Sirius

There are significant advantages to quitting over the holidays. For instance, when catching up with the relatives you can mention that you've kicked the habit. Lot's of congrats and well wishes will come your way. That's positive reinforcement, baby! Take it for all its worth. Likewise you don't have to figure out your New Year's resolution. Nope, you got that one covered. "Maintain the quit!" or N.O.P.E.! should be your first and fiercest of resolutions. While the holidays have their own list of stressors you can usually stay busy and stay social. These are positives to keeping your quit. When you have time on your hands and/or all alone is when the will to maintain the quit is most vulnerable. Your Christmas Quit will be greatest gift you will ever give yourself.

It's getting to the point that weed is cheaper then ciggs. "Geez, I sure wish I'd never quit smoking." -said Nobody. Ever.

Found an article talking about tips for handling the holiday stressors while being smoke free. The right time to quit is now. https://www.verywellmind.com/smoke-free-holiday-tips-2824909

I've been drinking this evening so forgive me if what I say gets a bit meandering, disjointed, or otherwise strange. Suffice to say I'm a bit of a dualist (philosophy; no I don't involve myself in duals!) so there is polarity in my world view. Evil as a definition can be quite elusive. Especially if you're attempting to craft a definition based on any religious doctrine as this falls into the realms of morality that can be quite arbitrary, AKA thou shalt not suffer a witch to live; etc.). Evil as the opposite of good? meh, I think we can do better, especially as good can be just as murky to define. Here's my stab at a definition that is simple, all encompassing, and works 91.87% of the time. Evil is...premeditated activity that is knowingly harmful to society. But what if you are being harmful to an individual? Sorry, not evil. It might be bad for the individual but good for society as is the case of imprisoning an outlaw. The act of imprisoning an individual is bad for the outlaw but good for society at large. So, based on this simplistic definition, what is an evil activity? The manufacture, distribution, and selling of cigarettes would most definitely qualify. Personal gain at the detriment of random consumers addicted to what you are pushing is not exactly an improvement on society in any measurable determination. There is a saying that no drop of rain believes they are responsible for the flood. Likewise, you have to wonder how many packs of smokes you can sell before you notice a tarnish on your soul. Let's turn that around and look at a good deed that was put forward. Back in the early 80's somebody championed seat belt laws in the state of Michigan. Back then only 14 percent of Americans wore seat belts and there was this fellow that wanted it to be a law that people had to wear seat belts. This fellow was compared to Hitler. What he was pushing was antithetical to the values of freedom loving people of America. Still, the legislation passed and the wearing of seat belts became mandatory in the state of Michigan. This seat belt law saved the lives of quite a few people each year. Year after year from the 1980s to the present day. This saved much in the way of sorrow, and money for quite a few folks at the cost of a very minor inconvenience to "buckle up." I'd count this, overall, as something good. Anyone remember who it was that did this great deed? Hahaha. Good deeds are rarely rewarded just as evil deeds usually go unpunished. I guess you could wonder where I am going with this. Good question. I'll let you ponder that while I freshen by bourbon. Ah, the pleasures of late night posting. I'd make a blog but I doubt anyone would read my silliness.

Boo & the intoxicated Yoda are correct. You cannot half-way quit. Your commitment to be free of nicotine must be absolute, continuous, and tax free permanent.

Been on an ambient groak. Some weaponized Satie.

Well if nothing else is of help I would recommend... helping others. By focusing attention on the needs of others you no longer focus on your own situation. Prayer can also work if you have a spiritual bent and can be combined with many chores (dish washing, vacuuming, etc.) that you could do in your effort to help others. I recommend the Prayer of St. Francis of Assisi. It makes a good mantra as well. https://www.cathedralstm.org/about-our-catholic-faith/expressing-our-faith/treasury-catholic-prayers/prayer-st-francis-assisi-prayer-peace/

I heartily endorse the COVID vaccinations. Additional vaccinations that may be of help. Influenza vaccination because, you can die from the flu and it's possible to have COVID & the FLU at the same time. Prevnar vaccination (Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine) for the prevention of pneumonia. Because viral infections can strip your lungs of immunity from secondary bacterial infections.

> > > N O P E < < <

I'm guesstimating my habit would cost me over $200/month now-a-days. I could by internet service, HBO max, Youtube (add free), Disney plus, Netflix, & Hulu and still have money left over for popcorn.

freight incoming tomorrow

Bled red velvet (lyrics taken from "Bela Lugosi's Dead" by Bauhaus)

The hardest part to quitting is the understanding that it must be 100% and forevermore. You don't get to take a break from quitting. Eventually, you will realize this is a feature and not a bug. Why would you want to do something harmful to yourself? It's like being wistful about not being able to shoot a staple gun into your hand, just one more time...

62K regrets, left unregretted, and dumped on the pyre of victory.

When you are deep into your quit, you will kick yourself for not quitting sooner.

Thanks folks. I am still smoke free and rarely even think about smoking. However... While paying for gasoline at the local service station (the other day) I happened to glance over at my old friends behind the counter. The smokes were selling for $10.78 / pack. I believe that would be 8.78 pound sterling or 10.28 in Euros. HOLY CRAPOLA BATMAN! My smoking habit would be costing me north of $300+/month in today's economy. There are cheaper ways of committing suicide. At least back in 1987 I was only spending 70 cents for a pack at the local commissary. Even if I wanted to, I don't think I could afford blowing that much on a habit. We do not exist to smoke. Live, love, laugh, cry, travel, volunteer, protest, but don't smoke. Smoking is pissing away your time on this planet. Your life deserves better then that.

Lunch is now.

Apparently, if you smoke, wherever the blood goes is going to get polluted and adversely affected.

As the infographic is 63 megs in size I will post the text only version. It looks better at the aforementioned link but given the site is problematic, here goes: 12 Diseases Caused by Smoking | Infographic by UnityPoint Clinic - November 18, 2014 Each year, the American Cancer Society encourages smokers to quit smoking on the third Thursday of November. Known as the Great American Smokeout, the event helps smokers understand that quitting, even for just one day, is the first step in becoming healthier. With tobacco use remaining the largest preventable cause of disease and premature death in the United States, the health benefits of quitting begins immediately. The diseases caused by smoking harm almost every organ in the body. It is the cause of 1 in 5 deaths in the US alone, yet around 42 million American continue to smoke. Find out more about the different diseases that are caused by smoking and learn the steps necessary to quit smoking today. 1. Lung Cancer Smoking dramatically increases your chances of developing lung cancer. According to the American Lung Association, men who smoke are 23 times more likely to get lung cancer and women who smoke are 13 times more likely. Nonsmokers are also at risk of developing lung cancer. A nonsmoker exposed to secondhand smoke has a 20-30% higher risk of developing lung cancer, and secondhand smoke causes 7,330 deaths a year. 2. COPD Smoking is the cause of 9 in 10 COPD related deaths. This umbrella term, which includes emphysema and chronic bronchitis, is the number three killer in the US. The CDC indicates that smoking during childhood and teenage years slows lung growth and increases the risk for developing COPD. 3. Heart Disease People who smoke are four times as likely to develop heart disease than those who do not. Nicotine in cigarettes reduces the amount of oxygen your heart gets and also raises your heart rate putting more stress on your heart. One in 5 deaths from heart disease are related directly to smoking. 4. Stroke Smoking doubles the risk of stroke. According to the National Stroke Association, smoking causes a lack of oxygen in the blood and makes the heart work harder. This makes blood clots form more easily and then the clots can block blood flow to the brain and cause a stroke. 5. Aortic Aneurysm The aorta is the largest blood vessel in the body. Aneurysms are more common in men than in women according to the Harvard Medical School Family Health Guide. It has been shown that the risk for an aortic aneurysm increases even more in men who smoke. 6. Oropharyngeal Cancer This type of cancer starts in the mouth or throat. The risk of developing it is directly related to how much someone smoked or chewed. The American Cancer Society says that this cancer can affect the voice box, lips, inner surface of the lips, cheeks and gums. 7. Esophageal Cancer This is cancer of the throat. The National Cancer Institute states that smoking increases the chances of developing esophageal cancer. Squamous cell carcinoma, or cancer on the lining of organs or the surface of skin, is linked directly to tobacco and alcohol use. 8. Cataracts This ophthalmological condition occurs when the lens of the eye becomes opaque over time and vision is lost. According to the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology, it is the leading cause of blindness and the risk of developing it is increased by smoking. 9. Type 2 Diabetes Around 90% of diabetes cases are type 2 diabetes. The CDC says that smoking is a direct cause of type 2 diabetes. Smokers have a 30-40% increased risk of developing it. People who develop diabetes and continue to smoke are more likely to have trouble controlling their disease, which may lead to increased chances of heart disease, ulcers, infections and amputations. 10. Rheumatoid Arthritis It has been shown that smoking increases your chances of developing rheumatoid arthritis. The Arthritis Foundation cites a study that centered on the connection between the two. Rheumatoid arthritis causes inflammation in the joints, pain, deformities and immobility. 11. Sudden Infant Death Syndrome SIDS is the sudden, unexplainable death of a child during sleep. It occurs between the ages of one month and one year. Studies have shown that mothers who smoke during pregnancy put their babies at a higher risk for SIDS. A study published in the US National Library of Medicine explain that mothers who smoked prior to pregnancy have the same increased risks as mothers who smoke during pregnancy. The risk is even higher if the father also smokes. 12. Erectile Dysfunction Many studies have found that smoking is a major factor in erectile dysfunction. Smoking causes plaque build up in the arteries and obstructs blood flow. In one study, men who smoked more than 20 cigarettes a day had a 60% higher risk of developing erectile dysfunction. Tips for a Smoke-Free Life Overcoming an addiction to tobacco isn’t easy. Research by the American Cancer Association found that smokers are most successful at kicking the habit when they have support. This support can include: Telephone smoking-cessation hotlines Stop-smoking groups Online quit groups Counseling Nicotine replacement products Prescription medicine to lessen cravings Guide books Encouragement and support from friends and family members Talk to your doctor today about finding a smoking cessation plan for you. Use our find a doctor tool to make an appointment today and start leading a healthier life. For more smoking facts, visit the Great American Smokeout.

Really good bullet points. For those of us wavering, I'd highly recommend reading through the list. https://www.unitypoint.org/clinics/article.aspx?id=17ace3fc-fb01-45c3-8617-1beb81404fc4

Read this article and wanted to share it. I hadn't realized smoking and back pain can be related. https://www.spine-health.com/wellness/stop-smoking/why-it-so-hard-quit-smoking

Success boils down to serially avoiding catastrophic failure while routinely absorbing manageable damage. Translation: I didn't get hit by a car but my hands got all scratched up picking raspberries (so worth it).

A sampling of low-ish impact choices for oral fixation might include: Sugar Free Cough drops Sunflower Seeds Dental Floss Celery Broccoli Sliced Red Bell Peppers Carrots Baked Kale Cucumber slices Dried unsweetened coconut Cinnamon Sticks (personal favorite) Olives

Not exactly mainstream, but the musical notes fall like diamonds on to black velvet.

Good Job Abby, I think you're over the 'hump!'