar for several years and bought a new car with the money (cars were quite a bit less expensive in those days!)
Keep up the good work on quitting and keep up the good work in keeping everyone encouraged to quit.
Our son, 3 1/2, is a huge fan of yours. We pay for TiVo if, for no other reason, so we can tape Reading Rainbow which has been sequestered to Sundays at 6am. Finding out what you are going to be doing on the New LeVar (as we call it) is always a fun thing. We watched the Bowling episode twice daily all last summer. We’ve watched the Seashore episode almost as much. I miss it.
I’d just like to thank you for taking the time to create this internet website. It has been extremely helpful
Mr. Burton, thank you for your excellent performance of Geordi LaForge. Star Trek the Next Generation is the best show of all time and it keeps me company when I am lonely. I never get tired of it and you are a huge part of it and my childhood. I also think you were the best part of Star Trek Insurrection, especially the sunrise scene.. Reading Rainbow was huge when I was a kid too. I’m 21 now and I’ll be a fan of yours for life and I will also hope for the best in your endeavor to quit smoking! I’ve had trouble quitting smoking as well.
Thanks again for everything.
Levar, you are totally the coolest & the smartest! Reading Rainbow was one of my favorites growing up & then it was incredible when TNG came out starring you! You were so awesome as Geordi! Even today I’m still feeling the pain of TNG being over. Thank goodness for reruns though!
Good luck with the quitting. This is my third time “quitting”, but secretly I’m still hoping for a cigarette alternative that is actually good for you!
Hey LeVar, It’s been a long time. Steve and I have been married 16 years this August which means it’s been 16 years since I last saw you. We are doing great. Living the military life for the past 14 years. My husband Steve, just got back from a years deployment in Iraq. We have four children. Philicia is 23 now, Steven Jr. is 14, Stephanie Michaela is 12 and Christina is 5. Do you remember? I named Stephanie Michaela in your honor? Please say hello to them for me and to your mom and son also. Bye for now, Love to you and your family :)Cheryl.
Hey LeVar,
It’s been a long time. Steve and I have been married 16 years this August which means it’s been 16 years since I last saw you. We are doing great. Living the military life for the past 14 years. My husband Steve, just got back from a years deployment in Iraq. We have four children. Philicia is 23 now, Steven Jr. is 14, Stephanie Michaela is 12 and Christina is 5. Do you remember? I named Stephanie Michaela in your honor? Please say hello to them for me and to your mom and son also. Bye for now, Love to you and your family :)Cheryl.
Levar, keep going up the steps to your ultimate victory. I stopped smoking cold turkey over 30 years ago and went back briefly (for one day only) for just 3 cigarettes and stopped for another year and did it again the next year for the same amount of time. Haven’t picked it up since. So for however many times it takes to quit, be happy that you’re still on the “quitting” path. It’s still an admirable goal, my fellow human. Love your take on the subject of quitting smoking; you spoke so eloquently on human frailty; after all, that’s what we are all part of! Have another successful day on the planet Earth. May God grant you ultimate success, and soon!!
About Reading Rainbow, Levar there are generations of people all around the world that have been positively affected by this show. If there is any way that it can be brought back to live TV, than so be it! I will be 60 in January and my “kids” are 39, 28 and soon to be 26. They all enjoyed you and the show and will always remember it with smiles, but don’t take my word for it! P.S. I tweet you as Soladaritee. Stay well, always will be a fan of your work.
I quit almost 3 years ago, so I feel you & your journey and wish you much luck. I’ve just discovered your site & am curious how the quitting is going (be honest!).
Cheers!
Thank you Levar for so many wonderful years of Reading Rainbow. It was something amazing to me that an adult could get as excited about reading as I was (and still am!). The theme song will always be a part of my early childhood memory’s playlist.
Thanks for Reading Rainbow!
My son very much enjoyed it a few years ago, when he was the right age. It was also one of my favorite PBS Kids shows, from the perspective of a graduate-degree parent.
When my kids are old enough for Roots, I’ll ask them if they recognize you. Where is your fountain of youth?
Good luck to you.
I usually don’t give much credence to anything written by ‘celebs’ - ego & narcissim is often omni-present behind the sound bites/headlines of what you hear/read about. I got linked to this, don’t even know who you are, but it came across extremely genuine. Your thoughts were completely real and refreshing.
Good luck w/ your goals in relation to moving on from smoking, and thanks for being straight up w/ your thoughts. Very impressed.
LeVar,
But, either way, also please know we’re here, we’re getting pretty loud and it’s all for the love of what you’ve gifted us with - passion and imagination. Thank you.
I know it may be exhausting to think about, but there are quite a few clans of activists out here brainstorming some ways to fundraise and keep RR in syndication. Most of them are compiled on the facebook site. Please, if you have a minute, consider visiting or letting us know what secret tactic we need to use.
~bryn
All my friends that are avid readers were Reading Rainbow fans. We will get you back!
How’s the fight against the cig going? Keep on keeping on. Took me over a year to completely give them up 13 years nicotene free now.
Lorraine
Allen Carr’s “Easy way to quite smoking” was what got me to quit. Good luck, and thanks for all the wonderful work you’ve done over the years.
P.S. Everyone else is doing it, so I may as well:
I’m following on Twitter as d_cd_c and have made loud statements about how much I miss the good old days of first grade where we would watch RR then discuss the featured book as a class.
Sighhhhhhhhh.
After hearing the NPR story, I had to come here to tell you thank you for 26 great years. You were a significant part of my childhood and it saddens me that my own child will not get to form that same relationship with Reading Rainbow (other than syndication). I broke down and joined twitter just to follow you (man, I had been holding out so long too…). Thank you for books, laughter, and keeping me and my brother entertained all summer long as kids.
Well, I have to say that I’m extremely bummed by the news that Reading Rainbow is off the air. I know that there weren’t any new episodes being produced, but I was really hoping there would still be reruns airing. I grew up on that show. I was an avid reader from an early age, probably before I ever even saw Reading Rainbow, but it definitely reinforced my love for books, and I loved seeing my favorite Star Trek actor having all kinds of real world adventures. My son is 3 and my daughter is 2 and I guess I always kind of figured that Reading Rainbow would be part of the television landscape for them as well. So, I’m pretty sad to hear this. Thanks for all the shows and all the children you’ve inspired. I think sometimes actors and other entertainers get an inflated sense of importance about the movies or other projects that they’re working on. At the end of the day, it’s usually just entertainment. But I think a show like Reading Rainbow can never get all the credit it deserves for the difference it made in the lives of kids. I’m 29, and I can’t tell you how many people I know my age who still hold a special place inside for that show. Thank you LeVar.
Regarding Reading Rainbow: Thanks for the memories!
I’ve shared many hours watching Reading Rainbow with my kids. I’ve always been a fan of yours (since ST:TNG) and am looking forward to your future projects.
Here’s to hoping you kick the nicotine habit once and for all so you may…..wait for it……..Live long, and prosper!
(*groan*)
Hey LeVar! HUGE fan of your work. Let me tell you something - Every time you get the urge to smoke - Go do something that reminds you of why you quit in the first place! Go on a bike ride or a quick jog around the block. Breathe in that fresh air. Remind yourself as you inhale deeply this is why you don’t want to smoke anymore!! Anyone can quit cold turkey if they want to! Way to go =D
Dear. Mr. Burton,
When I was coming back from school I heard you talking on “Talk to the nation I was devasted that neither I nor any around me had a phone to call in. But to summarize what I wanted to say is that I enjoy your work very much I also how did “Smosh” get you in their “April Fools Day” video. Please Reply if you can.
Your Young Fan,
Timothy Tia
Quitting smoking is more than about the nicotine addiction. It is also about routine and habit. To interrupt the habit/routine try drinking some grapefruit juice or gargle with a strong mouthwash at those times you traditionally do your smoking. This will interrupt the triggers that are involved with the smoking habit. Good luck!
Best of success with quitting. I quit drinking cold turkey and it’s been over ten years since I had a drink. One day I’ll try to quit smoking.
`elliott
Until 5 minutes ago, I was actually naive enough to admire you. Even respect you. But that went down the toilet when I just read the article you posted on theonion.com. It’s hard to think of any other public role model I’ve ever been so disappointed in. It was nice thinking you were different than the typical self-centered Hollywood snobs, that you would be proud to know you’d touched the lives of so many children. That it would mean something to know that the generation following you would remember you well and even find it a cheap thrill that to see you in anything else you’ve done would help them feel connected to something else because of ‘Reading Rainbow’. My 12 year-old-son hasn’t watched that show for years, but he remembers it well and he remembers you well. You should have just let it be and be glad for what you did for children and families. But in one fell swoop, you’ve forever changed the mark you will leave on this world. I will give you credit, though - your acting had me fooled. Even your role in ‘Roots’ can’t outshine this one.
Diane. You can have respect for Levar. The piece in The Onion was not written by him. The Onion is a satirical paper, often with a very obvious in-your-face style. Sometimes it can be tough telling truth from fiction, but know one thing. The Onion is always — ALWAYS — fiction.
I;m glad to hear you’re quitting smoking. I too, am trying to quit. Good luck to you and i.
How is the stop-smoking goal coming along? I think of you often and hope your efforts are successful.
Do you have an update on RR continuing? Hope it is.
Have a blessed day.
Thanks for the inspiration Levar. I’m on day 6 of the cold turkey attempt and it is getting easier (yet never over). I hope you kick it for good. Thanks again,
-M
Hello Levar,
I just discovered your site, long overdue in my opinion. Congrats on quitting, stay strong and you will get there.
Also, I wanted to tell you how much you have inspired me throughout my life. Being an only child, I would watch “Reading Rainbow” religiously. Being an adult now, I love to read, and now thanks to repeats, I can share the magic that is ‘Reading Rainbow: with my child. So a million thank you’s, from the bottom of my heart.
Levar , I am praying for you as well as your mom during these times. I pray that her surgery is successful with no complications. I pray she recovers and every thing is fine. You be strong for her and cherish every day you have her.
Relapsing absolutely is just part of the process. Too many people see a single slip up as evidence of a failure and stop *trying* to quit.
One bit of advice I might give. Perhaps there is another treat that you usually avoid that is less dangerous than smoking — like Ben and Jerry’s or, ice fishing or something — that you might keep around to satiate you when you get a craving.
Better to gain a couple of lbs temporarily, than die of lung cancer, no?
I tried to quit smocking so many times that I cannot remember…but I will never quit to try!!!LOL
It took me 15 years and a cancer scare to finally put them down. I hope you can do it. And if you slip, just throw them out again and start over, but dont cave in altogether if you had one or two. Good luck!
Nice article Levar.
Really, 140 symbols are not even close to be enough for you!
Hello Mr. Burton. It’s been a long time. Last time I saw you, your biggest concern was working. You’ve come a long way since then. I’m pretty sure you’ll beat the smoking habbit. Use the same determination you had when you told me you were going to be an actor. It was when we were leaving Ronny Laws place heading to Concert’s By The Sea. GO FOR IT MY BROTHER.
Let me just say, I was once a smoker. I tried to quit over and over, but one day I just had this urge to just stop and of course I made a few booboos here and there where I smoked, but since I had made it more public of me quitting and I had a lot of people telling me that I didn’t have the willpower to quit, it seemed to have made me more motivated to prove them wrong and it’s been quite a few years since I last picked up a cigarette. I believe that anything is possible if you really want it bad enough. No matter what anyone tells you, good or bad, if you really want to quit smoking, than you will. May take a few tries, but like the old saying goes “If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again.” I have faith in you. So, don’t give up.
P.S. You were a guest speaker at Disney’s Candlelight one of the nights I sang there ^~^ and you were by far my favorite. I specifically remember you in your red tux walking up the practice stairs where the director was standing and you said hello to the choir and you walked backwards down the stairs because we werent loud enough then you walked back up.
I was a dedicated watcher of reading rainbow when I was young, hehe. I love listening to you read. You definitely have that soothing fatherly voice that a lot of kids don’t have due to the separation of their parents, which seems to be quite popular these days.
Well, anyways, I am really glad to see that you speak to your fans. Most stars seems to feel too special to put time into that kind of thing. I definitely idolize you for your achievements and just the person you are.
Well, good luck in your quitting smoking achievement. I truly do hope you are able to let that habit go.
-Tiffany Budd
You smoke. That automatically makes you a MORON.
Regardless of the success, fame and wealth you may have achieved.
Quiting smoking is very tough it takes lot of mental strength. I was once a non stop smoker. And one day I decided enough is enough and made up my mind to quite it completely. Initially it was very difficult but you see the mental strength also plays a vital role. My mental strength gained or nicotine.
Now I leave a healthy life of a Non smoker.
Good luck in giving up the smoking. You may be totally against using med in helping but we were told that the same part of the brain that craves nicotine MAY (emphasis on “may”) be helped by a low dose of Wellbutrin. It worked for a son but was it a placebo effect? We’ll never know. We are just glad he stopped smoking.
And, by the way, America ranks number two in having the most smokers in the world. So you’re not alone in being surrounded by temptation and those who smoke to make this challenging. Just be one of those who goes against the stream. You can do it! My mother quit after 20 years of smoking and is alive, in her 90s!
Ignore the negativity from some who comment here. Many people start smoking. I’d like a take from guys who do because our son who quit said smoking calmed him down. Anyone find that to be true? I’m not a smoker but do know that Wellbutrin seemed to reduce the cravings and he simply stopped.
I’m glad that you finally decided to quit cigerettes. STAYING OFF OF THEM OVER THE YEARS WILL BE TRICKY AS YOU MIGHT GET THE URGE TO GO BACK TO WHAT YOU USE TO LOVE.
I never got involved with smoking. Took all of 4 cigerettes in my life and hated them all and never got hooked into smoking.
MY OLDER BROTHER is another different story. His first was the strongest cigerette ever made back in the late 1950’s and he loved it and went and got more of them. AT the time he got his SILENT HEART-ATTACK he was smoking around 20 cigerette cartons per week. Doctor had him on 10 cigerette patch perscriptions per day and then he eventuially went to NO CIGERETTES PER DAY. Now some 3 yrs after he had his birthday heart-attack gift is now smoking again but now he is more like a 2 carton a week smoker.
THUS from family history with my older brother… GREAT THAT YOU QUIT… but staying off…. TIME WILL TELL.
{HINT = If you can only have as much convictions to stay off as you told many of your fellow actors how tought it was for you to accept your special vision visor in STNG then maybe you will have what it takes to stay off them forever.]
Good luck with that Mr. Burton. I was able to quit after 27 years and I’ve been off cigarettes for almost 6 years now. So glad I did. To quit cigarettes it took me being willing to die. My previous life had been so intertwined with cigarettes I had to let that person just die and I decided I would carry on with whatever was left. I had so much more life than I could have possibly imagined at that moment when I decided that life was worth dying for. Best Regards Sir!! Cheers - Mal
Congratulations Mr. Burton!
I know you can smell and taste lots of new things! lol
My uncle (He’s 54) quit smoking a couple of months ago too. He claims to have used Nicorette and prayer! lol
Switch to coffee breaks when u need a smoke break! Coffee is actually beneficial in moderation! Uh-oh I don’t want to introduce a new addiction! lol
-Loren
I ment to say Hi Levar not I Levar. Sorry!
LaVar,
As I said before my love for you has been for many years. I hate that your not on pbs anymore. As you were my joy daily. I am not a tweeterer yet but i hope to be soon. I love your comments.
Your Biggest Fan,
Melissa
Dear Mr. Burton
Big Fan of yours Since TNG, I saw roots when I was a small kid and when someone told me that Jordie played in roots I took me a while to figure it out (my god I am slow).
Anyhow as a former smoker (quite 15 years ago) I wish and hope that you’re still smoke free, it took me a while to get over it and in fact I am still dreaming that I am smoking which is the weirdest thing. It’s worth it!!!!
Hello,Lavar,I`ve loved you since Roots.I am the black,God-called saint that the late Pope announced at the U.N. in `79.Because my own didn`t acknowledge It,the system`s dogged me ever since.I am trying to start up Youth International since last June.It is a project that will go into a slum-make bricks for housing;furniture making;greenhouses for veggies;chicken coops;generator production;sewing;and other skills.Although the Clintons didn`t pass It,my Project`s based upon the Universal Declaration of Human Rights(my work for 42 years.My good friend Frankie Beverly sent me a check for two thousand last June to start my project,but,the 501-C was too mangled for me to submit it to the state.They also stripped my PC and printer.I am on social security(67),they also stripped my checking account.My complaints are all pending,but,I need to get a new pc,new 501C,and need assistance.Please assist.May the Lord bless you and yours,St Mary
Its a strong power within to quit smoking! You should be very proud of yourself! I’ve tried for many years.. but i just cant seem to stop.
Hey, Levar! Dunno if you’re still quit, but as long as you’re still breathing, it’s never too late to quit again. Yesterday was my sixth month smoke free, and I ran across this post of yours today through Twitter, so I’ll take it as confirmation I’m doin the right thing. Thanks! Jake
Quitting smoking might be easier if you go to a hospital and watch someone dying of lung cancer. And I don’t say that to be an a**hole… its true. I watched my dad succumb to lung cancer (after smoking his entire life) and I will never ever puff a cig again… not even if I am three sheets to the wind drunk and thinking that a cig would be nice… not even if my rockstar idol Jack White offered me a cig (well, I’d stick it in my pocket and keep it forever, lol) but smoke it? No way. Any inkling of craving = gone. I think it adds emotional reality and gravitas to the health affects of smoking. Anyway, you don’t have to take my word for it…..
Wow, that is really good, that u were able to stop smoking! Good job!