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My pregnant daughter, her husband, and their two children flew to Texas day before yesterday. They'd had enough of mask mania and living under lockdown here in Seattle. I'll miss them, especially their eight year old daughter, whom I often cared for when she was a toddler--overnights at grandma's house, trips to the park together, etc. (When the one-year old gets a bit older, he'll come, too.) When you've lived in a house for years, you probably know how things can collect. There was so much for them to do and pack up. About twenty bags of discards and some small furniture were left behind for me to take to a donation drop site. I made trips back and forth to drop the bags/furniture at my place--several hours of driving each day, plus load and unload. My back was aching. They had professional cleaners come in on their last day in the house and clean bathrooms and kitchen. They were to have come back the following day to finish, but couldn't--a schedule snafu. So I cleaned, starting at 6 am. The house needs to go on the market so they can sell it and buy a new one in Texas. Then I boxed the cookware they need asap in Texas, plus my son-in-law's electrician's tools (weighs 43 lb) so that he can start working right away, and took them to the UPS office for shipping. On the way into the UPS office, straining my back with the 43 lb tool set (it felt like 75 lb, but I'm 71, so guess I'm not as strong as I used to be), I passed a guy standing outside the minimart, 15 feet away, peacefully smoking and drinking a cup of coffee. A part of me yearned to just drop the tools on the spot and join him for a smoke. But after almost two years of being a nonsmoker and pledging NOPE, you know the end to that story. I continued into the UPS office, made all the arrangements for them to professionally box the cookware and tools, paid the nice people (it's a family-owned business), and went home. Smoker-guy was back inside the minimart, believing that he'd just had a relaxing break, not realizing he'd only fed an addicted nicotine monster that was soon going to yowl for more. It feels good to be a nonsmoker. NOPE

NOPE

NOPE

Nope!

Nope!!!!

NOPE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

NOPE

Nope

NOPE

NOPE!

NOPE…

Me smoke ???...... NOPE.....not a chance

@KELThank you, I am very happy to have found this place. The support offered here makes my smoke-free day! I'm on day 23 and going strong.

I'm proud of you Kate.

G’day NOPE .....Not One Puff Ever.... (replace Ever with Min,Hour, Day as required)

G’day NOPE .....Not One Puff Ever.... (replace Ever with Min,Hour, Day as required)

Absolutely. Good job Kate.

NOPE

I know the feeling. still happens after all these years but I believe it`s got more to do with what is going on in your life than a crave for nicotine. I`m 72 and sometimes I feel like "why not". No family near me {Texas and Illinois) will just one really hurt? Answer is yes. Good job on a difficult day Kate18. Be proud of yourself. Best wishes. Good luck with the back. I can relate.

NOPE - Not One Puff Ever

I found those nagging, persistent thoughts of smoking to be the biggest pain in the ass of the quit process in the early days. One night I had a breakthrough moment, decided to stop fighting it and just let it be. It was smooth sailing after that. Your turning point moment might be sudden or it may set in gradually, but it will happen. Hang in and keep moving forward. You're doing well Gum_Addict.

NOPE

Well done Kate ...I'm so happy you kept your wonderful Quit ...you know a smoke wouldn't have changed any of the situation....only put you back to square one Sweetie...... Your winning your battles .

gum_addict welcome to the train- you have made the best decision of your life

Congratulations @Kate18! Well done!

My first thought when reading this was shame on your daughter for leaving all that for you to do. She should have left you to babysit the grandkids while she packed up and cleaned her place. That being said, I'm so happy to see how you walked right past what would have been so hard for you two years ago. Proof for all those coming behind you that it does get so much easier with time

@Kate18Thank you for sharing.

Nope...not me!!!

NOPE, not today no matter what lies my addiction is telling me

NOPE, not today

Great job, Kate!

NOPE!

No one ever cranked this song up and said: Let's drive the speed limit and make other reasonable decisions.

Looking forward to a Saturday at home with absolutely nothing to do. The weather is going to be cold and windy with a chance of snow. Apart from feeding the donkeys, there's no real need to go outside tomorrow. My dog Cash is ahead of the curve on dealing with days like this. Has a bed right in front of the fireplace, lays there all day. He only gets up to eat and do his backyard business. That dog is a daily reminder that the simplest pleasures are the best.

Thanks @AceWhite for the warm welcome, it really makes all the difference as I go through my day rejecting smoking thoughts.

Always love celebrating another great milestone. Congratulations!!!

@gum_addictEveryone is different but for me I found involvement with other quitters helps enormously. I am on the site several times a day and post often. Its a felt-sense of a loving community whose only desire is that I do not smoke. And that is my wish for them as well. The nice thing is that we don't have to be in the cold anymore-at least that is where I smoked. And given the altitude, quitting sure makes motion easier. Hang in.

NOPE

NOPE…

Sitting on the couch realizing I have not planned dinner. Don't feel like a lot of work so I think it will be breakfast for dinner. Easy, one pan and done.

Nicely done Kate and thanks for being an inspiration to those of us following you.

Absolutely no doubt that being a non smoker and in good physical shape helped greatly. Thank you Doreen almost 100%- have a hockey game this eve & thinking im ready

you can do it @gum_addict you got a great start and a great quit going

Way to go, Yoda! You are an inspiration to this newcomer. If you can do it, hopefully I can do it too. Great job!

Way to kick butt Yoda! Congratulations and keep it going. best wishes.

Thank you for responding to me with encouragement, it means a lot to me as I trudge my way through the first few weeks. I just chewed a non-nicotine gum instead and it feels like I have a real shot at quitting at the moment.

On the subject of breathing techniques, I did the 4-4-8 breathing technique early in my quit. Inhale through the nose for a count of four, hold the breath for four, and exhale slowly through the mouth for a count of eight. I started doing this breathing technique early in my quit to deal with cravings. I no longer crave cigarettes but still find the breathing technique helpful from time-to-time. Taking a little pause for the cause to focus on your breathing is like hitting the reset button for your body and mind.

A Big Fat NOPE.....Not Now ,Not Ever.

NOPE!

Having a good and solid foundation for your quit is an absolute must for success!