Ramona

(((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((Tracey))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))

I love that FROG!!! NOPE! (happy 2 year!)

My NOPE is fatter than your NOPE :D NOPE

In just 5 days (June 6th) I will celebrate 7 months nicotine/smoke free! And I gotta say: month 6 to 7 has been, for the most part, darned breezy. Phew! Leading up to this time has been difficult and uncertain. I almost cracked and relapsed when I had 5 months - I came insanely close to sabotaging this new life of mine. Indeed, for those first months I came close to smoking time-after-time. But I didn't. And that's all it takes - that's all that really matters at the end of the day. Tonight's dinner with my family was beautiful. Food has taken on gargantuan proportions of thrilling delight. Before each meal I make sure to thank god for the experience of eating. How blessed I am! Blessed to have a life where food is commonplace - - and now a new life where food tastes IN-F$#%KING-CREDIBLE. I am more present when I eat, I've slowed down (no longer am I trying to rush my way to my next fix). I'm immensely grateful to the members of this forum - for baring all. Most of us here are open-books and we're not afraid to divulge our very personal experiences. I need this!!! There's a high level of trust here. Trust that our words, expressions and confessions will be met with compassion. But also met with honesty and tough love. We are comrades, soldiers in our pursuit and this bonds us in ways 'never-smokers' and 'forever-smokers' can not understand. I will stay on this board until I make my year (and probably beyond that). My year will be the proudest moment of my life. I've done some cool things in my 32 years of life, some stuff I'm pretty proud of. But nothing as remarkable, and hard-fought, as this current battle. If I can beat nicotine/cigarettes then I can pretty much do anything. I owe this burgeoning self confidence to NOPE and to all of you here at the QT. Thanks guys.

This is so damn cute.

I too like this thread. Succinct.

Posted in your other thread.

ETD - please don't use alcohol/drug recovery as your excuse. It's way too easy to do. The majority of folks in recovery will always give you an "out" for cigarettes: They'll say: "Oh, just as long as you aren't doing the 'real' drugs! Better to smoke cigarettes than drink or use." Oh really? Would you say that to a middle aged widow whose life long partner is now dead from smoking? or To one of the many people out there who have lost their limbs? or To once athletic folks who now feel like they're breathing through a pin hole? NICOTINE IS A DRUG - - - USING IT IS "USING."

If they played with roller blades I'd be totally in...I never liked roller skates. But I commend your spirit - KICK ASS!!!!!!!!!

It IS a sweet photo (with multi-layered stuff going on). Thanks for sharing.

Yay for 8! Even though you're practically a veteran - I hope you stick around to post more hilarious pictures!!! You find the funniest shit. WELL DONE!!!!!!

So HAPPY FOR YOUR ACCOMPLISHMENT. You are wonderful! You can do it! Thanks for being here!

Looks like I missed 6 but I'm in time for 7!!!!!!!!! Happy 6 AND 7 months. Well done.

Two weeks is an amazing, awesome achievement. Be proud - stand taller. You got this!

Na-na-na NOOOOOOPE.

I am incredibly sorry for all those suffering with these ailments. YUCK and SUCK!!! I hope you all find a reliable path to relief!!

Four months and looking GOOD!

Hi Laura, Believe in yourself and you will prevail. There will be no excuses. Personally? I have rammed my head into walls more than a few times. I have jumped into a raspberry bush almost naked. I've been obliged to make countless apologies and amends to many people. I've nearly put a hole through another wall with my fist. I've slid belly first @ high speeds into yet another wall. I have bled and I have been bruised. I have CRIED CRIED CRIED at times and places where I DID NOT WANT to cry. Why? Because I won't allow myself an excuse this time. I said, "even if I lose my job because I'm a psycho @ work, I will not smoke." And I meant it. And I still do. Because this time nothing is worth more than my quit. Devil Doll screamed into a pillow with all her rage and fury. Others have howled at the moon. What a montage that would be!!! A visual collection of the maddening madness which erupts when we rid ourselves of the nicotine poison. Life on the other side is possible but it's not easy. Some say it's as easy as NOPE - - and that's TRUE - - but NOPE often means you will need to get real comfortable with being uncomfortable. You can do this.

Please stay with us ETD. Sometimes we're complete A-holes when we stop. But would our family rather have a few months of bitchiness or an early death? I think most family members would (hopefully) choose the bitchiness. I love the sound of commitment in your post but I'm worried you'll allow mood swings to sabotage your quit. GO EASY ON YOURSELF and forgive yourself for what might seem like irrational responses and behavior. I have done some nutty things in my quit but I have persevered and learned from all the freak-outs. This has meant a lot of apologizing and making of amends but it has been totally worth it. REMEMBER: NO EXCUSES NO EXCUSES Recall why you want this and PLEASE stay committed. Soon those snacks with your family are going to taste better than ever. You need to allow yourself time to feel & experience all the benefits of a smoke free life.

Okay, funny.

Third shift is a strange one! I work it once a week. Always impressed with how people pull it off on the regular.

Thank you Babs - you are evidence that my philosophy could continue to work after my 30's. Nice!!!

Mornin' Miss Queen, I'll NOPE beside you this A.M. on the East Coast of the U.S.

Tracey - remarkable, impressive, gorgeous and inspirational that you're persisting with your strong and solid NOPE. You are my hero. Thank you for being alive. My tears are with you.

Then again: I'm 32.