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6. Create custom t-shirts

All the great music that was created. One of my many pet peeves is

Many if not all smokers believe that smoking relieves stress. It doesn't and in fact causes it. Nicotine causes your heart rate to increase, your blood pressure to rise and sends adrenaline pulsing through your veins. This happens each time you smoke a cigarette. It's an illusion that smoking relieves stress because as smokers, we've conditioned ourselves to believe this. Look at it this way. After we put out a cigarette, the average smoker starts to experience mild withdrawal after approximately twenty minutes. Most smokers don't even realize that they're in withdrawal but start to crave another cigarette to relieve the discomforts of withdrawal. The cravings are a result of being in mild nicotine withdrawal which causes us some discomfort, makes us feel edgy, irritable etc., so when we light up another cigarette, we relieve those withdrawal symptoms and we feel better, for around 20 minutes or so. Then once the dose of nicotine wears off, the withdrawal process starts all over again and we continue to feed the addiction and keep the cycle going. So it's only natural for us to add 2+2 and come up with 7 because we've believed the lie that smoking relieves stress when in fact all it does is relieve the withdrawal symptoms (which are stressful) caused by smoking in the first place. We're using the same drug to try and fix the problem that started this whole process when we became nicotine addicts. So when things in life upset us, we automatically think that smoking will calm us down or help us cope with whatever it is that we're dealing with because that's the illusion smoking provides. The truth is that smoking causes stress. It's impossible that it can calm us down because of the effects it has on our heart rate, blood pressure and the release of adrenaline, which by the way is produced whenever we're experiencing a stressful situation or a period of extreme excitement. Nicotine is causing all of this when we smoke. Stress is a normal part of life and so is feeling extremely stressed or excited. Imagine that feeling of fight or flight (caused by the release of adrenaline which causes your blood pressure to increase, heart rate to increase etc.) as your body readies itself for whatever it is that's in front of you. Now imagine smoking a cigarette at this time. It can only further elevate your heart rate, blood pressure etc. It has the opposite effect of something that can calm you or relieve stress. Adrenaline is awesome. It's what makes us survive and thrive at certain things. But relieve stress or calm us down? Impossible. Once we stop smoking we're better equipped to deal with life and all the joys, pleasures, boredom and stress that it brings. Smoking actually ruins our peaceful moments in life by causing our adrenal glands to prepare us for "fight or flight" and escalates the stressful times by doing the same. When we smoke, are we ever really experiencing all that life has to offer us? Are we even capable of living in the "Now" and protecting our much needed down time to recharge? Are we able to meditate or stop the chatter or chaos that so often fills our minds and consumes our thoughts? Can we experience the calming effects of a still mind and body? The other evening it was around 4°F with a wind chill of -10°F. The moon was giving off just enough light that I could see the trees and sky through my windows. I was laying on the couch in front of the windows and was completely relaxed. It was quiet and as I released all of the stresses, to-do-lists and thoughts of what tomorrow might bring; my mind was still and quiet. The chatter was gone as there would be time for all that later. But for those 30 minutes, my mind was still and all the stressful thoughts were gone. This allowed my body to relax and just enjoy "The Now" for there will never, ever be another moment exactly the same. I want to experience all of those "Now" moments that I can. Smoking and constant withdrawal would have never allowed me to experience this inner state of peace and quiet. Never again will smoking take away these much needed quiet times that allow me to grow and be the best that I can be for myself and my daughter for without her, I cannot experience all that life has for me, just for Now. I Smoke Because I Like Smoking This video discusses how people who often say the smoke because they like smoking can come to realize that they really smoke because they don't like not smoking. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nCkt_ajgTQE Link to original post: https://www.quittrain.com/topic/4504-is-smoking-stopping-you-from-experiencing-all-that-life-has-to-offer-marylandquitter/

@Kate18, as we know someone will make all kinds of excuses to keep using nicotine. We've all been there. You were smart to come here and post instead of believing that podcaster. Now go get some rest!

Glad your daughter was there for you @Kate18, have a nice sleep and I hope you feel better once you're refreshed. Good job posting and saving your awesome quit!

@Kate18, you know in your rational mind that smoking won't work that's why you posted. Can you try using one of your tools you used when you first quit to help you past the craves?

Yay!!! Happy two weeks @robin0212. Yes, I had that something's missing feeling when I first quit. I think we all do because smoking takes up so much time. Quitting can also feel like the death of a friend and you could be going through the phases of grief. I highlighted a great post in my Pick of the Week that you may be interested in: https://www.quittrain.com/blogs/entry/1025-the-grief-cycle/

reciprocity Posted June 30, 2017 Over the next week we have Canada Day on July 1st and Independence Day in the U.S., July 4th. That means lots of parties with friends and relatives. Time to celebrate summer and rightly so! Just have a plan in advance for how you will handle these get together occasions if they are your first since quitting. You deserve to have a good time but you need to think about what the dangers might be to you so you can avoid them. There will be drinking and some people will be smoking so just give it some thought before hand so you know what you need to do to maintain your quit. Myself; I look forward to these occasions so I can tactfully work into conversation that I have quit smoking. I'm proud of what I've done and I know some smokers will envy what I've been able to do because they haven't taken the first step yet like we have. A few beers doesn't effect me negatively but it does for some. You have to know what YOUR triggers are and plan around them. There's been more than a few quits lost due to alcohol and smokers unexpectedly offering up a cigarette. Just think about it in advance and have a plan on what YOU need to do to maintain your quit. I sincerely hope you all enjoy your smokeless holidays!!. Link to original post: https://www.quittrain.com/topic/8791-summers-here-have-a-plan/

4. Create scrapbook pages.

2. Spray paint your house numbers on the curb

Yep, by going through it a few times. That's it. And after you get past that first one it gets easier the next time. Surprisingly enough it was the easiest crave to get past for a lot of us. I used my air cigarette a lot and it worked so good at tricking my mind into thinking it was getting the real thing. Treat it exactly like you would an actual cigarette, taking nice deep inhales (air).

Close but I'm thinking your addiction is grasping at straws to remain a smoker! Why not try what your user name implies?...................

When vaping first came out it was thought to be a safer alternative to smoking however since then they've found that it is just as dangerous as smoking cigarettes. And the long term studies are yet to be seen on just how dangerous it is. Furthermore there's no way of regulating how much nicotine you're consuming so many end up with more nicotine than they would have by smoking cigarettes. I encourage you to look at our vaping forum to educate yourself on it before deciding to do this. It is not an acceptable form of NRT.

I killed a spider last night for the first time in years. Normally I catch and release them outside or give them a chance to get away but it was 2:30 in the morning and he was just dangling from a picture frame right above my night stand turning in circles AND he was big!

10. Adhere fake eyelashes Stencils

Yay @Sandi149, Congratulations on a month quit! That's GREAT!! Maybe you can reward yourself with some good walking shoes?

Congratulations @Brioski on four months quit, that's fantastic! I love seeing how supportive you are and I'm sure you've already helped many see that they can quit too

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Soberjulie Posted April 16, 2014 How do you feel about a friend who has to go everywhere with you? Not only does he tag along all the time, but since he is so offensive and vulgar, you become unwelcome when with him. He has a peculiar odor that sticks to you wherever you go. Others think both of you stink. He controls you totally. When he says jump, you jump. Sometimes in the middle of a blizzard or storm, he wants you to come to the store and pick him up. You would give your spouse hell if he or she did that to you all the time, but you can't argue with your friend. Sometimes, when you are out at a movie or play he says he wants you to go stand in the lobby with him and miss important scenes. Since he calls all the shots in your life, you go. Your friend doesn't like your choice of clothing either. Instead of politely telling you that you have lousy taste, he burns little holes in these items so you will want to throw them out. Sometimes, he tires of the furniture and gets rid of it too. Occasionally, he gets really nasty and decides the whole house must go. He gets pretty expensive to support. Not only is his knack of property destruction costly, but you must pay to keep him with you. In fact, he will cost you thousands of dollars over your lifetime. And you can count on one thing, he will never pay you a penny in return. Often at picnics you watch others playing vigorous activities and having lots of fun doing them. But your friend won't let you. He doesn't believe in physical activity. In his opinion, you are too old to have that kind of fun. So he kind of sits on your chest and makes it difficult for you to breathe. Now you don't want to go off and play with other people when you can't breathe, do you? Your friend does not believe in being healthy. He is really repulsed by the thought of you living a long and productive life. So, every chance he gets he makes you sick. He helps you catch colds and flu. Not just by running out in the middle of the lousy weather to pick him up at the store. He is more creative than that. He carries thousands of poisons with him which he constantly blows in your face. When you inhale some of them, they wipe out cilia in your lungs which would have helped you prevent these diseases. But colds and flu are just his form of child's play. He especially likes diseases that slowly cripple you - like emphysema. He considers this disease great. Once he gets you to have this, you will give up all your other friends, family, career goals, activities - everything. You will just sit home and caress him, telling him what a great friend he is while you desperately gasp for air. But eventually your friend tires of you. He decides he no longer wishes to have your company. Instead of letting you go your separate ways, he decides to kill you. He has a wonderful arsenal of weapons behind him. In fact, he has been plotting your death since the day you met him. He picked all the top killers in society and did everything in his power to ensure you would get one of them. He overworked your heart and lungs. He clogged up the arteries to your heart, brain, and every other part of your body. In case you were too strong to succumb to this, he constantly exposed you to cancer causing agents. He knew he would get you sooner or later. Well, this is the story of your "friend," your cigarette. No real friend would do all this to you. Cigarettes are the worst possible enemies you ever had. They are expensive, addictive, socially unacceptable, and deadly. Consider all this and - NEVER TAKE ANOTHER PUFF! Joel © Joel Spitzer 1990 Link to original post: https://www.quittrain.com/topic/709-my-cigarette-my-friend/

Hey @robin0212, don't forget to update your profile with your new quit date since you relapsed. Part of the quit process is owning your relapses too. Maybe even get a ticker so you can see how much you're giving up by relapsing. They are a great tool at keeping our quits just to watch those numbers add up!

Hope you guys have a great day!

Congratulations!

I don't see any tickers in your signature @robin0212. Here's the directions with screenshots to help you https://www.quittrain.com/topic/15042-creating-a-ticker/

I LOVE banana Laffy taffy @robin0212

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