Paul723

Good Job!

I want to tell a story about Sally that happens in the future. Stories that happen in someone’s future are more fun to tell because they may or may not be connected to actual events. But first, she wrote an excellent essay about the Zen of Quitting Smoking and I meant to tell her my favorite Zen saying which is, “Every snowflake falls perfectly”. When a snowfall starts with great big flakes one should go out in them and look up to follow a flake on its journey. Some zig zag on their way down before landing on a single blade of grass – perfectly, while others spin crazily before melting on the sidewalk - perfectly. As you watch the flakes fall, your mind will clear in the cold air and you will be aware of the immense quiet of a winter snow. Then I thought, what good is this to Sally in New Orleans? This winter meditation isn’t going to work often down there. I’ll change it for her to, “Every raindrop falls perfectly”. As many know, Sally gets around NOLA on foot most of the time so it is almost a certainty that she will be caught in a rain shower. She will come in soaked with pure water dripping from her hair down her back. She will blow an exquisite drop of water from the tip of her nose. She will shake like a wet dog from her head to her tail. Pooling up in a personal puddle she will remember that “Every raindrop falls perfectly”. After reading that in her past about her future, her now present will look up and say ”I could do with a little bit less perfection”. Then she will laugh with us because that is what perfection feels like.

It's one of the most important things you'll ever do and it's not as hard as you think.

False, hate being hot. NP likes Chinese food

4

Have a venti to celebrate your 4 years!

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There is no telling how many people he has helped along the way in five years. I know I always made a point of reading his daily NOPE comments during my first year and will always remember his help. Thanks again and congratulations for five years of freedom. Wish your wife the same in a couple days.

CRUSHED, CRUSHED, and CRUSHED Good Job!

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=bpI9A9fxRH4 The man in black for the man in blue. Good job bakon.

You are healing, give it time. Also, some days just suck.

Try saying that five times fast!

20

Good Job Mel! Look out for Irma!

You've trained yourself to smoke for years; now you are training yourself to be a non-smoker. It will take some time to do this but it will take less time than you think. Pamper yourself a little, this is the most important time.

"I'm an addict" This is the most important realization you can have and one of the hardest for many. The first time I typed this my hands were shaking. Then I also typed, "I can't have just one". This is the rule of addiction. Take this inside and know it to be true. We will help you put your addiction asleep; it will never be dead but you will learn how to not wake it. It does not make you less of a person, we all made the same mistake. We understand it better than others and will celebrate your victories and we want you to overcome.

A craving can't hurt you. They pass on their own in about 30 seconds, like a wave. Your body will dump adrenaline in your system to make it seem like it's important, it's not.

Dismiss the thoughts by telling yourself, "Smoking is not an option". Do this as soon as the idea enters your mind; don't give it any time or mental space. Do something else, think something else. Go for a walk. The nicotine is out of your system and your body is just beginning to heal itself. Get rid of the ones you have, you're done with them. They will kill you, they don't care.

The last of the Summer 13 quitters!

NOPE

FIVE Your life has changed in so many wonderful ways these past years.

4 Just for Doreen

As some will remember, when Doreen first joined the forum she was not the picture posting expert she is now. Nancy came to her rescue and gave Doreen her first avatar / profile picture, that of a beautiful blue butterfly. I still think of her that way. It was an inspired choice. The butterfly effect is the concept that small causes can have large effects. A tiny change in initial conditions will produce a different outcome. This is especially true for non-linear systems such as life. I’m fairly certain that this was Nancy’s thinking. Famously this effect is seen in weather forecast models. The motion of butterfly wings can change the direction of a tornado. Not taking one puff (how small a thing is a puff) changed the direction of Doreen’s life - the butterfly effect. Happy four years Doreen!