Boo

No turkey for you. But you can have the bird...

Good ol' Ozzie Loony Bird is a bona-fide quit veteran. Way to go Jo. Two years is a big deal. We all chipped in and got you a floaty chair for the lido deck pool...

Thanksgiving...a time to give thanks and be grateful. Also a time to eat way too much of Mom's homemade banana pudding. I'm eating for two this year!

I got nuthin'! Not even a good guess. Something, something, bathtub...

Voted for Dylan. I always lean towards the original. The Guns N' Roses cover was the first version of this song I heard. I think GnR did a good job on their cover of "Knockin' on Heaven's Door. However, I would argue that GnR's cover of "Sympathy for the Devil" is one of, if not the worst, covers in the history of rock music. That tape should have been burned and never spoken of again.

I used to say the same thing. Then I quit cold turkey. Once I got out of my own way and forged ahead, what I said was "impossible" became reality. A few moments of discomfort for a lifetime of freedom is a great return on investment. Cold turkey or NRT? That's your choice. However, I strongly recommend avoiding the "taper off" method. I speak from experience: when I tried to taper off the amount of cigarettes that I smoked, I felt the withdrawal symptoms and obsessed over thoughts of smoking. I had the all the annoyances and irritations experienced during the early days of the quit without getting any of the benefits of actually quitting. It's a bad deal. Confront your nicotine addiction head-on and commit to the quit.

Welcome aboard the Train Josalee. Congratulations on over a decade of freedom from the cigarettes. Sorry to hear about your former forum. There is a real sense of community and camaraderie that we build in these forums. When the QSMB went down, several of their members joined here and have been able to stay in touch with old friends and make some new ones along the way. Hopefully, some of your fellow QuitNet members will find out about us. Enjoy the ride.

Being content with the aging process. Got a haircut today. Barber mentioned that I've got some gray hair around my temples. Then he goes into crisis mode and starts talking about various products to cover the gray. Meanwhile, I couldn't care less. I'm not going to buy "Just For Men." I'm not going to put shoe polish on my head...I'm just gonna roll with it. A little snow on the roof is no cause for concern. I may feel differently when I start getting snow in the basement.

Freedom...It's a good thing.

Welcome to the Quit Train Gabbie. Any transformative process you successfully accomplish will have carryover effects. The means and methods employed in quitting drinking will be similar, if not identical, to those needed to quit smoking. Quitting one addiction is good practice for quitting other addictions. After I quit smoking, I reduced the amount I drank and eventually gave up alcohol altogether. With one quit under my belt, the next quit was a breeze. Experience is the best teacher. You know you have the ability to quit, now it's just a matter of getting to it. Commit and conquer.

Take care Jo. Or should I say...Good on ya for not being a drongo and going to see the doc. You'll be right back to bloody ripper in no time...no wukkas. I'm still learning to speak Australian.

I do enjoy a trip down memory lane from time-to-time. Three-and-a-half years removed from deciding to quit and now not smoking feels far more normal than lighting one up would. However, back in the early days every milestone felt huge and every time I accepted a new way of thinking it felt like an epiphany. The challenges encountered early on in a quit only set the stage for moments of satisfaction and victory.

A solid quit and a good dude...way to be Johnny.

A successful cold turkey quit is very doable. I did it. Several others here did it. You don't need superhuman strength or willpower of steel to quit cold turkey. Mostly, you just need to learn to ride out those moments when you are craving a cigarette. Deep breathing exercises are great. Physical exercise, a leisurely walk or something more vigorous depending on the mood, is a great option. Reading. Listening to music...there are many options to choose from. Every crave is temporary. Quitting cold turkey is just a matter of not making a permanent decision based on a temporary feeling. What really drew me to cold turkey was the simplicity of it all. There's nothing to administer at regular intervals. Nothing to buy. No side effects(what some may call side effects of quitting are actually side effects of smoking). A cold turkey quit could not be more simple; you don't even have to do anything, you just stop putting things in your mouth and lighting them on fire. Congratulations on quitting smoking DeadlyChicken. And thanks for sharing the information about your experience to this point.

Being honest with yourself. Setting a goal and accomplishing it. Learning how to be comfortable with being uncomfortable. Recognizing the value of patience over instant gratification. These are all skills necessary to successfully quit smoking and skills that will serve you well in every area of your life. Quitting smoking is a great choice in and of itself. Quitting smoking will also prove to be a catalyst for positive change in areas seemingly unrelated to quitting smoking. Great post MLMR.

Welcome aboard Matt. Congratulations on two weeks of freedom. There is a lot to be learned by lurking, but it is far more enjoyable if you jump right in. Enjoy the ride.

Good job OMC. You're well on your way now.

I know I've mentioned it before, but Margo Timmins is one of my favorite singers of all time. And this song is in keeping with the horse theme we've got going here.

Good job Sunshine.

If I ever decide to create an alter ego, his name will be...

Eight is great and freedom never gets old. Congratulations QueenB.

Repetition and time are powerful tools. With patience and persistence, not only can you change your thoughts but also rewire your brain. The same way we conditioned ourselves with cigarettes, we can also condition ourselves with positive things.

Around here, Doreen's frying pan is like Thor's Hammer. In the battle between cosmos and chaos experienced during a quit, The Pan of Doreen is the ultimate arbiter of justice. The frying pan is tough but fair.