Still winning

Spurs!! oooh, my bad :) Talking of football. I actually remember taking a book out of the school library and telling my Dad I wanted to support Everton cause their blue kit colour was lovely. My Mum was Arsenal and my Dad Tottenham...he threatened me (didn't even bribe lol) and I'm Spurs :) It'll be a grudge match and as a female I'm rooting for you lol. x

nope. x

Also ease up on the thieving...she came back with a whole lotta stuff she didn't leave with...... Look away Bakon!

You sound jolly and smoke free, all good :)

nope

This is a wonderful day to celebrate!! Utterly chuffed to bits (really delighted in proper English) for you!! Welcome to the boat club my friend and I think it's your round!!! :friends: :drinks: Cheers!! x

That's beautiful Gem. I love the signing the register and entry to dinner photo's. The black on the bridesmaids combined with the ivory/black on the littlie is stunning! You of course are beautiful and totally steal the show :) Was it a good day? Everyone behave? The venue looks marvellous and is that a church you married at? Ooooo love a wedding :D :wub:

Massive news!! Really delighted for you. Ease and flow with life, love it :) x

NO NO NO!! Don't you dare start doing that. No guilt, you were repressing and now you're dealing. And not smoking. This is perfect stuff to teach your daughter!! Trust me ;) My kids love that I don't smoke. They abhor the smell and we statistically stand a far higher chance of our children never being smokers. Setting the standards I call it. We are powerful beings, free spirits who must not be mistreated. If people can up their game then fine, but if they can't, we are worth more. Chin up, chest out, marching :) x

Fabulous!! Fresh starts and fresh opportunities. What will be elsewhere will be and in my experience, you will be great no matter what - if you choose to be great :) Sweet freedom :) x

You are all kinds of awesome, and 3 years free is pretty cool my friend. Who would ever forget you anyway. A handsome brute of a man :) Great job, and on the suspicious (window licker, frikkin really?!?!) support you offer ;) Love ya! xx

Ok, well I've kinda seen this style of quitting before...the gung ho, balls out (well no balls but the theory is the same) quit :D . Thank you for being so brave and honest. It shows true courage to accept that even in your dark moments you DO actually trust someone/somewhere to be yourself, or the part of it you choose to share. I literally sit here reading your posts thinking C'mon Cher, you got this, you are stronger than even you know!! And I like where this quit is going to take you, so stick with it ok. Because for every victory, even the snotfest driven ones, you come out stronger, more together, more confident...and it really is worth ANY dodgy thoughts. What you're feeling, drunk or sober, is how it finally feels to be winning battles. but yeah, tough thing is some of them need fighting. Some don't actually, make sure you take a note emotionally that some of the quit is like a free fall - that balance of tough and easy is what keeps us moving forward. You are amazing and doing amazing...you are doing it already, you're a non smoker, huzzah!! But day by day, just don't smoke today and tomorrow we live to fight another day ey. I hope that makes sense, my English'isms confuse many! Sending strength chick, go Cher!! xx

nope

Late but congrats for 9 months of freedom and good on you for celebrating! Epic win!! Massive congrats to you chickie. xx

I never saw this celebration so I'm sorry for not responding before. The thing about quitting is it never gets old for me. For sure, some people just put them down and they don't smoke now, Chris (my other half) was very like that. So to have here really mattered to me. I was literally in a house where 80 per day were being smoked across two people and I had many a stand off moments, smoking would have been easier but I finally understood I had a choice and how to make the right one, with education and support. it was you guys telling me to respect myself and my quit that made me hold on more times then you'll know. I was a bare knuckle quitter type for sure and I'm pleased that makes me smile now. There was a period of time there that I regretted not buying shares in tissue companies! So the outlet was a good thing - as is the swear thread, creativity is important to me ;) The time and the money back are utter wins for me every single day! I can literally save for anything I want to do or have now and this was never the case. I lived hand to mouth for years to enable me to smoke. I adore everything I spend money on because I've never had it before! The message of self care to my children is important to me as a mother, setting an example is crucial for my peace of mind. Genuinely, thank you, for the journey and the message. xx

nope

bit early... but nope... for half hours time

I have nothing. I have been very good and anyone who says anything to the contrary is a repressed liar. Oh Doreen, are you watching bear grylls too.... I'm in lust!!

Not even then, men need to look manly ...and tall. I dunno, are you short lol, I didn't mean to infer they were your bro's :) My point was the movie!! An I prefer the term vertically challenged rather than short ya know so I don't think it would be me starting that losing battle at a mighty 5ft 3.5" ;)

One of yours??

No, they are short. I'll just join in on the fermented fruit part of the plan :)

Wouldn't pygmy men be a bit short...I mean if we're dreaming don't we want them brutish, tall and strong? Off to google pygmy men in case I'm missing a trick though.....

Amazing work!! massive congrats on your two weeks smoke free, great job!! xx

nope

I love the straight talking style and I think your therapist is right, you'll be ok. Really well done on making sure your quit is secure amoung all the turbulence you are clearly facing. The thing is, the chemicals and toxins in cigs affected us, of course they did, I mean at a base level we understand they weren't good. So them leaving your system, along with the learning to cope without a crutch like smoking - is gonna cause some moves emotionally and a drop in moods. It helped me to understand that nicotine caused a fake endorphin rush (the feel good thing in our brain). So basically nicotine coming in gave a rush that diminished as the nicotine dropped, like a never ending cycle. You now see the only way to stop it is to completely stop nicotine. and yes, that is a good thing. There are some natural mood enhancers that you can use alongside your therapy without interfering though. For anxiety a good one is to have a mantra, like repeating to yourself I am safe and well when you start to flare up. For all you say gratitude is a strong one to use as well. I don't mean bounce out of bed singing oh what a wonderful morning! Keep it real, so more days then was reasonable the best I could manage was I like having blue eyes. Other days I was more about a person or thing I had in my life - the purpose is when you start to feel it's all a bit rubbish, you remember that one thing you decided on to say it's not ALL rubbish kinda thing. Lastly at the risk of sounding woo woo, meditation is the single biggest win for naturally lifting a mood. Moving your body will create natural endorphin rushes as well. xx