Sazerac

I got thrown out of Brownies too ! What was your transgression, @Jordan7? I was singing bawdy Irish songs, you know...about the tinker taking the lady of the house 'upstairs' la de do rum do... #1 I was an artist's model (nakedy) #2 I was a writer for a local rag #3 I was a bartender in a dive bar

I'm going for #3, I don't think you were a girl scout. (I was never a girl scout)

Oh, dear. I am a hedonist and a sensualist...an epicurean in the modern sense. I strive for moderation... and an epicurean, in the traditional sense, is more about moderation. Epicureanism ( philosophy of Epicurus, 307 B.C. ) Teaches that the greatest good is to seek modest pleasures in order to attain a state of tranquillity, freedom from fear ("ataraxia") and absence from bodily pain ("aponia"). This combination of states is held to constitute happiness in its highest form. A twinkie will never pass my lips. But, I need to feed my soul when I fuel up. I eat very slowly, I try to savor every bite and nourish my senses. I understand that you are trying to switch your food patterns up and I applaud you. Spartan ? Asceticism ? Will these concepts assist you in any way ?

I have 3 wheelchairs because they find me. One I have re-upholstered as The Frida Khalo Memorial Wheelchair. It is a nice old one. Two were in the trash, one, a deluxe model, was given to me because I like them. My Teeth, Bone, Bug collection is in the 'natural history' section of my parlor. These things seem to 'find me' also. Unfortunately, I do not have a juke box. Sad. So @Jordan7 wins !

You are beginning a delightful new adventure as a smoke free person. Get excited and charged about that, instead of thinking how terrible/hard it is going to be. Make it easy on yourself.

Force your mind away from smokes. Look at something beautiful and study it seriously. Listen intently to a favorite piece of music. These things will give you a shot of dopamine. Think of someone or something you love very much and expand the thought.

Breathe, watch your blood sugar (drink fruit juice or have a luscious peach), drink water. Stay Focused. You have quit smoking. That is that. There is no longer an argument or conversation about it. YOU QUIT SMOKING ! Think of our friend, Sirius', words, "The next time a craving plunks down on your face ask yourself, "What price you are willing to pay to own yourself?" and REWARD yourself especially for the gnarly moments. You are doing GREAT.

bump

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11 hellooo quitters

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#1 I do have a small collection of teeth and bones and bugs #2 I do have three wheel chairs #3 I do have a jukebox that needs repair

NOPE NOPE NOPE NOPE NOPE

Hey @Boo, Somebody is beating your time, crossing the channel to @Doreensfree !

Congratulations, dear one, on your Six Years of Freedom. You are the soul and inspiration of QTrain and I love and appreciate you. You give so much. Thank you, Doreen. Hope you find lots of rewards and celebrations for yourself today.

Is @reciprocity alert, awake, aware ?

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I'm going to say #3 is the lie. I think of you as a tow head.

It is my understanding that patches do not take ALL physical or mental cravings away, they only mitigate them a bit. Your cravings are going to continue, and wearing a patch prolongs them because you are still administering nicotine to your body. This is just the way it is, all you can do is power through. Once you are ready to go patch free, then all physical cravings will be done with in a few days. Still, mental cravings and triggers will likely continue and may be challenging at times but, nothing that you cannot handle. A year's worth of triggers will be overcome as you build your successful quit. I am glad to hear you are not giving up and it is so good to see your NOPE. Learn all you can, education and commitment are two essential tools for a forever quit.

Sure, your support system here feels joyful euphoria in success and sad frustration in failure but, it is not about us . like Jillar says, We want to encourage and support, provide education and some distraction and fun as well. Some of us have Tough Love, some the Warm and Fuzzy Love. I think Jillar also said that 'it takes a village to help a quitter'. So right ! So, take what you need and leave the rest. One or many of our voices will resonate with you and the educational materials are exceptional. Know that everyone has the ability to quit, wrap your mind around that. Don't be a doubter. Commit to NOPE and there you have it !

(filing post in blog) Some quitters may have trouble with the never/ever part in NOPE (Not One Puff Ever) or NTAP (Never Take Another Puff) To tell you the truth, in the nascence of my quit, I bluffed my way through never/ever land. I remember @Cristóbal and @El Bandito qualifying never/ever with the caveat, 'just for today', and that was the truth too, it is about here and now. As days and weeks passed I absorbed the truth about addiction. Once I clearly understood addiction is forever and brain receptors immediately re-connect to addiction after one puff, I embraced never/ever/forever. If addiction was in my brain for the long haul, well, dammit, I was too...and I was going to Win ! Originally posted July 2016 NOPE ~Never/Ever/Forever (including comments) and here is a group discussion 'How Is A Commitment To NOPE Essential For A Successful Quit' and two vids from our friend, Joel Spitzer

#2 is the lie

NOPE

Welcome @NoNicChick, You may find this thread useful, Ten Ways To Effectively Use This Forum