Kate18

For a couple of years I attempted to quit using gum, mints, and patches (not all at the same time). Also tried tapering, i.e., reducing number of cigarettes each day. I wasn't able to stick to any of it. I went cold turkey. I rummaged around in my mind for a strong enough reason to quit. Then I threw away every bit of nicotine product in the house. I didn't go to the store or the mini-mart where I used to buy cigarettes. Done. There were some tough moments, now and then. It's having a strong enough reason, I think. The brief moments of temptation are weak, compared to my reason for quitting. You can do this!

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Kel, good for you! Congratulations on this newest milestone, and more and more to come.

Congratulations, catlover!!! It's awesome to see the ticker adding on the days, and then YEARS!!! Enjoy your success.

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Congratulations on Five Years!!! When I grow up, I want to be just like you!

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Hmmm, yes, I can see how that must have sounded, reading back over it. She's six months pregnant and is supposed to be keeping quiet--she's not able to do cleaning that involves bending over, and had to take care with packing. She had several difficult pregnancies, with two ending in C-sections. The third one didn't end well, sad to say. This is probably their last child, and they don't want to risk anything that could cause premature labor or worse. They also have a motor-legs 1+ year old boy. She's 39, so still young, but not the endless energy of a 25 year old. She was managing the renovations for the upcoming house sale, plus frequent communication with the handful of people that she's formed relationships with online and by phone, making arrangements for temporary housing for the family and their three Border collies--very tough with the dogs, starting the search for a new house to buy, and I'm sure a lot I don't even know about. Whew! And she homeschools the eight year old through all of this.

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My pregnant daughter, her husband, and their two children flew to Texas day before yesterday. They'd had enough of mask mania and living under lockdown here in Seattle. I'll miss them, especially their eight year old daughter, whom I often cared for when she was a toddler--overnights at grandma's house, trips to the park together, etc. (When the one-year old gets a bit older, he'll come, too.) When you've lived in a house for years, you probably know how things can collect. There was so much for them to do and pack up. About twenty bags of discards and some small furniture were left behind for me to take to a donation drop site. I made trips back and forth to drop the bags/furniture at my place--several hours of driving each day, plus load and unload. My back was aching. They had professional cleaners come in on their last day in the house and clean bathrooms and kitchen. They were to have come back the following day to finish, but couldn't--a schedule snafu. So I cleaned, starting at 6 am. The house needs to go on the market so they can sell it and buy a new one in Texas. Then I boxed the cookware they need asap in Texas, plus my son-in-law's electrician's tools (weighs 43 lb) so that he can start working right away, and took them to the UPS office for shipping. On the way into the UPS office, straining my back with the 43 lb tool set (it felt like 75 lb, but I'm 71, so guess I'm not as strong as I used to be), I passed a guy standing outside the minimart, 15 feet away, peacefully smoking and drinking a cup of coffee. A part of me yearned to just drop the tools on the spot and join him for a smoke. But after almost two years of being a nonsmoker and pledging NOPE, you know the end to that story. I continued into the UPS office, made all the arrangements for them to professionally box the cookware and tools, paid the nice people (it's a family-owned business), and went home. Smoker-guy was back inside the minimart, believing that he'd just had a relaxing break, not realizing he'd only fed an addicted nicotine monster that was soon going to yowl for more. It feels good to be a nonsmoker. NOPE

Always love celebrating another great milestone. Congratulations!!!

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One of the most beautiful in your series. So peaceful NOPE

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Kris, Congratulations!!! Does it feel great to get another month completed?!

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Gus, congratulations! I'm glad you're feeling like a nonsmoker most of the time. Your vigilance is paying off.

Congratulations, Angeleek! That is so great, such a wonderful accomplishment to celebrate!

Wow, excellent! Congratulations, Bat!!!