PeaceTrain

Thanks Doreen. This one is on my list. LOVE her

True- several TNP has a "glass half full" mentality

-12

I missed so many anniversaries, milestones and birthdays while I was away, I'm not going to post to all of them (you're welcome!) just want to say congrats and best wishes to all!

-9. Missed you all too!

Tortellini

Late to the party but not short on admiration of your glorious quit. Respect!

Sheesh, Doreen... Sorry to hear. Maybe you'll find out more on Monday. It seems they've recently lowered (again!) the acceptable scores for "healthy" cholesterol levels. Wouldn't have anything to do with big pharma wanting to sell more prescriptions for Lipitor and other statin drugs, would it?

-7

NOPE!

Woo HOO, breathless! You're doing great. KTQ!

Hi train buddies! Hubs and I got back yesterday afternoon from our trip. We flew into Milan, rented a car and visited Northern Italy, the Swiss Alps and the Provence region of France. For MOST of the time, I wa sooooo happy not to be a smoker anymore, especially hiking in the Alps. Honestly, if I were still smoking, I don think I could have done it. Plus, traveling is altogether much more pleasant and comfortable as a non-smoker! Everyone in the little village where we stayed in Switzerland seemed to be living a very healthy lifestyle. This was a tiny hamlet perched on the side of a mountain, with tiers of homes and cottages on the mountainside at different levels with small steep roads connecting them. There was one man we passed on a paved road that was walking in the opposite direction and smoking a cigarette. The next day, we were out on the deck having coffee in the morning and people were moving about above and below. There was one man very slowly making his way up the hill. When he got a little closer, I said, "Look, that's the man we passed yesterday on the road." My husband said, "Yes, and see how slow he is. He's a smoker." France and Italy were different- smokers everywhere seeming very happy to sit around, drinking wine or coffee, puffing away in piazzas, laughing chatting with their friends. Looking at these scenes, it was easy to romance the smoke. Even though I don't want to go back to smoking, I did have my difficult moments- stupid feelings of deprivation. I mean, really! What am I deprived of? I have a great life and so far no terrible health issues. This (literally) stinking addiction is so powerful, it can really mess with your mind! These people sitting around, seemingly having a great time are just as vulnerable as we are to the devastation of smoking. There's a dark side to it that vastly outweighs... What I also came to realize on this trip is that (what I'm hoping are) the last remnants of junkie thinking coming through seem to manifest as snarky, crabby, bitchy behavior that reflect my addictive mind and not my tuprue character. This is getting better but best to understand what's really going on and not mistake it for something else. My mind and emotions are still going through this adjustment process. So it's good to be back. I've got a lot to catch up,on here! KTQ, all! Today I'll be back on the NOPE pledge.

Hi Dee. I'm so sorry your mom has to go through treatments again. It really is a family affair though, isn't it? I know you'll all be going through it right along with her, so I hope you can gain strength from each other's love and support. Best wishes to you and your family.

WooHoo! Congratulations Bakon! Love your zany but insightful posts! 5 years... Respect!

-3

Today I did probably one of the coolest things I've ever done in my life- I officiated a wedding ceremony! About 9 months ago, a woman who had been a therapy client of mine announced that she was engaged and asked me if I would perform the ceremony. I obtained the necessary credentials, we'd been talking about it since then, writing the ceremony, preparing for the day and the day finally arrived! We had a short run-through last night and the wedding was this evening. The whole past week has been really intense for me- at times I had waves of anxiety about it. I really wanted them to be happy with the ceremony... And they loved it! We had already scripted it together but it actually turned out to be a perfect reflection of who they are as a couple. I don't know how it could have been better! I was busy and also super anxious about it all day today (I didn't even do the NOPE pledge) but it was definite NOPE for me. I couldn't help thinking at times, "this would be a time when I would have a smoke" and also thinking about how much MORE anxious I would have been if I were still a smoker. Smoking really does, in the end, make you anxious- or it did me, at least, nicotine being a stimulant. Tomorrow my husband and I leave for Italy, Switzerland and maybe we'll drive down to Provence, depending on weather and what we feel like doing. Today was a day I will remember for a long time!

No pictures, I'm afraid, but I'm definitely ready!

Bad feelings came and they will go. Just keep your resolve and in the meantime, see if you can do something pleasurable for yourself (bubble bath?)

-4

-2 'morning chicks (and you guys too)

Congratulations on your 2 months, Jayhawk! You've got a solid quit going. NTAP!

Zero

NOPE!

You got it, Nancy! -2

I say, I say ZERO