darcy

Here I am. Experiencing one of the less than optimistic periods. Hoping it is short lived. Having a "channel 19" (read no news today) break. Will likely NEED to attend to my tooth concern with professional care. Grateful for the blood flow, grateful for tools to provide oral care. My dentist in the previous state had hoped I would get 5 yeas out of this tooth. Coming up on 2.5, so hey, a good run for a former smoker. Concerned as I had put off finding a dentist in this new state (while getting hooked up to new insurance) and now will be looking for care during these covid-19 times. Grateful in advance for finding the perfect dentist at the perfect time. Had a wild few moments earlier today where my addiction roared and drove me. Luckily it drove me into the woods with the cat vs into the car to the store. Really could've gone either way. It passed. Commitment to myself nope life nope hope nope really don't care for how that reads.... could be true. commitment to writing something here daily-ish talking to my mom daily caring for my cats ongoing sometimes it just seems so heavy, and i feel so used up....or never was....or never learned.....and hindsight is great, and sadness for what was~is wraps around the heart and squeezes like a constrictor... Any way...will end this vomiting of ick and dance

nope

Another day on the train. Woo Hoo! Sometimes I remember I don't smoke and am surprised. Still getting the occasional expected and occasional unexpected craving. Barely, evening NOPEing myself. Just moving along to the next thought. What a gift!!! Been feeling untethered and a decided lack of purpose ... I'm sure many are finding their way with similar feelings. So scared for so many people. Desire for information and understanding... don't think either are forthcoming. Have decided if I am smoke free, living actively, connecting as best I can with those I love and offering an ear and eye ... I am living with purpose. Have a sense social distancing will be going on for most of this year.... and take much longer to find a new operating normal for many areas of society. Sure hope I learn something and am aware of it. Be safe people. BE BOLD in LOVING on your peeps. Offer endless gratitude to those putting themselves in harms way.

walked a mile. 30 minute meditation

Hey AK47, Being a recent smoking quit myself, I am finding it useful to cultivate a few healthy skills to use when I used to use the smoking. I smoked for every event ...stress, celebration, relaxation, concentration...all lies. Considering your assessment of your situation... I hope you find wonderful ways to meet stress. I use this board to post or play games when I am stressed...distraction really. And I am not smoking!! Deep Breathing. Calling a friend. Kicking a ball against a wall. What seems like something you could try? Healthy eating passion! Hurray... do you cook? I am on an oatmeal kick lately that is delightful! Glad you are here. Do read lots of the resource materials and watch the videos. Addiction is addiction...whether you have a pack a day habit or a 3 cigarettes a day habit.

Favorite are roasted. Just pop them in a 400 oven for an hour. cool slightly, skins will slither right off. Eat warm or cold. Beet and fennel salad is wonderful....cooked beets and raw fennel with a hard boiled egg, if you have one. And beet shake - a couple of ice cube sized pieces of frozen spinach, half of one of the raw beets you had diced, 10-12 dates, 1/4 cup of cocoa powder. Throw it all in blender add a cup of kombucha (if you have it) and fill the rest of the blender with whatever milky liquid you like (I use almond or coconut milk, but any kind will do). this is like a chocolate shake. Reciprocity - so glad you have come by. Yay for you and the happiness you bring. thank you.

NOPE....hoping reci is really doing that sailing.

Hello AK47, Way to go 6 days free from smoking slavery. Way to break free! How has it been going this week? What delightful foods are you enjoying? Glad you made your way here. Looking forward to riding the quit train with you. Welcome.

I am trying to write at least a bit each day. Several folks have suggested that sharing my quit journey can be useful for others. Not sure I have anything worth sharing. I am/have not been a person of eternal optimism. I do have passion and temerity when it comes to new things, learning and ways to heal. I find most people are uncomfortable speaking of or listening to things that are intense, morose and/or painful, that can often be defined by the term trauma. I have found that I (and many fabulous people I have encountered along the way) have developed an array of skills/tools that have allow us to cope/survive vs. thrive....or both. Wow, life is complex. Smoking was one of my longest standing skills, serving a situation and life that no longer exists in present tense. Yes, believe it or not sometimes addiction is a tool or skill (not at all romancing here, at least I hope not).... for me, just fact, sad and true. Good riddance to the tools/skills that do not enhance the best life possible. HELLO gorgeous smoke free life....a much more delicious skill/tool for the life of my most cherished dreams. Grateful to have outsmarted this addiction Grateful to be wary and wise to the ways of complacency Grateful to have the people, resources and lightness QT offers Grateful to be smoke free Grateful for my health and the health of those I hold dear Grateful so many people are willing to provide the services they provide to help, to heal, to comfort, to feed, to sustain in this swarm of covid-19 Grateful to have a brain in my head to think for myself Grateful to be aware when I behave like sheeple and to use above mentioned brain Grateful to have a beautiful woodland on waterfront to roam and observe spring doing it's thing Grateful to have people I love and to be loved in return....in ways that feel deeply loving. Grateful to have found the correct foot pattern for the waltz and to be practicing it (read dancing) daily

Are fines really a deterrent?

dear helmthermit, Congratulations! Sailing along in your new found freedom....15 days, hurray Glad you have found guidance, inspiration, information and support from the folks on QT... for your new life of freedom. A non-smoker. May each day of your life be easier and more wonderous than the one before. Glad to have a seat with you on this train.

Hello iwantone, Glad you're here. Giant round of applause for your 41 days. My experience, so far, has not included the breathlessness feelings you are having. Sounds like many folks have given useful information, I'll just say again....welcome! Glad you're reaching out with questions. Keep your quit. Amazing the things that make us think we want to smoke. Breathlessness ... smoking will never improve that situation....or any situation. Deep breathing...what a gift. Glad you are finding them calming and useful.

Narcissist never introspective

Flavors in new dishes surprise cacti

Considering the circumstances of us all, I am embarrassed (yet grateful) that I have had a fun pleasant connected day with my marvelous man (and cats). I noticed a few weak cravings at expected times. Didn't even need to spend any energy pushing the smokey thought away. It just quietly bowed out as I turned my attention to the next thing. Knowing the struggles, true deep struggles, I have had during previous quits...I can not express how dumbfounded I am at the grace and ease I am experiencing. So grateful for it. It has been way past time for me to quit for decades. Type, erase, type , erase...perhaps now is not the time to acknowledge or share my doubts of self and distill my prior patterns to see what I can do differently. Celebrate the small victories. 395 cigarettes avoided today! Completed 14 day exercise challenge (yep, did a 60 second plank...who, me? Yep.) Phenomenal.

Day 15 of 14 Day Challenge 60 sec plank - had to try twice because I couldn't hold it right after the squats. lol 30 squats walked a mile +, Mani, too Woo HOO!!! I did it. 14 challenge, skipped a day, but I got there. Doing my happy dance. forgot to submit yesterday... and today I have done nothing.... tomorrow looks good okay...finally got out for the mile walk with cat and man... geez am I lucky to have such great company!

Hey Sunshine, Glad you are FREE.

-3 good to see you all

NOPE

tread everywhere delicately

-1 the ladies are taking a victory lap.

Hey Hh, Just wondering how the weekend shaped up for you. Just reread this thread. Amazing!!! You are FREE. What an incredible turn of events. Considering you had no idea you were quitting and once the idea came about ... YOU quit. Chuckled and nodded at your posting of THIS IS THE QUIT because once you give your all, it is all or nothing. I can relate. My last relapse lasted around 5 years. I had the mindset (of which I am usually VERY SET on some things) that once I picked up smoking again it was a forever thing. BELIEVED that junkie thinking, too....for almost 5 years. Surprised and grateful beyond words that my belief was terribly wrong. I have quit. Yay! Really glad you are clicking along on the QT track. We have sticky quits!!! The photo from the ship deck..... thanks for sharing that bit of beauty and awe. you got this.

-19

yesterday Day 13 challenge plank 55 sec - pretty sure I had correct form , as my abs were shaking when I was done. squats - 29 walk 1.5 miles 2 times. Mani made it , too.