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Big Well done Linda, sorry for forgetting you Congrats on 8 Months, only 4 to the Lido deck yayyyyyyyyyy!

Not smoking today

Nope

Nope

Congratulations @Stewietech for being smoke free for 3 years!! Well done to our favourite Lad!... Three years is fantastic and we know you've moved on to bigger and better things but whatever today brings in your corner of the world know that we are all thinking if you and raising our glasses in celebration. Would love if you popped in to say hi... We miss your humour and support.

Congratulations on seven and eight months quit Linda And thank you for all the support and camaraderie you bring to this board. I'm so happy to know you and call you friend

NOPE...

NOPE - I don't smoke anymore.

NOPE!!!!!!!!!!!!

G’day NOPE starts my day C

Congrats Linda and do not fret -- We will not forget the day your ship is to sail!!!!

Congratulations Linda, you're AWESOME!!!!

Sleep.

NOPE!!

Nope !!!!!....Not Today ....

If you've written down the reasons as to why you quit smoking, read them again. Look at the positive, you managed to stay away from cigarettes all through the bad times you've had after quitting. That's a good thing and that should give a boost to your confidence. At the risk of sounding repetitive (especially since I've given the same advice before), punching and kicking something (even if its just the air) will help to get your anger and grief out. If possible, take up Boxing or something similar. And even after getting your grief out, Boxing or whatever you decide to take up, will be a great way to keep physically fit and build confidence. If possible, talk to some friends and/or to a family member who will listen to you, and will communicate transparently and openly with you without judgement.

What expectations will you never meet? Just talking quit here...expectation that you can go 1 hour without a smoke... mastered... Expectation you can go one day without a smoke...nailed it...and a week, and a month, etc....but honestly to have a successful quit you only ever have to focus on one day at a time. I'm sorry today is a rough one....but you have come so far despite all the horrible things you have faced since you quit...you are right you are not the person you were before you quit...you used to think you could only be strong puffing on a cigarette, hiding behind a cloud of smoke...but now despite all the hurdles you face, you are standing strong on your own two feet...saying here I am life, give me your worst and I will stand strong, and tall and true... You are so much stronger now than when you first quit...you amaze me at times because you deal with many things others don't face and still you do not smoke....I know when your down it seems so much worse but it's not... You can do this chook.

You would hate yourself ..your so right ......you have a really good quit going now ...one to be proud of .... And you don't want to lose it ...because your here.... You have to stay strong ...fight M....

It doesn't matter about the amount of times you use a SOS....I'm so happy you have ... Sorry your having a bad time just now .... You have stayed strong thought out your quit ....I know you will stay strong now ... It will pass Sweetie ....stay close just now ...

Nope

NOPE....

I am having computer issues and also need to take a break for a bit. Garden beckons and guest arriving for the music festivals ahead. Love y'all and trust you will protect your quits. Freedom is delicious. I'll be back before too long. S

Yep. I'm tooting my own horn! I think I've earned it. Thanks for being here to celebrate with me! I consider the first 3 months to be one of the toughest hurdles. I've sailed over that puppy and am heading confidently into my smoke-free future!

Didn't think I would need this part of the board again, yet here I am. There's just too much sh*t going on again. My whole being believes smoking will give me my sense of self back, my confidence. Like, then at least I have something thats mine and mine alone, to fall back on. I dont get how after all this time and after all the highs this thing still can be so overwhelmingly present. I dont have ammo ready and that scares the crap out of me. I should know better by now, NOPE is my ammo and its at my service, 24 hrs a day. These are just... emotions. They will pass. Arghh arghhh arghhh!!!!!

NOPE!

I go for plenty of sleep, and hot lemon drinks. I like the idea of soft boiled eggs and soldiers too, takes me back to my childhood, when you would be cared and catered for in bed, who does'nt like a bit of that!! Get well soon Jo x

MLMR obviously I have no advice to give you given my own quit history. I did want to say though that your posts probably help so many people. I know for sure they really help me. There's lots of people who seem to go along nicely but your heartfelt posts are wonderful for people. They show that quitting isn't always easy, that just because you want to quit doesn't mean it is the greatest feeling and that actually quitting can be hard. That is what some of us need to know. I hope you find some happiness but I hope you also know how many you are helping

I go with the chicken noodle soup, always helps but I would not snub a hot toddy. Then there is good old fashion rest and fluids. Get better Jo!!!!

Feel better Jo, xoxo

Double congratulations... Linda....love you lady .....so glad your here....xxxx

O.M.G......I don't blame you for complaining..... What is this board coming too....tut !!!!! Don't worry your Lido part will go ahead I'm sure ...

Linda, 8 months already -- you are doing awesome, keep it going. Congrats and make sure you take time to celebrate today!!!!

THANKS for this. Seeing these things would be bliss, right now I am mainly glad that the worst part is over. There must be a moment in the future where i realise all that. I went to the beach and took a long walk. After that, I drove to a nearby park and walked for another hour or so. Back home I wrote myself a letter, about how far Ive come and that there are better times ahead. Put in on my fridge. Thanks @Doreensfree for telling me to stay close. It helped me a big deal. @Ankush, you are right about the exercize tips. I still take daily walks to release tension. I never thought of exercize in relation to grieving. Will concider it. @babs609, that is true. About rewiring and certain reactions to life because of having smoked for such a long time. I tend to forget that I am 'only' at seven months... I always feel like it should be done by now... ok so it doesnt work like that. And @Paul723, I really, really try to believe you. Yet, I have changed since quitting. Sure, lot of it is good..but i dont always like this new me. I really try to have faith in the proces and I keep telling myself that I am not there yet... and that I will like myself again, sooner or later...

Embrace the new better normal. Look forward instead of back. The things you think you have lost by quitting smoking are not gone, that's a lie your addicting is trying to use. The only thing you are giving up is smoking. You have a lot more self realization and self esteem and this doesn't allow for as many easy lies we used to tell ourselves. You've changed and it's good.

NOPE!

Nope.

the first year is tough...but, you have come so far! I remember feeling frustrated even at 10 months. The addict in you tries to convince you that the way you react to life circumstances are a result of you quitting. Actually...your reactions and thoughts are a result of having been a smoker in the first place. Your brain is doing some serious rewiring....this is the toughest part but as long as you don't take a puff, you are one day closer to complete freedom. The opposite is true if you DO take a puff. Keep on keeping on!!!

@notsmokinjo Thank you for your words of encouragement. Yes, there is no such thing as luck, I will just have to persevere and stick to my quit. I'm nervous and I sincerely hope I can pull off the quit.

@Lilly I have decided that physical exercise will be a good way to deal with stress after I quit, but at the same time I should not use exercising as a crutch. Besides exercising to keep myself physically fit is another goal of mine. So, stress or no stress, doing physical exercise on a regular basis is going to become a part of my life. I will do a lot of deep breathing as suggested in Joel's videos initially though. Before I started smoking, I used to just walk stress off by listening to a lot of music. It was work related stress that finally did me in. I thought that's it, I can't cope with work-related stress anymore. I am going to go buy a smoke. Biggest mistake I ever made. This was way back in 2005. Should never have started smoking. I am not Redemption3, I do not even know who that is.

The most important person you need to worry about what they think is yourself...do what makes you proud to be you, be proud of yourself, know your self worth...the people who matter will not care if you are not perfect or kicking goals all the time...they will not care if you have a bumpy day, or a grumpy day.... Succeeding in life is not so much about how much you achieve and what you have but being happy and satisfied with what you have achieved.

When crap happens ....its hard to be our normal selves ...I too lost my dear friend.......this is grief .... Smoking won't change anything .... Ask yourself why you quit in the first place ......was it your health ....it was mine ....that hasn't changed ....I still need to stay quit for my health .... Your still very early in your quit ..your body and your mind is still adjusting .... There is only one way you will feel more content in your quit ...that time ....you need to give it time ....

NOPE

01 March @Cbdave Not smoking today. I will decide on tomorrow when it gets here

NOPE - I don't smoke anymore.

NOPE!!!!!!!!!!!!

It was a toss up between the hot toddy and vindaloo for me. Hot toddy won but I tell you, you've right put me in the mood for a curry now

Not at all... I did not think that at all... I just want you to realise how far I think you have come and how much you have grown and see yourself for the strong, powerful woman you are. All good sweetie. I need to take my own advice most of the time, so I understanding your sentiments exactly, about knowing it and acting it. I just believe if enough people who care and worry about us tell us these things, one day the message will sink in and we will follow the advice. Yes you could have been something different but you are not, you are who you are, perfect despite your imperfections. So of course you can grieve what might have been but don't forget to rejoice in what you are too.

A single teardrop rolled down my cheek when I read that.

Have a wonderful time with all the festivals and in the garden....will miss you heaps

You've been missed and will be missed Sally, enjoy your guests and music festival