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jillar

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Everything posted by jillar

  1. Ladybug Posted August 22, 2014 · IP I am a "mountain girl" and I know a thing or two about hiking. I was born in a small village in the Alps, directly on the boarder between Italy and Austria, hiking was mandatory -not optional. There was an old joke going around about babies being born with hiking boots, skies and a backpack and I assume its still being told until this day. Not so far off the truth, I have been told I could ski before I actually walked. Sometimes tourists came to town and stayed for a while in houses like ours. They paid for "room and board" and were treated like King and Queens. Some of us were "hired" for guidance and it was serious business. We all knew the way through the forest and through the mountains; we knew what to show them and where to go to. All of us were able to guide them, however the hiking part was something they had to do on their own -very often for our entertainment (if I may say so). At first I was just the assistant, but then I got my first group alone when I was 15 and I was filled with pride. I planed the tour for days; I knew in which cabin we would eat, where we would rest and I packed my backpack with care. I knew from others that I could run into problems with the tourist-folks. A first-aid kit was needed, because some of them would get blisters as big as tennis balls, just because they went hiking with brand new fancy boots (really?) Some emergency food, flashlights, flares and some other "stuff" and I was ready. I got up at the crack of dawn and collected my tourists and off we went. I showed them the mountain in the distance, the one we would all climb and I got a mixed reactions. Some were excited and couldn't wait to be up there and some felt overwhelmed and started doubting themselves just by looking at it. It only took one or two hours depending on traffic (hayrides and tractor pick-ups) and we reached our destiny and could start our real hiking tour. The beginning is always the hardest, especially when it starts with a steep rise right away. I could hear them huffing and puffing and some wanted to turn around right from the start -like that was an option. It got better after a few hours, we left the treeline behind us and hiked in a steady pace, surrounded by beautiful vegetation and animals. There wasn't much complaining anymore, they pointed out the different views and enjoyed the tour. We took some breaks, drunk fresh cow milk and ate the apples and butter-sandwiches that we had packed. Even the shortest break somehow recharged the "complaint-department" and some of them started whining again. They wanted to "turn around" and just go back, they were complaining that their bones were hurting and that the tour was just too much, much more then they expected it to be. They really didn't have a choice, turning around was only a option in emergencies and they knew it. Some people are just born complainers, they will find a "hair in the soup" before the soup is even served. They expected shortcuts, more breaks and they were wishing for a cable lift and an easy transport right to the top. Of course that didn't happen. I was a tough girl, cracked the verbal whip (or played just dumb) and we continued our hiking tour. A few hours later we made it to the top and were rewarded with a breathtaking view. Some just sat there quietly and took it all in, others made a big fuzz out of it. But we all were proud that we made it to the top. Now everybody was just in "awe" and even the one who complained the most, were finally quiet and just filled with pride and joy. Numerous pictures were taken, later on the evidence when they would talk about their hiking tour back home. I often read "I just stopped smoking...please pray for me" and I never really knew what to say, until today when I found this quote. "There are too many people praying for mountains of difficulty to be removed, when what they really need is courage to climb them." Isn't the road to freedom of an addiction like a hiking tour in the mountains? You don't need prayers, you need courage and strengths. Start hiking and don't look at it as being a difficulty, look at it as being the road to success. Hike without looking back and without complaints, look forward and think about how you will feel when you reach the top. No shortcuts, no help from a cable lift...just you and your addiction. Take it all in and look forward! Guidance is available at places like https://www.quittrain.com -you don't have to "hike" alone, other ex-smokers will be on your side. It's similar to the AA meetings just online and it feels so good to talk to people who understand how you feel, because they all have started there on the foot of the mountain ones. In the future when I will read "I stopped smoking, please pray for me" a link to this post will be my answer Link to original post: https://www.quittrain.com/topic/2384-the-story-of-a-mountain-girl/
  2. jillar

    Shall We Rhyme?

    Blimp flying above
  3. jillar

    chicks or sticks

    -7
  4. Blue meat probably tastes rancid Ggttf
  5. jillar

    Shall We Rhyme?

    Poo poo stinks
  6. jillar

    Damm virus

    We also have Emilio Estevez and his wife who own a wine shop and Kurt Russell who owns a wine bar in Los Alamos.
  7. jillar

    Damm virus

    Oh yes in 2010 but his winery lives on and is a favorite here
  8. jillar

    Shall We Rhyme?

    Leprechaun hid gold
  9. jillar

    chicks or sticks

    -7
  10. Some people are sweeter than others When does a pond become a lake?
  11. jillar

    chicks or sticks

    -5
  12. jillar

    Damm virus

    We have Fess Parker winery here @Katgirl lol Daniel Boone!
  13. That's a fair trade for sure @reciprocity
  14. Believe me @LindaI know that attitude BIG TIME! But I also know that if I did smoke I would still have that attitude but now I also have my addiction back. And quite honestly, no thanks! Have you smelled someone who has stale smoke all over them recently. Gawd I did and it was nasty! He stunk up our whole front porch Our addiction is going to try to use any way it can to sneak back in and knowing this gives you the upper hand. Your life is no longer controlled by nicotine
  15. @Linda, you'll get past this one just like you did last time except this time DON'T GO BUY CIGARETTES!! I too believe when its your time its your time but going out an ex smoker will be much easier then dealing with needing a nicotine fix as well! Vent and get it all out. Go read your thought of the day thread, go to Off The Record and post on our cuss thread. Just DON'T SMOKE!!!
  16. Since its already the 7th in Australia, Happy two monthaversary @Robbie, you are doing great! Don't forget to treat yourself today to something special
  17. Me too Kat! That AND Santa Maria Style BBQ EVERY weekend! I much rather put my tri-tip in a crockpot or use it in a beef stew than bbq it!
  18. jillar

    chicks or sticks

    Woohoo!!!!!! Well done
  19. jillar

    chicks or sticks

    -19
  20. jillar

    chicks or sticks

    -19
  21. jillar

    chicks or sticks

    -17
  22. @Gus, I ALWAYS mix my scrambled eggs with ketchup its THE only way to eat them!
  23. I discovered frozen peppers and onions and tried adding them to scrambled eggs....OMG top with ketchup and its freaking yum!

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QuitTrain®, a quit smoking support community, was created by former smokers who have a deep desire to help people quit smoking and to help keep those quits intact.  This place should be a safe haven to escape the daily grind and focus on protecting our quits.  We don't believe that there is a "one size fits all" approach when it comes to quitting smoking.  Each of us has our own unique set of circumstances which contributes to how we go about quitting and more importantly, how we keep our quits.

 

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