Abby

No one is excempt from this kind of dialogue , it's why quits are lost or given away . I tell my quit like it is so their are no surprises for newcomers . My quit is strong . It's not going anywhere unless I give it a way . I want people to know they can pinpoint addict thinking and trouble before it happens . We can choose to smoke or not . Smoking takes a plan and action . Smoking can be a want or a need or be caused by a trigger that messages old tapes . How we think and act is key to failure or success . You don't have to be a positive thinker that is a term I hated in the beginning because im far from positive but you need to be aware that your emotions and attitude can be a huge factor in your success or failure to keep quit Day to day . Addiction knows you best and can cast a hook in vulnerable times if you aren't able or are unwilling to face the truth . Smoking carved deep pathways and craters in our minds that kept us stuck in addiction . Change in that thinking takes time , even years to undo . Recognize it , change it , act upon it accordingly to save yourself from having to repeat Quits over and over . I indeed smelled smoke yesterday . It prompted this post to hopefully help others . I noticed during lunch yesterday my friend had his package of cigs in his shirt pocket . Funny how they make those 20 packs fit perfectly in the pocket. My dad also kept his pk in his pocket , but back then it was 25s and the shirt pockets were bigger . Big T smarts ., I indeed smelled and saw smoke yesterday for real . It prompted this post and a reminder how old tapes can be so easily triggered . My friend has never smoked in front of me and knows I quit years ago . Now that's a kind and respectful friend He is . I could tell though that he is smoking more .. pethe anxiousness not to visit after lunch was a tell all . To get to home fast or somewhere where he could have the after dinner smoke was obvious to me ( being one who used to do the same .) Those were my old tapes . I was dancing with memories and so grateful I don't smoke anymore . Stay quit .. any thought of smoking is addiction wanting you back . Don't bite .

Yesterday I romanced the thought of smoking . I thought of the present day ( a tough one ) friends passing , seeing another great friend ( another musician friend ) for lunch who sat often in my living room playing his guitar and I singing but he can no longer play music due to Parkinsons . I thought of all the current circumstances in my life , no bed of roses and I smelled smoke ! I even saw cigarettes . I started romancing , seeing a plan , thinking just one wouldn't hurt , quitting was easy and I started to flirt . Funny how that is isn't it . In order to end your relationship with smoking you have to recognize that anything that says in your head to smoke when you are quit is romancing . It is playing with fire and it's addictive behaviour . It's old tapes playing the ol song and dance . Dance with me "Come to me, come to me , I will give you rest . I will give you , I will give you , The very best . Take away your hurt , take away your pain For old times sake . Just one puff Dance With your good old flame . " "Come take my hand , come draw me close Just one puff , maybe two at most Our little secret , no need to boast ." Dance With your good old flame " Abby ------------------------------------------------------ Dont accept the invitation , Keep your quit , Be on your toes . It's easy to get caught up thinking a cigarette is the lesser of evil and see smoking as being the hero. Recognize it for what it is when you are romancing , discern it from addict thinking . At first it will be sneaky then as your quit grows it will be quite obvious and you'll easily be able to dismiss it . Addiction hates rejection . Do what you would do with any bad relationship .... Let it go .

Pledging , promising , committed today to nope .

I just read that here in our province they are thinking of allowing cigar lounges to smoke indoors . Of course with rules like good ventilation .. what a joke ! Wait what ! Is this not going in reverse ? First they ban it now they want to allow it . A big can of worms just opened . Now pot smokers will want lounges, cigarette smokers , hookah users , vape users ? Who else ? A lot of money to be made in addiction . Politics ! Big T is the culprit , I've no doubt . Money talks and people throw out good common sense for votes . Have you researched who Big T donates money to? Hush hush , politics isn't allowed on most sites , maybe that needs to change . Maybe I'll be in trouble for this post .. if I've overstepped please moderators remove it , it is not my intention , only awareness is my intent . We are also building a new hospital here . It was started before covid then it never went through ; they stopped building . Covid taught us some hard lessons .. well ....we will certainly need bigger ones for sure in the future and more and more life saving equipment too to try and save the lives of these folks . I could go on , but I'll stop .... I'm off to the mall for an AC walk lol I won't stand by this decision our government is making without a voice . I don't want to see progress undone because . Our kids lives and our grand children's lives are at stake . Keep quit folks and let your voice be heard and not hushed . Expose the truth , do your research and do more than just quit smoking . I will be. I hope you'll join me . Big T uses people for profit . Give a little by donation ah lol aren't they generous . It's not even a dent in their pocket book... and give it to the right people they make triple likely ten fold the money .. oh aren't they so nice to give the politicians . What's the price . They sure upped it since Drs .and movie stars and people caught on . Aren't they just so caring about our youth giving us healthier and safer options . It is all it takes for them to take millions of dollars and lives . They care ? Really ? Only our voices can make change but we have to do it together . If we don't speak up say good bye world .

Nope !

I just went to our venues website and oh my another ( not a musician , but a fan in the circle of musician friends who was basically family there and attended every Thursday for years , passed away . I never heard ! I'm shocked ! Thanks for letting me share my sadness again . A lot of that going around here today . Covid took so much time from us didn't it .. even in my own family so much time lost when we couldn't hug when we needed to . 2 years and so much loss ! Getting off line a while . Need a walk . No need to reply , just think of those you love and maybe give them a call .

Have a nice vacay . Please be careful with your quit Linda . Find no excuses to smoke . Be careful drinking . Many a good quit are given away using alcohol . We are here if you need .

Sorry for your loss Katgirl .. and Linda sending you some gentle hugs 🤗 as well in this difficult time .

I just talked to a friend yesterday . To my surprise a musician friend passed away suddenly , not old either , in his sixties . Heart attack and just like that he was gone . There will be beautiful singing 🎤 In heaven .He loved his music . Indeed life has sad moments .

Walk /done

It's not one puff today that gets me the "ever " quit I want tomorrow . Lets quit .. For Ever !

Got my walk thanks guys and gals . 40 minutes this morn , 40 tonight . I guess looking back I still got lots of excersise looking after three yards .. just had no energy left to walk after that and weather was energy deleting . Just reading here today what you had to say helped . tx

Can someone tell me why the ticker double posts .. I was so proud I finally figured this out or thought I did lol . Thanks .

I either do smoke or don't smoke . I choose don't . Done with that . It's not one puff today that gets me the "ever " quit .

I've really fallen off the wagon folks . Avoidance is the signal . I Haven't been checking in . I feel the pain either from lack of excersise or a reaction to some dental work that has my body inflamed and I have been eating every wrong thing in my cupboard for the last month . Carbs come in soft foods and I'm suffering ! I was way more disciplined when I quit smoking . I feel like crap and feel so negative about my fall off the wagon so don't post here not wanting to bring others down here with me . I suppose like smoking they are excuses . Depression about the whole thing is winning and I'm whining but not wining . Lol that may be my next addiction however if I don't get my happy back . One small step at a time .. walking seems hard lately as well . Copd ? Asthma? Oh Lordy Lordy if I could only go back to forty ! To think I used to be quite an athelete and now walking is a struggle . P.u.s.h . Was a poem I once read . I going to change it up a bit and add to it to apply to my current exercise dilemma . It can also be applied to our Quits Push until something happens . Pedal until something happens . Persist until something happens . The games coming up may be motivational for me.

Not sure I missed this or not , but hey double congratulations @Katgirl

Looks like a good time to me . Have a great time away . You deserve it .

I just saw this . Hope you made it over the hump . Making a decision while smoking a cigarette , feeling ill , 🍹 drinking , angry , sad etc is not the best time to make decisions . I've heard it said to give yourself a couple of choices then give yourself a limited time to choose one so you aren't stressed all day and then stick with the decision you made and follow through . In other words make it and let it go . Don't doubt go with the flow . We smoke mainly as part of a reaction to something . Your thoughts are turning to smoking as being a solution , , smoking isn't the solution , its a cry for relief , cry for the answer , or a cry because of uncertainty . Decision making is not a strong point for many of us myself included but if you make a constant , committed and firm decision not to smoke then you can make a decision in other things as well . It gets easier too . Not smoking is always a good decision . Will you or I always make the right decision in other circumstances maybe not but from each one we learn and in most cases everything really does turn out for good . Good job @Linda deciding to post , not smoke .

My quit is not in crisis , just no idea where to put this . Perhaps it might help someone here . My quit is fine , it's safe , its strong , but addiction can be deceiving and unpredictable . It caught me off gaurd once and it cost me dearly . I learned though and I won't let it happen again . One puff is never enough . I think this SoS thread is a life saver . I committed to nope for a reason so I will stick with nope . When I feel l may give up or give in , I know I have the tools , resources , support and strength to get me through one more day. I am stronger than I think . I will reach out if I must . I can predict with absolute certainty there will be 0 percent percent chance of smoking at my house today . I don't do that any more. Today is another scorcher. Rain in the forecast ? Unpredictable most days . Stay safe , stay healthy , stay active . Heading out for my walk . 😎

Sure I will pledge in advance . It's a good feeling to know the answer is " I won't be smoking" .

" I like my dog better than people " I can relate @Linda Total unconditional love , don't expect much ( a pat on the back or pat on the head , one meal a day and a walk and give a lot . They give us lots of love and are always happy to see you . We can learn a lot from our pets . One more day to go here and I'll have my own house and own pet only to take care of . I am so glad . This has been hard , but only due to the unexpected hot temps we have had . Had we had rain it would have helped and been quite easy . Like our quits nothing is gaurenteed . Be prepared for the unexpected at times and say no when needed . Happy I could help friends out , but also grateful only my place from tomorrow on .

Morning everyone . It's another hot day here in my neck of the woods . Although I love hot weather it's beginning to wear me down , pets as well , but worse we need rain . It's getting to be drought like conditions here . This province is agricultural . It's food on the table .. Hoping for some gentle soaking rain soon . Smoke My ? I don't do that anymore . I don't make excuses to smoke , don't create reasons to smoke and don't like smoking . So , it's a no for me today . Grateful for it .

Well , it is another day almost done . Its been smoke free , you betcha . Never a puff ever , because one puff is never enough .. ever ! Been there done that , learned !

Lost sorry , but good timing on the thread . Don't want to curse but voice my frustration . I took on too much . I sometimes say yes when I should say no . I'm looking after two yards plus my own and my grand dog . I volunteered . I should know better than to say yes as I easily get exhausted with this illness I have but if people catch me on a good day I think I am super woman and can do everything ! I am just griping today , tired , and feeling I need a break but the weather is not co operating .. anyway time to go and get them done , walk the dog then get some things at the store , sleep , wake up and do it all over again . Three days to go 😢 . Me time ! Unfortunatly next time I must say no . Have I missed something on quit train ? Never mind lol best not to ask ?

You can go to top of page here , highlight copy then paste into a file on your computer , both titles if you have another ok . From there you can edit in a word document . Anything of importance always save somewhere to your computer , and if you aren't computer literate then get a paper copy . You never know what a site might do , or if you go . Trust me you need to save this somewhere other than just here and do something more with this Boo . I am a total stranger and this story touched me and from the looks of it everyone here . I know it will touch other moms dads grandparents every where if you want to share it . We need more beautiful stories like this one in the world today . But if it goes no further than in your daughters hope chest it's something to treasure for a life time ! Another suggestion ... here at our local library you can print your own books relatively cheap right in the library , ( self publishing ) check that out in your area. I've seen others who've done children's books for their kids there and they look awesome . Much cheaper and very professional looking . @Boo