MarylandQuitter

I suggest you get back right away and stop the stupid smoking now, while you still can. You don't want to be 10 years down the road and wishing you'd stopped back in June 2015. Don't be that person. The opportunity to quit is right now. Let your body start healing and stop any further damage. Just quit. I don't know what you're going through or how it's affecting you but I do know that no matter what happens to us, it's no reason or excuse to smoke. I too have been through mountains of shit since I quit. We're talking the Swiss Alps (those are big, aren't they? :) ) I didn't smoke and to this day I am grateful. Get back here and let those with strong quits with lots of time under their belts help you. Some things may be uncomfortable to hear, like "your making excuses" and "easy peasy" but those are a whole lot better to hear than "you've got cancer" and then list can go on and on. People tell you those things for a reason. For one, they care or they wouldn't take the time to respond and two, there is wisdom in those replies. Trust me, get back on the train now and just quit.

You're darn right it's okay to spend some of that money saved from buying smokes. Those rewards are reminders of the big picture and the importance of being committed to your quit. My first reward was a Sonicare Diamond Clean toothbrush. :D

Your a strong woman and an inspiration, Tracey. I can't even begin to imagine what you've been through and what you're going through but I can take a piece of your experience and wisdom to carry with me throughout my life. Keep your chin up.

Wonderful pictures! Made my morning to see bright, happy smiles. :D

I Gave Up Smoking Video discusses how attitude can play a major role on how easy or hard quitting and staying fee can be. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kSe3iH-N2LU&index=34&list=PL4F05C03D0F9B86DB Avoiding Situations Where You Used To Smoke Video discusses the importance of facing triggers head on as opposed to the natural inclination of many to avoid situations where they used to smoke. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M681p2B-8kA

I'm so sorry for your loss, Toni. You've got a pretty quit to endure that and not smoke. As you know smoking would not have helped a single bit.

GR8 job, Nixter!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oe_pj0dXbec

Those hummingbirds are heard to photograph. Great job!

Nope

Nope!

Welcome to QT!!! :)

Nope!

My guess is that you won't won' even like the smell, much less have the desire to smoke. You're well beyond that now, Evelyn. :)

Welcome and congrats on the 1 year without a cigarette which you'll no doubt soon be celebrating. :) Yes, it not only gets better but is it really worth it? Yes!!! I don't think I ever heard anybody say they wished they never quit smoking but everybody at some time or another has said they wished they would have quit smoking the last time they wanted to. :)

NOPE!!

You know, education is a big key to this whole thing but as I get longer into my quit, pledging each day really, really keeps my head in the right place. For some people it's not needed for those like me, I like the idea of taking the NOPE pledge each day because for me, it does something. Now, having said that, I need to take today's pledge as I've been slacking and slackers can get complacent and sometimes find themselves in trouble. :)

Anxiety is a beast that nicotine can only feed, not tame. There is a certain amount of anxiety when someone first quits (levels can vary from person to person) but that is coming from the fear of the unknown and withdrawal. If anxiety/panic was present before quitting, it's going to be there after as well. This is a fascinating topic because the nature of anxiety can come from so many different places but the anxiety and panic is real, very real. No matter what, there is help. That's the good news. Now the other good news is that quitting smoking gets rid of an entire host of anxiety issues all created by smoking. There is no bad news. :)

That's awesome! Driving and smoking went hand in hand for me, literally. I don't remember at what point that I stopped thinking about it while driving but now that you mention it, I can't remember the last time driving triggered a thought about smoking. :)

It's never easy being a father for if it were, mothers would do it. Sometimes it's the father who is the nurturing one who puts their family first. Having said that, Happy Mother's Day to all the mothers out there who put their families first and honor the commitments made when having children. A good mother is the best gift for any child. A mother can provide certain things that no father can and I've always believed that a child has a special bond with it's mother that it doesn't have with the father; it's the way it's supposed to be. But then there are mothers who are too self-absorbed in their own world and own wants who don't treasure the gift of being a mother.

I'm a lifer. NOPE

Besides, what you've endured and not smoked, fun times on the water isn't going to threaten anything. Easy peasy lemon breezy and chewy Stewy. :)

Avoiding Situations Where You Used To Smoke Video discusses the importance of facing triggers head on as opposed to the natural inclination of many to avoid situations where they used to smoke. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M681p2B-8kA Related resources: Avoiding triggers http://www.ffn.yuku.com/topic/12676 Craves and thoughts that occur over time http://www.ffn.yuku.com/topic/207

No matter what arrows come from others stupid mouths, it can't affect my quit. For the last 1.5 years I've been adding a few bricks around my quit each day. Early on I didn't add any on some days but I never took any away. I have built up a thick wall around my quit which consists of many layers. It's stronger than the most fortified structures in the world. Even if I'm having a bad day (or even a real shitty one), nothing can penetrate those walls. Sometimes I'm not even allowed inside if I am a threat to my quit. NOPE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!