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1q2 What is the best thing about not smoking? 17th anny...
17 Years Quit. What is the best thing about not smoking? 17th anny Feb 2018
The question is asking me what is the best thing about not smoking?
My answer is ---> Not Smoking!
My Quit is as solid as this granite. More so, because granite can erode over time and my quit will not.
I know my first year I said my Quit was like a roller coaster and I was glued to the Q. I read and read and read and read. The first days, the only thing that got me through was seeing people a day or so ahead of me, and those farther out, who let me know it was possible, and if they could do it, maybe I could too.
I learned Not One Puff Ever and abided by that. Smoking was not an option so I had to get through it. " The only way out is through"
After awhile, smoking ceased to exist for me in my life. I have been through incredible stresses and smoking never entered my mind. Not at all.
There was a period of time when I was consciously focused on quitting, (not smoking), and then at some point, not all that far into my quit... everything about smoking/not smoking just left my thoughts. I continue to celebrate my anniversaries so in that respect I think about my Quit.
As a part of my everyday, smoking disappeared. It is not hanging over my shoulder. It is not something I fear will at some time drag me back in. These could be the world's biggest junkie lies but I do not think so. My intellectual mind would be stronger if something were to intrude. The fact is though, that the thought, the allure, the "all of that smoking stuff" is 100% gone to my knowledge.
I can not imagine having smoked these past 17 years. My goodness. I feel very grateful to have released myself and escaped the Nicodemon.
I cannot promise you that you will achieve the degree of separation from your smoking addiction like I have.
I can share with you some of my observations from my quit and from being on the Q.
I decided to buckle down and quit CT after a year or so of "trying" to quit, belligerently and improperly using NRT. That did not work for me because I could not follow the directions. .
I decided to quit messing around with "trying" to Quit and to Quit. The "trying" to Quit was just a joke and wasted my time.
The help came from the Q saying that it had to be Not One Puff Ever.
The NOPE concept was new to me.
In my quitting "tries" I always gave myself permission to smoke, if not for any other reason, then for a reward for not smoking.. or to show myself how on top of it I was, lol..( I am laughing but it is not really funny).
You cannot Quit smoking if you continue to smoke.
You have to very simply, Not Smoke.
*No Smoking*, remember that part.
Then stick with it. Use the Q and post and wait for the 3 replies. If you smoke, come right back to the Q.
Smoking kills and who it does not kill, it maims and damages. Stop that from happening to you. Stop the smoking madness. You will be fine and you will love yourself smoke free.
It makes me so happy to see all of you work your quits and not smoke . I applaud you when you overcome your challenges and continue on smoke free. I am sad for you when it is so hard and you have such a hard time. I DO know what you are going through. I have been exactly there. I do know that *really quitting is *really easier than some of the misery that I put myself through "trying" to quit.
I am so happy for your successes and the discoveries that you make about you the non smoker. There are many and they are all good!
All of you are awesome in your own individual ways and you all mean so much to me. My life is enriched because of all of you. We are a community here, just as important as any anywhere and we are doing this together.
Take care and be smoke free.. Celebrate my 17 years with me and stay on this awesome smoke free road with me..
If I can do it, anyone can do it--1q2@17yearsQuit
Enchanted Rock
Gillespie County, Texas
March 2017
