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The First "No Thank You"


jillar

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Quit Date: 1/1/2014

 

Posted January 9, 2015 · IP 

Hi everyone, in preparation for a night around some smokers I wanted to write down an accomplishment from yesterday which I will be repeating as many times as necessary this evening. My first no thank you. Since I stopped smoking, I was pretty surprised at how easy it has been relative to my expectations. I had prepared for the worse, but I have realized over the last few weeks that I really hadn't been buying many and as such didn't have very many triggers. I did have one however, the offer.

 

As I had scaled back my personal smoking, only my social smoking remained, and it was something I was happy to have remain. I was quick to jump on any offer for a quick jump outside, either at work or with friends. This I knew would be my big obstacle.

 

Well, last night I went out to dinner with a friend (my new roommate) who smokes occasionally. Dinner was great and we had a few drinks, another common partner of smoking with me. As we left I knew what was to come, I had run through the scenario in my head to prepare and it had always ended in awkwardness. I had shared my quit with him, but out of habit and some twisted sense of generosity he offered me another out of his pocket. There they were, the pangs, the slippery devil saying, well maybe just one... the fear of missing out. But while I did feel that impulse for a second it was followed by a "No thanks, I don't anymore" and everything dissipated. No awkwardness, no real compulsion anymore, just two friends walking home in their new reality.

 

I know this is just one win, and it will need to be repeated maybe hundreds of more time, but I immensely proud to have gotten over what for me is the big obstacle of trigger. As I had out tonight to enjoy myself at a favorite bar, listening to a friends band with a crowd of people, some of whom I've known for 3/4ths of my life and some of whom smoke, I am comforted and invigorated by this victory and the knowledge that I have all of you in my pocket, just a few clicks away, supporting me on this journey. Thank you all so much.

 

Link to original post: https://www.quittrain.com/topic/4130-the-first-no-thank-you/

 

Edited by jillar

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I haven’t had anyone offer me a cigarette since I quit. However I am accosted by strangers bumming for one every time I am out and about. But that was pretty normal beforehand. It doesn’t bother me. Though I am extremely proud to say, “No, I don’t smoke.” It makes me feel good and so very happy when I hear myself say those words. 

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Funny I don't remember exactly the first time , but I remember at the grocery store where I always bought my groceries . The last thing before paying was getting my cigs . I do remember a day when the grocery clerk asked if I wanted my usual brand ( she was a smoker too ) and I said no thanks , I quit ... but that time was different , she heard it before but this time I said it with pride as I remember it was well into my quit and I felt confident and proud . I guess she wondered why I wasn't asking for them anymore and could tell I was a different person . 

There are many firsts . I loved it when my finger nails were no longer yellow and I could get a manicure :) 

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QuitTrain®, a quit smoking support community, was created by former smokers who have a deep desire to help people quit smoking and to help keep those quits intact.  This place should be a safe haven to escape the daily grind and focus on protecting our quits.  We don't believe that there is a "one size fits all" approach when it comes to quitting smoking.  Each of us has our own unique set of circumstances which contributes to how we go about quitting and more importantly, how we keep our quits.

 

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