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Congratulations @DenaliBlues! One full year—smoke free! Welcome to the Lido Deck! I hope that you are so very proud of yourself as all of us here are. You have every right to be so, I hope that you are celebrating to your fullest ability.

Our very own triathlete and hockey playing quitter! Two years is an epic quit @AceWhite! I hope that you are doing well.

Hello @Slow progress! You are doing a wonderful thing by quitting smoking again. You know what to expect because you’ve done it before but, it’s still going to be hard and one of the hardest things to do is to come up with ways to fill all of that time you normally would have spent smoking. Don’t dwell on the ‘missing’! Dwell on taking in deep breaths of fresh air! Going on short brisk walks or long runs. Literally anything other than lighting up! I look forward to seeing you around and following your quit. We have an SOS thread that has been successfully used by others when they reach out in times of intense cravings and want help getting through it. You can find it on the main page of this site. Welcome aboard!!!

Congratulations on your 6 month quit @overcome!

Congratulations on your 5 year quit @catlover and thanks for hanging around to help others along the way!

Congratulations on your 6 year quit @reciprocity!

Congratulations on your 3 year quit!!!

It’s good to hear from you @Kdad! This is awesome news!

You keep having these conversations with yourself. You keep posting and you keep reading. When you do have the strength to get out let it be to the pool but, take a different route if at all possible. It’s too easy to find that you’ve mindlessly or purposely pulled up at the very place you used to run into to grab your next pack of slow death. You are doing great. I look forward to a post one day about how much quitting smoking has affected your swimming. How much stronger you feel and how much your endurance levels have increased. It will happen.

Don’t give up! No matter what it takes. No matter how many times you have to quit to be be quit. The freedom quitting gives you and the feeling of liberation and satisfaction are undeniable and so very much worth the suffering of withdrawal. I’m glad that you are still here with us. Battling for your life! And although we can’t quit for you we can dang sure be here for you to help you along the way. I hope that you have a way better day today!

Thanks for the update @Amy R.! Two years quit is awesome and glad that your office mate is a quitter too.

Thanks so much for checking in @Dianne! It is wonderful hearing from you. Thankful that you are still quit!

This is awesome!!!

That should be 20 HOURS FREE!!!! YAY!!! It’s these early hours that deserve the greatest rewards. You are doing great, @darcy!

So true, @darcy. The writings are what got me through.

Awesome job @Kerry! Those first hours, days, weeks, and even months are so crucial in building the solid foundation needed to maintain your quit for life. Time will start to fly by and before you know it a year will have passed. You are doing great! Remember to reward yourself!!!!

Get well soon @catlover!

The lies of addiction. One of my brothers came by to fix a burst water pipe last week and as soon as he was finished he lit up a cigarette. I stood there and remembered lighting up every time I finished up some task to celebrate its completion and how satisfied I was with my work. That could still be me. That cigarette smelled so good. But I know without a doubt that I will not light up again. I can’t. I will die if I do because there is absolutely no other quit in me. You are strong. You stepped off the train, but hopped right back on owning up to your bad choice. I would still be down on the line somewhere. I do hope that you are feeling better today.

Congratulations @DenaliBlues! One month to the Lido Deck! See you soon!

Congratulations Overcome! You are doing great!

I hate that happened to your neighbor Denali. I’m thankful they are okay though. Looking forward to seeing this storm gone. Stay safe, all of you.

Stay warm and safe Linda and Mac. We are getting strong winds and frigid temps, but with nary a single snowflake forecast here where I am in Georgia. I’m worried about my water pipes remaining ice free for the next 5 days more than anything. I’m rural with a well, so it can get iffy when the temperatures remain so low for such an extended period of time. I have plenty of bottled water(no power=no water ‘round here), bread, milk and a full tank of gas in my car though. Thankful that cigarettes no longer need to be an item on my emergency preparedness list.

MERRY CHRISTMAS Y’ALL!!!

Truth!