Addictions ruin lives.  In my work, I've often seen the devastating effects of
tobacco:  slow death from cancer, or the emphysema lifestyle of oxygen tanks, breathing treatments, and a cosmic struggle for each breath.  We all know what misery alcoholics can inflict upon themselves and their loved ones.  Dangerous illegal drugs like speed can kill you quickly, and even marijuana can become a demanding obsession that crowds out more interesting pursuits.
         In particular, the appeal of cigarettes to young people continues to puzzle me.
When I see teenagers smoking, I wonder:  why?  Rebellion?  Sucking on addictive drugs from corporate pushers hardly seems like effective rebellion to me.  Why can't they get a nose-ring?  A purple mohawk?  Read Noam Chomsky?  Take off and go travelling?  Or create new ways to rebel?  If they smoke because it looks "cool," then cool is in the eye of the beholder, because to me it just looks self-destructive.  Not to mention the smell...
         In addition to tobacco, alcohol, or illegal drugs, we can become addicted to heavily advertised junk food, cola drinks, coffee, and nasal decongestants or other pharmaceutical "quick fixes."  We can also get "addicted" to television, work, unhealthy relationships, and now even the Internet.
         Late in 1984, I read the cover of a self-help book called Positive Addictions which had come out in the 70's.  I didn't buy the book, and never read it, but it changed my life nevertheless.  The book suggests that you use the same psychological tendencies that lead to the usual addictions to get "hooked" instead to things that are good for you.  I immediately thought of friends addicted to jogging--they couldn't relax until they got their "fix" of exercise.
         I decided to apply this idea.  I hadn't yet gone to physical therapy school, but I was already convinced of the incredible value in daily stretching and yoga-type exercises.  I knew that the way to become addicted to something is to do it every day.  My New Year's Resolution in 1985 was to practice yoga each day for the whole year.  I didn't miss a day until May, but by then I was hooked!  Without stretching, I felt tight, irritable, and uncomfortable.  This "withdrawl" was painful, so the next day I was back at it, and have continued ever since:  I stretch about 15 minutes a day, and hardly ever miss.  I don't have to "discipline" myself; it just happens automatically.  I've never had the chronic "aches and pains" which plague so many people; I attribute this and many other benefits to my healthy habit of stretching.
         When I moved here from San Francisco in 1992, I found a great dentist--who informed me frankly that my gums were in bad shape.  This got my attention, as my dad in his 40's lost all his teeth to gum disease.  My dentist told me to floss more and to use the "Interplak" electric toothbrush as well.  I also had heard from my sister that if you clean your teeth really, really well once a day, the bacteria can't multiply enough to cause serious damage.
         I decided then that another "positive addiction" was in order.  Every night, I
flossed and then used the Interplak for a full 5 minutes.  Within a few weeks, my gums were firm.  I was already hooked:  if I missed a night, my mouth felt puffy and foul.  I still do this, and now use the "Water Pik" sometimes as well.  I'm an oral-hygiene junkie.  My mouth is in good shape, and I hope to keep all my teeth until I die.
         So if you're like me, and have a bit of an "addictive personality," you can turn your weakness into strength by getting addicted to good things.  Still, remember:  even "positive addictions" can go wrong if they become obsessive and crowd out other elements of a balanced life.  My life would be pretty dull if all I ever did was floss and practice yoga.  Work can be a deeply satisfying part of life, but we lose perspective if we become "workaholics."
         On the other hand, some of our greatest geniuses have been driven by a single vision, purpose, or obsession.  So I don't know what's best--use your judgement.  But don't smoke.
 
 

          Here's a great site on Noam Chomsky (not really related to the topic of the above paper, but just in case anyone was wondering...)
             I have studied with several Iyengar Yoga teachers, and I have found this approach to be very anatomically precise, although this is certainly not the only valuable approach to yoga.
          The book "Tooth Fitness" by Thomas McGuire, DDS (St. Michael's Press, 1994), is an incredible resource for preventive dental care.  You can order "Tooth Fitness" from the discount bookseller Hamiltonbook.com for $4.95 plus $3.00 shipping.  Scroll down to the bottom to find it.  This book may unfortunately be going out of print...   If anyone knows a good website on keeping your teeth and gums healthy and thereby preventing dental problems, please let me know!