Reciprocity

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How long have you smoked for @kenzie_peyton? Think about how many times you have unconsciously conditioned your brain to believe that satisfying that horrible withdrawal feeling you always got after time passed from smoking you last cig. was indeed pleasurable. Dozens, hundreds, thousands of times over the years. And when you got that first hit, your brain is thinking ... Ahhhh. That right there is conditioning yourself to believe smoking is "enjoyable". IT'S NOT! it's simply getting relief from mounting withdrawal symptoms setting in because you're addicted to nicotine. When we decide to quit, we are telling our addiction; go ahead! Bring on the withdrawals ... do your best! I have committed to ignoring you and I know with time, those withdrawal symptoms will fade (because my mentors on the train have said so!!). And yes; we all used smoking as a reward for all sorts of things and that's part of the reason quitting and feeling comfortable about it takes awhile. I quit in January when it was cold and snowy where I live. I wondered what would happen the first time I cut my lawn the following spring because I ALWAYS used a smoke afterward as a "reward". Turns out, by the time it came around it wasn't such a big deal afterall. Instead of lighting up a smoke, I grabbed a cold beer, sat out on my deck and breathed in the wonderful smell of fresh cut grass - something I could never smell as a smoker. The very difficult times of your early quit do not last all that long in the grand scheme of things. Start making a concentrated effort to think of all the good things that quitting will bring to you and stop listening to the lies your addiction wants you to beieve. Make a list and look at it often: Breathing better; really tasting your food again, smelling better to others, saving a pile of $$, not looking like some kind of outcast to non-smokers as you stand outside puffing away, and best of all ... FREEDOM! Freedom from nicotine running your life each & every day. That's HUGE!!! We all enjoy those things and more as quitters. Why not come join us? Oh yeah; post all you want. We all did when we were in the midst of our withdrawal days. We know how upside down life can be during that time. If you find yourself up at ungodly hours looking for something to do, go to the Games Page. That's a good place to waste a bit of time keeping your mind occupied

OO

Looks like a lovely spot ya got there

I know people ....... very powerful people

Lol on the standard comment! That's all I'll drive and always have done. Mind you I was born well before 2000 If I go to a dealership for any maintenance, I usually have to drive it into the repair bay for them I never thought about having the stick by my left hand though. Hummm ... not sure I'd like that as I'm right handed. Suppose I could get used to it with time.

Sorry to hear things are rough on the work front at the moment Stew. Hope you get some good new people soon and are able to keep your deadling. Stressful for sure. You're on track though for a huge life long improvement on your health and wealth by quitting

Congrats @Stewbum!! 10 whole months ... not long now till the big one Another reason to party - Yay!!

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Great pics! Enjoy the Wedding and get together. The first pic of the divided highway struck me as odd somehow. Then it dawned on me that the cars on either side are driving in the wrong direction compared to what I'm used to seeing here where I live. Guess I forgot you must drive on the left in Australia

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Yeah, I was there too early on in my quit. Those damn cravings just never stopped. One ran into the other I guess. It was terrible because it seems as if it's never gonna end but you just have to bear down and get through that phase. It won't last long and although it feels horrible right now, that won't last as long as it semems at the moment. Remember the only rule: Just don't smoke - ever!

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Nope!

It's always a joy and an honor to welcome a 1 Year quitter to the Lido Deck Club! Today is a MAJOR milestone for you but quitting is a lifelong job so I hope you soak it all in today as you relax by the pool sipping some chilled Chardonnay. Remaining smoke free for life is pretty easy from here on providing you remain vigilant Congrats @QuittingGirl!!

Nope! Not on @QuittingGirl 1 year Quitaversary!!

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Got my swim suit on and ready for the cannon ball contest poolside!

Welcome back Kenzie. I remember you well. What Jillar said is true. It's gonna be down right crappy for a period of time. There's no way around it you just gotta stop yourself when you think you're ready to thow in the towel. Sometimes it's a toss up as to what you'll do but that's when ya gotta dig deeper into that empty emotional tank and forge ahead with your quit. That's how you achieve success in quitting. That truly difficult time won't last forever, although sometimes it seems lik it might. Hold tight to your commitment to improve your life and just get it done at all costs! We all go through it so it IS doable! We don't have anything you don't; that's for sure.

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We're taking her out for a test sail tomorrow, now that the refurb is done! Let's start packing in supplies for the Lido Deck Party! It's almost here.

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4 I'm giving @QuittingGirl a trophy just for hanging in against an imovable force (us sticks!).