brand.new.ela

I have been quit 9,5 months, that's long and short. There are still many "firsts" to experience and unexpected bumps. And yes, I do have thoughts that appear out of the blue. My response is fully rational, that I have too much to lose. On worse days I have more stupid thoughts and it takes more effort to neutralize them. If you don't act on the thoughts they'll become weaker and weaker, and ultimately disappear.

I am learning to be patient. As a smoker I had to have everything HERE AND KNOW and got frustrated when that wasn't always feasible. Now I just accept that sometimes I have to wait, that pother people aren't just puppets in my theatre. And sometimes I just sit down and do nothing. That's new too

At first I thought it would be the same just without cigarettes and that thought was unbearable. I believe this was what prevented me from quitting earlier, that fear. Now I see how many of the behaviors, reactions, thoughts, feelings have changed, how they all had to change and for the better. I know the background of many of my issues and I know what to work on. The true me was buried under all that ash and everyday I\m surprised with something new about myself.

I could write all that myself, word for word. The trigger that made me stop was completely trivial but the bigger reasons were those Johnny is giving

Realizing how strong and worthy I am Keeping promises that I give myself and making myself a high priority in my life Being more brave and trying new things as well as accepting changes more easily Paradoxically I lost weight because I have more energy for sport and exercise now

I do not publicly pledge. I did it at QSMB at first but it was simply not in there. It was my commitment but that commitment wasn\t in that expression, I don't know how to explain it. However, this quit has been a road to self-discovery and while at the previous attempts I genuinely believed in the concept of "just one", now I simply know it would mean becoming a smoker again. I see my reactions to sugar after a period of abstinence, how does the body react and I make a rational decision not to smoke, even when nagging thoughts appear. This knowledge makes everything easier.

Thank you for your stories. You are all an inspiration.

Congratulations!!!!

Discovering that I in fact like sport and being a couch potato isn’t my true nature. Taking a long look at myself and deciding to change concrete behaviors, and discovering the roots of those. Having this thing to be proud of, the quit. Not having to plan whole life around cigarette breaks. I could go on and on ?

Congratulations! Thank you for this post and for being here.

Congratulations! You’ve walked through hell and survived, it’s a huge achievement!

Important milestone and a great achievement! Congratulations!

Thank you for your cheers and support! This mothaversary has been sweet due to you!

To stay quit: a big factor is what a waste it would be if I started again after nine months. That I know it wouldn’t be just one. That I see visible benefits from not smoking so why shall I smoke.

Scary. But it needs to be shown.

Thank you for your beautiful message! This is what’s wonderful about you and the whole community

I discovered I had much more energy. I started exercising and I’ve lost 8 kilo since I’d quit. I’ve become better to work according to the plan and I don’t give new things up so easily. Still having confidence issues but depressive episodes are much shorter now.

Jo, we are so close in our quit dates that your post made me shiver. That was close and you really played with fire, but you showed yourself you’re stronger than that, stronger than you yourself think. You are one of the most precious people, remember that!

Welcome! Good to have you here.

5469 since 4 November 2017

Thinking that nothing tastes better than coffee with a cigarette. That cigarettes are always there for me. That they make me look like a badass diva. Smoker-me used to be so stupid.

Jackie, you’re in the worst possible period of the quit and you’re doing great. You might not believe it, but you’re doing great. Those feelings are normal but they’ll pass and you’ll see all the benefits of not smoking. We are here for you, remember!

I always checked if airports I flew from, to and via had smoking zones. That’s what I dreaded most. And family meetings, I always waited till it was over. Usually such things aren’t talked about when freedom is discussed but not being a slave to a cigarette is very much freedom

Nikki, those early days are hard. At the moment you’re fighting much harder than those with longer quits, you work more, use more energy. I admire your strength and determination. It will pass. You will see, it will pass. We are here if you want to talk or scream.

That hit me hard. These people, their scars, their illnesses, all the consequences of smoking suddenly had a face and a voice. What impressed me most was the artists’ attitude: no condemnation for bringing it all in themselves, no saying “it’s all your own fault”, just respect. That was beautiful and I feel so grateful for that. All that I’m saying from my own perspective, adult’s perspective and ex-smoker’s perspective. Can’t say if it’s too much for teenagers. It’s definitely something to remember and not the usual, forgettable stuff.