Sazerac

I am so happy witnessing your quit and reading your progress, Iml. It is really great. These three and one half weeks have shown us all that quitting smoking/nicotine is possible and rewarding. Taking breaks, especially 'thinking' breaks took some re-training for me. Smoking and thinking was a pattern to be replaced and turns out to be much more productive than a nicotine infused think. I would sit on my back steps like I did when I smoked and breathed, cleansing breaths, slow breaths. Five or six deep conscious breaths laid the groundwork for some really good thinking, problem solving etc. For me it required focus and intent and ferocity in the beginning. After a while, in fact, you may already be finding, your oxygen infused breaks are your new improved groove. I'm wondering if you are still faking a happy smile with your wine in the evening. It was funny imagining your grimace turning into a defiant grin. S

Congratulations, Opah. Hope you are well and staying free. s

Thanks Reci for keeping such good track of everybody, you really made a huge difference. Thank you so much ! and it will just be great having Jo take the wheel. We are in good hands.

Congratulations on your quit, Kate. You are doing great and are in the first crush of detox. Remember to breathe and keep an eye on your blood sugar. Post often and never hesitate to call on us, we are watching you and cheering you on.

I am so glad, bebe. I couldn't feel more relieved. You are a star ! and thank you for your huge contributions here, we love you so much. s

Good evening, Kate. Congratulations on your quit ! There are bound to be a few moments when you feel sorely tempted to smoke, you can power through them. You already know how and smoking is over, bebe, you won't get the 'ahhh' moment anymore, you will just feel like shit. You will have failed yourself and that ain't where it's at. You are stronger than any crave on the planet. Talk to us, go play some games to cheer your up. Distract yourself. Go take a rockin' hot shower. You will win.

This makes me really happy Iml. Your quit is really tight, focused and tight. Stay there, it will only get better and better, you'll see.

Thanks, Iml, The 'search' isn't what it should be imo, if we used more specific tags we would probably help the process. I'm bad about tags. I have more success finding a member that resonated with me and looking up all their topics but, I know I have the advantage of my lurking and active years to sample. I'll also turn back the pages in 'discussions' and pull up nuggets that way. As far as helpful goes, Iml, your blog is extremely helpful, I can't stress this enough. Your personal experience and honesty will resonate with many nicotine addicts for years to come. We follow the same path, all of us, decide to quit, educate yourself, power through the withdrawal, celebrate your success, tell your story, support others when you can and have some fun.

Congratulations on your Nine Months of Freedom, Grund. How marvelous !

I am posting this because she has really been on my mind, she is a smart and vital woman, our Tiffany, and I really like her. I am hoping she will see this and come out to tell us of her free life. I could have easily missed a solid success when I went on hiatus and remain hopeful. The last post on this thread is optimistic. The other reason I bump this is because maybe someone out there will listen to this story, hear the advice and concern, and use it to craft their own successful quit. I know we all have dealt with copping to the addiction in various degrees but, Tiff had a really tough time admitting she was a Nicotine Addict. These pages intimate a glimpse into the routes our denial will take to maintain the addiction and you will see how we all came out to cheer a quitter on with fuzzy, tough and all love between. It is a long thread (11 pages) and contains a treasure trove of truth telling, as always take what you need and leave the rest. Tiffany's Quit

I'm in the Tardis in case it is needed, Peace Train and your new free spirit animal joined me.

Freedom from addiction is far reaching and incredibly delicious. You are a hero, Iml, with superpowers and will have a blast re-discovering them all.

Thanks for not mentioning any names Iml, lol. I wasn't telling you anything you weren't telling yourself, it was just that the voice of the addict was using its outdoor voice, lying in your ear. We all heard that voice in our quits, a loud, ugly, lying voice trying to maintain the addiction. I am so glad you started listening to your own voice, your own strong and purposeful voice.

Congratulations Kermit on your first Four Months of Freedom. This is excellent, your work is appreciated. Thank you for quitting smoking.

Congratulations, Peace Train. This is a great day for you, for all of us. You have a great quit ! and give such great help. Thank you for quitting smoking. s

bumpity

I think addressing one's addiction is the essential key to a successful quit. Denial is no longer useful and knowledge becomes your ally. I had to embrace the truth that I was an nicotine addict and once I did, the house of cards came tumbling down, just like you, Iml.

Of course, you are looking forward to it ! Quitting an addiction gives the power back to you where it belongs ! It is going to be a stone gas watching your journey, Iml, it'll be a joyful one, your head is in exactly the right place.

Lust, This is a great post. I feel/felt exactly as you. Not smoking should become a 100% non-issue. I'm not sure but, by acquiring our nicotine addiction, I feel we may have crossed the rubicon on that one. In fact, this is the truth. Sure, craves fade into oblivion and temptations are empty and hollow, smoking does become a non-issue but, can we or should we ever be 100% clear ? Lately, approaching 6 years, I had my very tiny memory lapse, I forgot that I smoked. I had a nano second when smoking left my brain completely. I was euphoric. It also scared me a little because I need to remember I am an addict, this is essential to my survival as a free person. Even though I harbor a bit of resentment towards my addict self and the small variable percentage of addict consciousness I can appreciate that this is now in position to assure I never smoke again. I use the signposts. Thank you for writing this L. It is full of truth and conviction. Nice quit, by the way. s

early yesterday, a closer glimpse of freedom, did I used to smoke ?

Hello darling smoke free creatures, Let me share some good news. While I've been busy around here, reading deep down in the archives, writing some and trying to stay current with you bevy of beauties, smoking- nicotine-addiction and other keywords are not far from my fingertips and float about in my head, what can I do, where might I be helpful etc. but, hey y'all ! Yesterday I had a profound moment, I didn't remember. For a nano second, I lost the memory that I ever smoked. This was highly significant. I had to shake my head and remind myself, 'yes you friggin' knucklehead, you used to smoke'. I never thought that this would leave my consciousness. Older quits have mentioned this, but I didn't believe them. Now I know. Mind you, it was only a momentary memory lapse but, it was my first and v. cool. In light of this glimpse to even greater freedom, I wanted to share this with y'all and throw some hope around. Living without nicotine makes life better in many unexpected ways. I know that my quit of 5+ years seems like an unfathomable amount of time to younger quitters but, don't lose sight of the prize, the years fly by, and you reap endless rewards. Protect your quits, be kind to yourselves, S Sally Mae Art Writings

Congratulations to our hot, hot capsicum, Ren. Happy two months of Freedom, sweetie. All of us are so proud of you.

Ego; I will not let myself down. This is completely out of the question. Education; I know too much and still learning about the perils nicotine addiction. Memory; I refuse to go through detox again.

from way back in the stacks