PixelSketch

I've been pretty much craving-free since about the third-ish week. I still get a quick smoking thought once in a blue moon, but I laugh at it, and 'poof', it's gone. Just like that. Which, honestly, still shocks me. I never thought I would ever be able to quit. And if by some miracle I did, I was pretty sure I'd be tortured and miserable. I'm thankful every day for this quit, and for this board. So things are good. But the other day I had a really strong and very persistent thought of smoking that I just couldn't shake. I knew I wouldn't smoke anyway. I'm strong in my quit, and I refuse to give it up. There are far too many benefits to being smoke-free that I'm loving so much. I've no desire to go back. But it really annoyed me that I couldn't get rid of this. All day, the thought of smoking just danced around and around my head. Grrrrr! I finally had some time at the end of the day and I sat down with a cup of tea and went back over my day to see if I could find the trigger. Well, it turns out, I didn't just associate smokes with the beginning or end of a task, as a sort of reward, or treat. I didn't smoke just when I was stressed or bored. I also reached for one when I was REALLY happy or excited about something. Ahhhh....click click click. It all fell into place. I had had a really good day. In the middle of a super crazy project, I unexpectedly had a few personal and professional things just work out in a way I never saw coming. And the sense of excitement, future possibilities as a result, and celebration produced some strong positive feelings. And it turned out I coped with strong intense feelings, even happy ones, by deadening them with a smoke. So, once I realized this, I needed to test the theory out. So I just gave in to my feelings. I cranked some music and danced my excitement out. And I let myself really, truly feel those feelings. To let myself be really happy. To not worry that something would go wrong or it wouldn't last. Just feel it. And guess what? The day-long craving finally went away. And another trigger busted. I don't need The 'Happy' Smoke, or The 'Reward' Smoke, or The 'Stress' Smoke, or The 'I Just Ate Too Much Pizza' Smoke. I just need to let myself experience whatever it is I'm feeling or experiencing. I need to own my feelings. I'm responsible for them. Not some rolled up plant in a piece of paper. :D **On another note....I MISS YOU GUYS!!!! :wub: :wub: :wub: :wub: I have about three-ish weeks left of crazy hours on this project and then I'll be back here on the regular to help kick some stick butt. LOL Although I'm happy to see the chicks have been doing just fine! YAY!! xx And it's soo great to see so many new members hop aboard. WELCOME!! Can't wait to get to know you! xx

It's always a good time to road trip across Canada!! :D

Oh, the Mounties! Oh YESSSSS! ;)

LOL I think you're just going to have to see for yourself in order to believe it. "To Canada, with haste!" :D

:ok: :yahoo: :dirol: :music:

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Congrats to you and hubby Beazel!!! That's so wonderful! Happy Anniversary!!!! :D :D :D

Congrats NOPEster!! Awesome job!! :yahoo: :yahoo: :yahoo:

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The Canadians. Definitely the Canadians. :P :P :P :P :P :P :P

...and I also declare that I miss you guys!! Few more weeks of insanity. :)

Hi AgaveGirl! Thank you and Welcome!! :D I'm so happy you've come aboard the train!!

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Just for you Bakon.... :D

WAIT A MINUTE....there's a moose in that picture??!!?!?!?! :P

Congratulations Dee! :) It's so nice that you are able to realize your dreams! Not everyone will always understand, but you are doing this for you and it will bring joy to many others as well. Don't let anything bring you down! :)

You just zipped through 1/4 of a year!!! Nicely done R!!!!! :D Wishing you a very happy THREE MONTHS smoke free!! WHOOHOOO! You've shown true strength, and courage and been an enormous inspiration to us all. This quit looks good on you! :D I'm so proud of you! Celebrate! Plan an awesome reward and take a moment to reflect on how far you've come. :) Also, I believe your 3-month anniversary is when we retire you from the game if you're a stick, right chicks? :P

Wow, Tennessee! All the respect for your Mom!! I was the opposite. I was a teeny tiny thing, three-weeks-early back in '73. When my Dad saw me, his reaction was just two words: "That's it?" LOL

Great idea for a thread R!! :wub: Focusing on positive changes really helped me out too at the start and even now. The more time passes, the more positives there are. The more you focus on those, the better and easier it will get! :) I found that "smoker's cough" going away was the first big positive I noticed too! It felt so good to laugh without getting cut off by a cough!! And I LOVE to laugh, so that was huge.

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CANADA'S IN DA HOUSE!! :D You guys are so sweet - thank you! I've missed you! :wub: :wub: :wub: Wall or no wall --- I'd smuggle all of you over the border! ;) All is good - Stewie's right - just real life. I'm sorry I worried you, but got a bunch of last minute directives I needed to take care of. I'm down to the last few weeks before a big project is due and, as is the way, despite months of advance work and notice etc., the client just seems to have realized that there is a deadline. LOL PANIC. Bottom line. I'm going to be pulling some long days/nights in the next month and I may not be here as much or as regularly as I would like. But, no worries. The quit is still really solid. YAY! I'm going to catch up on what I've missed here for a bit! Also need to go see what's going on in the game...the sticks are probably in need of a spanking. :P

C'mon Boo - we've already seen your sausage many times over. LOL No need to be shy. Now, go post something. ;)

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I'm so sorry Pumpkin. HUGS. It's so hard to lose those close to us and it's hard when you're not there. Take comfort in the memories and the experiences you all shared in life. Love is precious. xx