Kris

@Sal Hi Mr and Mrs Sal, Trying to stay up late to check in and make sure your are both doing okay. As I have said before I am happy that both of you have chosen this path. It is not without challenges but you can get through it. When my husband was sick we kind of took turns, we could not go off the rails at the same time. We both had our struggles with what was happening but we would hold each other up during the hard times. Just a piece of advice, when one is weak and suffering the other must take the burden up to lift the other. Trust me, it can make all the difference, I am sure you know this if you have spent a lifetime together. It does matter to me that both of you make this goal. It will give you great joy and peace to know that you care enough about each other to get this done. Just know you are in my thoughts and prayers!

@kenzie_peyton, So nice to meet a fellow Texan. I am an old lady, 62, been there and don't want to be there again. Gonna give you the truth straight up. You are so young, you have got to stop smoking right now. If you do not you will become one of us old people around town coughing like a lung is going to pop out any minute. Don't tell me you have not seen/heard it. I am so grateful I do not do that anymore. It is enough to make people sick. Next thing, you think it won't happen to you. If you continue to smoke you will have the most horrible wrinkles across your upper lip. When you see old ladies whose lipstick bleeds up into those wrinkles, you will not have to worry about that. Of course, the main thing is your health but you are a beautiful young woman and you will be so all of your life if you quiit for good.

Okay, I am going to ask, what is happening in your part of the world? They say one in three in our area are testing positive for this new omicron. I decided I had to go out to the grocery store today for fresh veggies and milk. I wore my mask and most were. The store was not crowded so that made me feel at ease. First thing I see just a couple of blocks from my home is a free testing site. Cars are backed up in the center lane and police are there to direct traffic in and out.if the parking lot. I had never seen this before, not even at the beginning of the pandemic. I think if might be a response to the kids going back to school after the holiday but I am not sure. At least I got that out of the way and won't need to go back out for a couple of weeks.

What a blessing. All the hard work and sacrifice you did have brought you to this point. I pray that I will continue to have the strength and determination you have shown!

@Opah, So sorry you did not bring home the bacon, ribs, ham or the other wonderful parts to fill your freezer. The important thing is you had a good time despite the weather. I am sure that played a big part in your sucess. Count your blessings as you got time to get friendly with your new lady, have time to reflect on your life and sucess in all things. It is the best vacation, when you are doing something you enjoy and have real down time to think about how blessed you are. True relaxation is hard to come by.

@Dawna Sending this out to you. I see you have joined the site, our newest member. I am Kris from Texas. nothing special to say about me other than I have been smoke free since June. The people here have been of unending support in my quit. There is always someone here or checking in if you need us. It may sound silly that a bunch of people from all over the world can help you but they can. Sometimes you need help to get through the cravings. Sometimes you just need to talk about things that are going on in your life. They are here for all of it. You just have to reach out and they will be there to listen, to offer advice, to give you support in this or any challenge. You must want to quit or you would have not joined the site. I hope you will let us help you anyway we can.

That is so true @TONY everything feels so wierd to me. I have mentioned this in other times on the board. Just yesterday we were young, now time tells us we are old, but I still think of myself as the person I was. It takes time to accept that we don't look the same, we have all these health issues and many of us have lost our partner. Our brains just keep on ticking that we are the same. We can still do the things we did in youth. You are lucky your thing is fishing. I want to iceskate, roller skate. dance all night but the old body does not want to take the chance. I could crab or fish with access but have none. I am trying to find a new hobby.

I fish a lot, the restaurants used to love me until COVID. Just kidding, I did fish and camp all the time. It was our family outing time and vacations. The best was going to the grandparents in Maryland, fishing and crabbing. It started my love of seafood.

@TONY Good to hear from you and you are doing so well. Does make you proud, to know you can do it. I think that is the one thing that keeps us going. We thought we could not do it and then here you are at one month down. You have got this!

@Sal I am so happy for both of you! You both are taking on a big challenge together and you will do great things together. I am excited for the wonderful future that is there for the taking. Everyone will be here to offer advice and support. The only flame needed is your love for each other.

Congratulations on three months, the next three will fly by!

@SalJust wanted to Happy New Year! Hope you are still with us, having faith in yourself. You can be who you want to be this year. I have gained so much in the last six months, better health, the options to go places and do things without worry. Overwhelming strength and confidence that I can do things I never would have tried before. We are expecting a cold winter storm here for the next couple of days. I do not have to go out in the cold anymore. I will be sipping a cup of tea here in the house. Talk to us, we just want to help.

And so it starts, People shooting of fire works or something, dogs going beserk. Why Why Why?

@jillar is right, if you can't reach the doctor, make sure you read all the information that came with your NRT, google it. You can get very sick from nicotione overdose if you do not use them correctly.

@Davevat1Hi Dave, I quit after the doctor call too. It has been six months. I agree with @CbdaveYou just need to get rid off the smokes and the butts. I know you are afraid, how will you cope. I look back at all the overwhelming events of my life and smoking did not keep any of them from happening. So just accept that smoking does not solve a problem. It will only bring more, your health will continue to decline. You heard it from the doctor. It is the truth, many here can confirm. I used NRT to start, many went cold turkey. You have to look deep and hard into your truth. Make your decision on how you want to handle it. Do not kid yourself, you have to do it and you can do it.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!! Just baking bread for tomorrow, no fireworks, just flourworks. No liquid fun in the house and I am not going out just to get that.

They are beautiful. My sister has chickens and I get some fresh from there. They are what all eggs should be.

I have been trying to figure why I am having intense craves all day. I know things to do but I am worn out today with it. It has been hard every hour. I am trying to not be angry about it. I thought the worst was over but I guess I will have to expect that was in awhile it will get to the unbearable stage. I will not break.

There you are, You are part of the reason I could not sleep. Know you are an early riser. I am sorry you don't feel better. I feel the same way a lot of the time, I think everyone does. Just pick up your bat and start swinging at the ball. You know you can hit it out of the park. We are on the field in the game, that is what matters.

Back, awake, again! I laid down but never did get into a true sleep, just dozed on an off. You that suffer from insomnia know what I mean. Decided just to give up and get up. Today will be crap but maybe I will sleep well tonight. So, Good Morning!

@Sal Hope your still trying, don't stop trying. You can do it. You have to do it. I remember when I got the call from the doctor telling me I had the beginning of emphysema. I knew I had to do it. I cried and smoked for a couple of days. Told myself when the last cigarette was gone, that I was done. That was it, I have not had one since. I still cried alot for awhile, hardly ever now. I started out taking an hour at a time, then I had a day, and I just kept fighting and here I am at 6 months. I am of to sleep now. Just know you matter!

@Linda I hope you are okay, it is okay to get upset and even have a good cry. We are here if you need us. K

@BAT, Opah is off hunting wild pigs, he said he would be back at the new year.

@BAT I am glad the test was negative but you should stay in the Bat cave for a few days to make sure you are okay!

@Bassman Thank you for sharing this story. You have given us proof positive that we doing this for the right reasons. It is not just about our health but also the other people in our lives. It will help so many give up smoking and giving others the encouragement to save their life.