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On the eve of my 1 year quit anniversary I couldn't help be reflect on what brought me to this point. I remember 1 year ago today standing beside my car in the cold and damp, subconsciously reaching into the pocket of my coat for a cigarette. Like the thousands of others that had gone before it, I lit that smoke and took my first drag. I had just finished a coughing fit from the bronchitis I had for all of January 2017 and that first drag on the cigarette launched me into another coughing fit. Struggling to even take a breath after that, it finally dawned on me that what I was doing was completely insane!! That was the moment that literally changed my life. I knew I had to quit smoking! For whatever reason, this event had grabbed my attention. This time it was REAL. I suddenly knew I was no "special flower" who could escape the ugly fate that many years of smoking clearly had in store for me. The next morning at 8:30 AM with no real plan in mind, I had my last cigarette. The days that followed are a murky blur of what I perceived to be at the time, unwelcome feelings and sensations, as my body purged itself of the drug that had been present on a daily basis for over 4 decades. The highs and lows of that first week or so are indescribable to me now. I wish I had kept a blog of it all. I remember feeling like I wanted to crawl out of my own skin at times the anxiety was so pronounced. And the time ....... God Dammit!! Time was standing still! I was trapped in a never ending series of mental and physical withdrawals. I was unsure as to what was happening to me. I was even more unsure whether I could weather this storm I was caught up in. After a week or so of this crazy roller coaster ride, I found this place and signed up. I was welcomed, as all of you have been and was given the first glimmer of hope through the encouragement that others were extending to me. This was good! I started to read and read and read all the pinned posts and a lot of other posts. I watched numerous videos about quitting. This was the perfect distraction for me while my body and mind rebelled against the path I had chosen to take. I was on this site sometimes almost 24/7 it seemed. Sleep patterns were interrupted to say the least so here I was on the site at ungodly hours of my day and night sometimes. Everything I read from these people who had gone before me sounded the same! It was like a broken record, repeating itself over and over. Pledge your NOPE every day. Take smoking off the table. Watch out for the Nicodemon because he will attack you at your weakest moments and try to lure you back to smoking. Every battle you do with the Nicodemon, you get stronger and he gets weaker. This all sounded like some sort of cult like lingo to me. Could I take this seriously? Dare I believe them all? I read some more. I read how the people before them had been telling them the same things. I was ultimately convinced and decided that I too had to abide by the same critical rules if I had any hope of being successful. Blind faith had overcome me and I was all in! From that point onward, I read and read about every phase of my quit. What had others experienced when they were at the stage I was at? 1st month, second through 3rd and fourth months when I was in No Man's Land. What had others experienced and how did they cope? This was what became my guiding light through to the time I finally became aware that I would never smoke again. I would never smoke again by my own free choice because I now knew what smoking really was. It was an addiction. It was my enemy - trying to kill me. It was certainly NOT my friend. And in the end, it's my belief that this is the point one has to reach in order to know you will be permanently quit. You need to be able to gladly choose not to smoke. So on the eve of my 1 year quit anniversary, I don't feel a lot different than what I felt after probably 5 or 6 months quit but, this 1 year landmark is still a very special one because I have weathered the storm through all the 4 seasons and experienced all the temptations I can imagine and I know that providing I just don't ever put another cigarette in my mouth and light it on fire, I will be permanently quit I sincerely hope to be still around and able to help each and every one of you newbies celebrate your own 1 year anniversary celebration (Sorry for the long winded post but ......... I've earned the right to be annoying )

Hi All Just to clarify. We all use this site as a tool in our quits and it is as equally important to me now as it was when I signed up 6 months ago. I use the site in my way and my monthly post is a good target for me. I have admiration for everyone that gives time and effort to help others but I’m sorry that is just not me. So anyway ....half a year !!! X

Nope

I saved my favorite pig story for this grand occasion: One day a man drove by a farm and saw a three-legged pig. The man went up to the farmer and said, "Excuse me sir, but why does that pig only have 3 legs?" "Well," said the farmer, "that there pig is very special. One time my wife was cooking something she stepped out of the kitchen and it caught on fire. No one in the house knew about it but the pig and he saved me, my wife, and my 2 kids." "That's amazing sir but why does that pig only have three legs?" said the man. "Then there was that time the pig saw a big storm coming and we didn't. The pig ran into the house and dragged us out to the storm cellar. If it weren't for that pig we would all be dead." "But still, that doesn't explain why the pig only has 3 legs." "And I remember the time my youngest son was stuck up in a tree but I was too far away to hear him scream. The pig came running towards me and led me to where he was." "Well, that is miracle but how come that pig only has 3 legs?" the man said quite annoyed at this point. "Well," said the farmer, "with a pig that special... you have to eat 'em real slow." Congratulations!

Hungover and applying ointment to your meat and taters...that's when you know it was a party.

No fancy picture...but huge congrats. Well done Canadian bakon. Hope you got a tube a grease and a roll of paper towels to help celebrate.

The big day is here. Make way on the Lido Deck for our man of the hour, the pig of honor if you will, Rec! Let's get some tunes going in here. I was looking for a sing-a-long with a Canadian flair. Bubbles jamming with Alex from Rush...that'll work!

Rec's Lido Deck party is strictly a non-smoking event. And I'm not about to miss that. NOPE!

Well done! Not only did you quit smoking but you have supported so many others in the process. We are blessed to have you here with us. SALUTE!

LOL, That was me on Saturday, partied a little too hardy.

Well it's evening here... So time to have a little drink to celebrate piggy,s big day !!!

My congratulations to you on your 1 year, I look forward to your thoughts and inspiration as I continue on my journey.

There are only three things that would divert me from my vacation frolics. · A volcanic eruption · A missile launch by Kim Jung-Un at the Hawaiian Islands · Reci’s one year smoke-free anniversary So happy it’s the latter. Congratulations on your big day! You’ve been such a positive force here. Enjoy this fantastic milestone! Aloha from the Big Island Paul (BKP)

welcome to the lido deck, huge congratulations

No Grease or paper towels but I got fireworks!!

Shake your bacon lads!

NOPE! Anyone caught smoking at the party will have to deal with the No Smoking Brigade!

Congrats Reci, great job. You are an inspiration ? Wow I didn't even notice my phone auto corrected till now. XP

Nope

Congratulations @reciprocity??????????????????

NOPE! Congratulations REC, one year is huge! Here's to another one!

This is a smoke free party ....NOPE !!

Wow !!!...you guys have started partying early...fabulous !!!!!! My dear young man....it gives me the greatest honour to celebrate this very important date with you.... I knew more or less from the start of your journey here....you wanted this ....I never doubted you.... Little did we know then...just how much of a valued member you would become.... Making sure the members here get a celebration mention... Giving me the dates if your going away,so they don't lose out... You have my respect...and thanks...my brain would have exploded... Your support to me ,on the board ,and my personal life has landed you a big place in my heart....along with my Boo of course lol...my heart is big....anyway...... A massive Congratulations P !!! Enjoy the day....you so deserve it... Don't forget that all important reward...you have so earned it.... You are a wonderful fully pledged non smoker.... Hugs piggy xx

You're a stellar role-model, Reci

Congrats, eh? Welcome to the Lido Deck, Reci. Your quit seemed 100% solid from Go. Such an Ace, such a great guy, so appreciative of you contributions here. Celebrate big.

Yeehaw!!! Heres to a year. And here’s to the rest of your life! Congratulations!

So very happy for you!! Congratulations on your wonderful quit...and thank you so much for all you do here. Love you, mean it!!

Thanks guys for your acknowledgement of this special occasion! Now .............. let's get this party started!!

I remember some of those posts you made in the early days. Also remember thinking: this guy gets it, he's good to go. And now look at you...we've had the opportunity to watch you go from wide-eyed newbie to veteran sage right before our eyes. I motion that we give the gentleman from Canada a prolonged standing ovation.

Sheesh, I know I'm late to the party, but this is what I find?!? OK, RECI! Whatever.... I just hope this shot is from another day when you had several too many and that tonight you are being feted in the style you deserve. I am soooooooooooo happy for you to be celebrating this first of many anniversaries as a free man. You've been such a wonderful support to me personally on my own journey and a HUGE part of what makes this board the friendly, low-key, no nonsense place that it is. I want to thank you for all you've done for me. I hope you are very happy as you deserve to be on this special day and every day. Reciprocity goes both ways, buddy so I hope you're getting the most out of what's bouncing back to you.

Bamm! ! Zero

I know what that's like!!

NOPE!!!!

Don’t be playing with fire Recip! Ouch! Lol!

nope

always NOPE

-2 Do I get to have 2 points for each post because it's my "special day"?

NOPE!

In Full Party Mode Now!!

Yaaaa...let's get down !!!!....yaaahoooo

-2 Morning all. Happy Rec Day!

-3 morning...it's time to party ....tea now...wine later !!!!

Brilliant post !!!!.... Never Take Another Puff....

Sarge - who most of you know regularly ran Full Marathons during the first years of his quit ... just completed his first 10k in 2+ years. Holy shit getting back in Marathon Shape is a job-and-a-half. This IronMan thing is gonna hurt. 10k (6.2 miles) @ 49:36 (8:00/mile) EZPZ

Thanks for this Jenny. I too feel this way at times even though I know how foolish it is. I will look forward to “it” going away....for good!

Congratulations! You did it!!!! Time to Party!!! ??

Thank you for your insight and the ability to motivate us all.

Great story. Thanks for sharing.

Thanks for this Jenny. Very timely for me at this time during my quit. Not that I was going there physically but my mind wanted to me to mosey down that road and as I thought about it I just did not want the addiction to continue, this posting helped me have a stronger realization of that.