Well here I am. Six months quit.
Yay me!
What have I learned?
How do I feel?
In no particular order...
1. Everything is relative.
I remember in the early days looking at people posting "3 weeks! Congratulations!" and thinking "3 weeks? Wow that is so far away. I am not sure I can make the next three hours!" Every single quitter quits one cigarette at a time, one day, one hour, one minute, one second. You may be looking at tickers thinking that you will never get there. You will. I did.
2. It's all in the mind.
A craving doesn't hurt. It doesn't stop you doing anything. It doesn't really exist. YOU are making it up. Don't like craving? Well don't have them then. It really is that easy. (I say it now - if only I had believed it then! It would have saved me a lot of trouble!)
3. Your quit - your choice
I chose not to smoke anymore. No-one forced me. I can start again tomorrow if I want to. Smoking is 100% a choice. No-one can quit for you, no-one can take responsibility for you. YOU ALONE take the decision. Folk here and elsewhere will support you as best they can - but OWN your quit.
How do I feel?
I feel empowered. Enriched.
Colours seem brighter. Food tastes better.
I have more energy. I am stronger.
I smell better. My teeth look better (for an islander!)
I don't have cravings, I don't have regrets, I can not think of one single thing about smoking that I miss.
If you are reading this - then you have probably quit or are about to quit.
CONGRATULATIONS! The best decision you have ever made. You can absolutely do this. And to quote a wise man called Paul "Even better times are coming."
