Sazerac

Hello, my darling Nicotine Free Creatures! In days I will be starting my Tenth Year of freedom from nicotine. I will never smoke again. At times, with smoking friends, I think...I used to smoke. Do I want to smoke again? The answer is always a ferocious, NO ! to the virulence of nicotine. I didn't have an easy quit. It took a full year for some serious craves to abate but, I never lost my Resolve. That was the ribbon of truth weaving through my whole quit, I was completely committed. At first committed to what I thought of as an experiment. I gave it a year, a challenge to myself. If after a year, I didn't like the changes...well, I would reconsider the experiment. During that first year (and continuing today), I educated myself about nicotine addiction. The changes to my brain, the science of addictions. The brutality to my lungs, my body. I knew too much after brief study to use denial as an excuse. Either I would continue to be a slave or rejoice in a profound freedom and allow my body to heal. After that first year, I committed to another and another. It is always a NOPE for me. I am very grateful to all the NOPERS here, so many blazed a trail for me and were there for a laugh or a nudge. Often, a blast of useful information from Joel Spitzer, my hero. I wrote about our addiction in my blog here on QTrain and hope quitters will find that useful on their journey. On QTrain, we all know what quitting feels like, especially the early gnarly days, and I am so proud that I can now tell you what quitting for almost a decade feels like. You know it feels good, you know it feels bloody awesome. Keep your quits and nurture yourselves, your beauty is showing. Love, Sazerac

Hello, my darling Nicotine Free Creatures! In days I will be starting my Tenth Year of freedom from nicotine. I will never smoke again. At times, with smoking friends, I think...I used to smoke. Do I want to smoke? The answer is always a ferocious, NO ! to the virulence of nicotine. I didn't have an easy quit. It took a full year for some serious craves to abate but, I never lost my Resolve. That was the ribbon of truth weaving through my whole quit, I was completely committed. At first committed to what I thought of as an experiment. I gave it a year, a challenge to myself. If after a year, I didn't like the changes...well, I would reconsider the experiment. During that first year (and continuing today), I educated myself about nicotine addiction. The changes to my brain, the science of addictions. The brutality to my lungs, my body. I knew too much after brief study to use denial as an excuse. Either I would continue to be a slave or rejoice in a profound freedom and allow my body to heal. After that first year, I committed to another and another. It is always a NOPE for me. I am very grateful to all the NOPERS here, so many blazed a trail for me and were there for a laugh or a nudge. Often, a blast of useful information from Joel Spitzer, my hero. I wrote about our addiction in my blog here on QTrain and hope quitters will find that useful on their journey. QTrainers all know what quitting feels like, especially the early gnarly days, and I am so proud that I can now tell you what quitting for almost a decade feels like. You know it feels good, you know it feels bloody awesome. Keep your quits and nurture yourselves, your beauty is showing. Love, Sazerac

I've been deep in the celebrations and remembered so many great people. All you newbies (under a year) take heart. You will have years of freedom before you know it. S

Hey Leanna ! Congratulations on Nine years of freedom. You showed me that quitting was possible in my lurker days and I am so appreciative. Love to you, S

Hey Linda ! Congratulations on your three years of freedom. I remember your first post and a lot of your struggles. It wasn't easy but you had beautiful and gutsy determination. I always admired that. Love, S

Big D ! My Smut Sister ! Congratulations on your eight years and thank you for all the work you continue to do. Love you to the moon and back again. S

Hey Lusty One ! Congratulations on Five years of Freedom ! Lovely to see this. S

Congratulations, Breath ! and thank you so much for all your contributions through the years. I really appreciate your work. S

Hey man ! Congratulations on your six years ! Thank you for all you do here, NOPE King, The Emperor of NOPE...many more sobriquets... S

Congratulations D2e8b8, Five years is a great accomplishment and I hope you have rewards in mind. S

Hey darlin', Congratulations and thank you for blazing a trail for me to follow. Hope you are well and fine. S

Bakon ! Congratulations, baby. So happy you quit. Hope you get back to NOLA soon, it was great to see your mug and meet the Beloved and Saintly Mrs. S

Legendary Gumbo for YOU !!! Congratulations, Paul and thank you for all your support and friendship through the years. S

Congratulations, C ! Thank you for all your inspiration. You help me immeasurably. S

Congratulations big boss man ! Thank you for the quit, the support and the friggin' TRAIN ! You are a hero. S

Hello you beautiful nicotine free creatures ! Thank you for the celebratory thread. It means a lot, that's for true. I love y'all ! This was the first year I nearly forgot the date. Probably because I haven't been looking in on QTrain. Smoking ? I haven't considered it seriously for these Eight years. The first year was a slog but, I never doubted my commitment to myself, I Quit Smoking. I will never smoke again. I say this with vigilant confidence and an understanding of the nature of addiction. I end and greet each day, grateful for being nicotine free. Every day, twice a day. This is one way my vigilance manifests. Darling Newbies, Educate yourselves ! Don't be lazy about this. Research how nicotine affects the brain to comprehend what you are experiencing. Sure, the feel-good touchy-feelie stuff support is great but without grounded information about nicotine addiction it won't help you fully understand your addiction. And you should understand your addiction. It is Who You Are. Watch Joel Spitzer's videos. Joel's library is comprehensive and accessible. Use this gift ! Check out my Topics and Blogs. There are some gems hidden therein. I spent a lot of years here and love seeing the information travel to new eyes. Love to everybody. Thank y'all for your work. Sazerac's all around, and a bowl of Legendary Gumbo. It is almost getting cool enough to start on my stocks. S

In celebration of my Six Years of Freedom, I wrote this little piece, now at seven years I re-visit my commitment to NOPE. Sazerac's Simple Guide To Freedom Desire: You must want to quit more than you want to smoke Decision: Make the decision to live life without Nicotine. Commitment: Commit wholeheartedly to live without Nicotine and intend on standing by your resolve. Choice: Choose to never smoke again, EVER. This choice will empower you in many, many ways. “Once you make a decision, the universe conspires to make it happen.” — Ralph Waldo Emerson Education * Thanks to Joel Spitzer, this site and lurking around the sphere, I am still learning everything I can about Nicotine Addiction. Information is Big Power and I feel sufficiently armed to maintain my quit. Changing Focus. It took some doing but, s l o w l y, when junkie thoughts would drag me down, I began to train myself to look at something beautiful or think of beauty in some way. This retrained my brain and also gave me a bump of endorphins. I use this technique during any moments of distress or discomfort. These are not nicotine related anymore, just moments of life. The concept of H.A.L.T. * (are you Hungry (thirsty), Angry (emotional), Lonesome (bored), Tired) Nine times out of ten, smokey thoughts weren't about nicotine at all, it was my body (poor thing) hollering at me to do something life sustaining for it. Now, the signals are very clear and not related to nicotine in any way. I also want to share the benefits of Breath. Deep, calming breaths of Oxygen. An elixir to sharpen and focus your mind away from the patterns of addiction. Rewards * Not only does rewarding yourself help re-wire your brain receptors, treating yourself well and being as kind to yourself makes life nice. A little spoiling goes a long way, especially during rugged transitions of any kind. ```````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````` Quitting smoking has taught me much about myself and the human condition. The truth and honesty involved in making and keeping a commitment to myself has been profound. I know myself so much better. I have exchanged an empty bravado for an inner trust and knowledge. I am grateful to everybody here, your stories, your triumphs and your lapses, too. ALL have helped me understand the hideousness of nicotine addiction and the Power of Choice, the Preciousness of Freedom. I am so proud to be part of this community. Y'all are beautiful nicotine free creatures, my friends. S * Joel Spitzer's Quit Smoking Library * Riffing On H.A.L.T. * The Significance of Rewards p.s. To anyone beginning their journey, I would recommend this thread, 10 Ways To Effectively Use This Forum To Stop Using Nicotine

Thank you everyone ! Great to read each and every one of you beautiful nicotine free creatures. I celebrate EVERY DAY that I am nicotine free. To see 2,555 days of power accumulate is astounding to me. To all 'eyes' and newbies, Please understand that I am not a special snowflake or unique in my desire for freedom from nicotine. Everyone here has this desire and builds on their power to manifest their freedom from nicotine addiction. Nothing in my life has been as empowering as this freedom and I continue to honor and nurture it. Last year, I wrote a 'Simple Guide To Freedom', I will put in in my blog so that perhaps more will read and take heed. Quitting smoking/nicotine is not that hard in the big picture and the benefits completely outweigh temporary discomforts. Trust in yourself, commit to NOPE... and LIVE to enjoy your freedom. S

I'm home. Hopefully the last evacuation of the season and Mother Nature will be sending nice early rains to CA. Is 2020 over yet ? (asking for a friend)

I'm with a human friend and a dog friend in Vicksburg, Mississippi watching the 'S' storm. Hopefully, won't have to change my address or my name. Thank you all for your thoughts.

a NY Times article, Vaping Links To Covid Are Becoming Clear

Congratulations, John, on your three months of FREEDOM. You are building yourself a find a sturdy quit and I thank you for all your posts lighting the way for others.

I quit almost seven years ago and have become an advocate of Cold Turkey but, believe me, I support and encourage everybody in their precious quits. Any Quit Is A Good Quit. Seven years ago (and still seek today) I sought information (in a galaxy of Misinformation) and was dismayed after googling around finding numerous instances of 'responsible experts' recommending to NOT quit cold turkey. Health professionals are quick to prescribe NRT's which actually have higher failure rates than a Cold Turkey quit. What kind of idiotic advise is that ? Is this more Big Tobacco poisoning minds ? Big Drug companies pushing product ? Ignorance ? Then I found a great rap about this from our Friend, Joel Spitzer Quitting Cold Turkey was simple for me. I considered it a personal challenge. No spending any more dosh on tobacco, vape or NRT. No schedule of tapering off. No teasing the addict that is me. It was clean. It was DONE. It didn't hurt. There were gruesome days, for true but, pffttt... there will always be gruesome days about something or other. Life Is Just A Bowl Of Cherries, right ? I continue on this new fascinating adventure. Not One Puff Ever. Here is another video and resource page that debunks the notion, Isn't Quitting Smoking Cold Turkey Too Dangerous?

Our friend, Joel Spitzer, has a new video out with a page of important resources, Why Do I Smoke ? (resources) and it got me to thinking about why I ever thought smoking was enjoyable or benefitted me in some way. Now, that I understand about nicotine addiction it is very clear. I smoked because I was an addict. That is the ONLY reason. Smoking NEVER calmed me, or made me think better. Oxygen does both very well. Deep breaths are always available and consistent in their benefits. Why do YOU smoke ? Why do you want to smoke ? What lies are you still holding as truths ?

Nicotine patches are keeping your body in a state of constant withdrawal. You cannot expect the benefits of being nicotine free to kick in until your NRT program is completed and you no longer administer nicotine to your body. Please consult a health professional about your depression, you needn't feel the burden of depression while you are starting your journey to freedom. Why Am I Still Experiencing Nicotine Withdrawals