Hermit said it, because my tobacco ain't gonna smoke itself.
Yak said it, because I like it, and I fancy it.
More personally, it, like BoB, is a friend within reach. I fixate on a lot of things too intently. People chide about addiction, moral attitude, etc, but when it comes down to it, it's my contemplative "re-evaluate time." Happens in the morning and the evening, preferably during sunrise and sunset, my favorite times of day.
I don't grab a pipe when I'm stressed, because it requires too much attention. When my attention is not on the pipe, I get sloppy. Sloppy pipes are no fun, they're overheated from being pushed, frustrating from being non-satisfactory, and won't provide me with what I need versus actually addressing any problems...and THEN smoking a pipe.
I don't "slow down" often. The pipe forces me to do just that. Like Aikido, detailed work and good conversations with good friends. They take effort, poise, thoughtfulness and kata. That's my mode, or goal in any case, therefore, I might as well also like what I do. If I like it, I keep doing it, and to very positive and beneficial effect.
:heart:
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