KEL

@notsmokinjoHappy New Year! Not quite there yet....I am going to take the shift at the shelter tonight. Seemed to be the best way to ring in a smoke-free New Year because its really hard not to be grateful there, largely because I am not a permanent resident! Best to all...

NOPE! Happy New Year's Eve everyone! Here's to freedom....

@jillar @babs609Thank you! I was wondering what I was missing and realized I hadn't checked in with QT today. Here is this amazing post to remind me of how grateful I am that I am not smoking today. Just for today. A dear friend dropped by for coffee this morning. He smokes. We used to smoke together-notice the tense. He went out on to the porch, asking if it was okay to do so. I had no temptation or judgment; just so glad I no longer had to engage. And who knows? Maybe he will consider quitting. One can only hope. Everything here is TRUTH but the thing I keep realizing lately is that IT IS EASIER NOT TO SMOKE. Once we get past the initial withdrawal period (which is usually challenging unfortunately), it becomes easier and more peaceful to live a life without smoking. We are not constantly negotiating with ourselves which is bloody exhausting. And, at least for me, there aren't the high-highs and low-lows. Instead, there is a steadiness which I now see (DUH) is because I am not in constant withdrawal as I was when I was smoking. Hope whoever is reading/lurking and still smoking will jump on board! Happy New (Smoke-free) Year to everyone. K

NOPE

LOVE THIS. And it is true. It does get easier.

@LindaHey-no preaching here but I find that GRATITUDE helps with any thoughts of resentment at the curveballs life throws at us. Its constant for everyone on this planet. None of us are getting out of it alive. I make lists, mental and in writing. Its a check: "Roof over head. Check. Food in fridge. Check. Gas in car. Check. I am ok. And it, whatever it is, is ok too." Sending love and prayers your way for peace. Oh and the most important thing-I DID NOT SMOKE TODAY.

NOPE!!!!

NOPE.

Thank you for sharing. It helps us newbies keep on keeping on. Blessings to you and your family.

Thought I would start a thread to share how my holiday has gone so far and in the hopes others will share too! Had a bit of a rough week leading up to Christmas-a work thing that brought up all the old triggers. The craving returned although it was but a mere shadow of its former self. I stayed close to QT and my AA group. Ironically (or maybe not so much), the "issue" relieved itself within about 36 hours. Oh I am not saying its "resolved." I just don't have the same attachment to it, the attachment which made it reasonable, in my junkie mind, to smoke. As a reliever don't you know. Not "relieving" the issue with a smoke actually relieved it faster methinks. So there is that wonderful realization. I grabbed the Christmas Eve shift at the shelter so the other night managers could enjoy their families. A client showed up, schizophrenic but in surprisingly good shape. Reeking of cigarettes which is pretty much the norm with the folks who walk through that door. I fixed her some tea and tucked her in with snacks. A restless night ensued with random thoughts as I listened to her snore like a choo-choo train. Wondered if I snored like that when I was smoking. Or (horrors!) do I still snore like that? Woke up after a few hours and started mopping the floors. Made the client a cup of coffee which I delivered to her as she was outside smoking. I was so grateful that I didn't have to light up. So grateful I didn't WANT to light up. This good feeling has continued and I am pretty shocked not to be suffering from holiday smoking triggers. I should be but they just aren't there. I have no idea why; I am just going with it. The thoughts of smoking are still with me and there is always the fear that something will catch me unawares which finds me at the Shell (gas) station. Keeps me on my toes; keeps me showing up here multiple times a day to check in. Thanks to everyone on the QT for sharing the magic with me. Love and blessings to all. K

NOPE!

@intoxicated yodaCongratulations! That is amazing and hard-won. I appreciate your presence here-you've been an inspiration for me (and apparently others!). Keep on the train and I will too.

NOPE

Merry Christmas everyone! Thanks to you @Doreensfree for showing up for everyone (including me in my dreams!)

Sal, Welcome and Merry Christmas! Cravings are like surfing: you have to ride the waves. There are all sorts of tools folks share on this board that make it way easier to get past the initial challenges but what worked for me is to understand the cravings were a RELEASE OF THE DISEASE. Nicotine addiction is no different from any other drug addiction/disease. Educate yourself on the physical process of withdrawal so you can reframe the urge to smoke into the understanding that the signal will be there so long as we feed it. Once we stop feeding it (eventually) it stops demanding we do so. This is a great place to share so stick close-these folks know what they are talking about.

NOPE. Merry Christmas! May all Quit Trainers be feeling the joy of the holiday and the gift we have been given to not smoke. Tonight I am headed to the shelter to see if any one shows up. While I am alone for the holiday, its easier this year. I attribute that to not smoking and this community. So thank you everyone.

@intoxicated yodaThank you-I appreciate the honesty with which you outlined your "case" and then came to the conclusion we all come to. I think if we hadn't (most of us?) started smoking in our teens, we would have found other ways to deal with the "need" for the smoke's "benefits." But who cares? That is the past. We are all quit today which is a yuletide blessing. We have today what every smoker wants-to not smoke. It was WAY WORSE when we were smoking. Recovery is a process not an event and I thank you for sharing your process with me (us). Merry Christmas everyone!

He is adorable! Merry Christmas!

NOPE.

Welcome! So glad you are here. Most of us (including me) have tried numerous times to quit and we always find a reason to start again. I did Allan Carr's book/seminars which really helped this time. Everyone has a different approach but after using NRT, this time I am cold-turkey. I think it is ultimately easier. The thing that I learned is while smoking, I WAS ALWAYS IN WITHDRAWAL. In other words, our entire smoking history we are craving. Going through a quit and understanding the craving will go away is an amazing shift in thinking. Because it does go away. We don't know how we will feel "smober" until we do it. The last couple of days for me have been rough (emotional things) and I have thought about smoking. But blessedly haven't done it. I know that it will only make things worse. Again, not saying it is easy but I think smoking is harder believe it or not. Happy to have you (and your wife) here. Being on line makes a HUGE difference!

NOPE.

NOPE.

This is the hardest part. You are doing it!

So I am going to jump here and share some suggestions, things that work for me. I am fortunate enough to be able to go to in-person AA meetings. However, the meeting is on Zoom as well and we have had ladies (it is a closed meeting for women) from across the country. Just a thought to connect with others who are struggling with life stuff. I don't make any distinction what the substance is-we are all addicts. If anyone here is interested in connecting more deeply, I will get the particulars tonight when I see the ladies. Keep strong QTrainers. Oh and I also see Nicotine Anonymous has on-line meetings. I am going to jump in later this week but I am mentioning it because I think it makes a difference to participate other than just writing. And NUMBER ONE-exercise. Get some good music going and dance/go to the gym/get out for a walk. These are things I have been doing over the pandemic and grooving instantly changes the mood. Sending love and blessings to you all.....

@KrisI don't believe we ever "lose" any one we have ever loved. I think its just a big circle. At least that is what makes me feel better when I am missing people.....And I love when they come to me in my dreams, especially those who left a long time ago. Its sweet. And yes, I do think they "show up" to let us know we are doing just fine.