cpk

Maybe also the pressure that the issue of smoking may come up in an interview, or there will be the assumption that surely you aren't a smoker? Looking for work is hard. I know. I'm looking for new work myself right now. And also doing a new quit. I am looking at my life now as a total picture...yes, there is the job thing. But there is also the thing about feeding my spirit, breathing love into all the dark corners, nurturing my talents, hopes, and dreams. The not smoking is part of a bigger picture. What is your big picture? Is smoking in that picture? You seem like a very sensitive woman. Being harsh with you would be ....not right, I don't think. But firmness is okay, right? You gotta guard your quit with your life if don't want smoking to be in the big picture that is your precious, precious life. So, guard your quit. Also, you know that you need that toolbox. See the gallery, I've posted what I have in my toolbox. What's in your toolbox now? How are you fashioning your quit? Let us know.

:bad: Nope... :bad: :bad: :bye:

Thanks so much!

Roller skating in my kitchen. (I have a big kitchen.)

Thanks, Ava!

For me, the daily NOPE pledge is brilliant. I think in the past, relapses happened because of the "just one" thing. Or two or three. I'd think I could take a little "break" -- not actually be a social smoker -- but give myself a little "holiday" from quitting full time. Taking the NOPE pledge every 24 hours is meaningful. I am also in love with the quit meter. Sometimes I check it just to see how many smokes I didn't have on a given day. For me the idea that I could take a break from quitting then start up the quit again...was the biggest problem. I have also found out that I'm pretty high-strung, and that may be who I am, and I think exercise is going to become my greatest friend.

Yes, sites like this might be self selective.

Haha, that's so morbid!

I never was and am not interested in being a social smoker. I am just trying to unload this monkey. I'm apologizing for perhaps jumping the gun on some stuff because I may not be thinking too clearly. I don't drink, but if I did I might be having one right now. haha.

Yeah, yeah. More exercise... I swear, I'm ready to become an exercising fool... I just want to say again I think addiction is unique. I'm not stupid. I know professionals can assist without having a condition themselves. But I will stand on my assertion that addiction is a unique situation that has not yet been fully understood, with dismal cure rates, and is now reaching epidemic proportions, and is systemic of what may be a very spiritually sick global society. Damn. I'm going out for some snow running...

I knew this would come up. I think of addiction as something that has a big spiritual component. I also don't think it has yet to be fully understood and a "cure" to be found. The relapse statistics are dismal. Maybe I think the shamans need to be called in, in a big way. I'm too early in my own quit to get too far into a debate on this. (Because I'm a bit irritable. Apologies.)

I apologize for being irritated at Spitzer being a never smoker. I'm in this new quit and every single day I lose perspective. And THAT'S irritating me. I know that I'm not a social smoker, and never wanted to be one. What I wanted was for smoking to not be dirty, smelly, disgusting, toxic, dangerous, and socially unacceptable. I do buy into the idea that smoking less just means a longer period of being in withdrawal. That makes complete sense to me. That's an important fact. Something new I learned. It's important because now I feel relieved, knowing a full quit is full freedom, which is exciting.

When I was in my 20's if my ex and I had a fight, sometimes he'd go out to a bar, buy cigarettes and smoke. It was stupid. He was just acting out, trying to be a bad ass. He had no relationship with smoking. It was just a symbol. He'd leave the pack at the bar. I think some social smokers don't inhale, they kind of puff like they think a cigarette is a pipe. That's how my ex "smoked" -- he just kind of lightly puffed, and waved the cigarette around. I seriously doubt he inhaled. After his 20's he left this stupid affectation of smoking behind.

does he know the addiction, or does he know how to talk about the addiction

Note: My following comments are not meant to offend anyone or anything on this site because I DO love this site. I found this fact about Spitzer having NEVER smoked so shocking I had to google it for myself. Even if every single thing Spitzer says is true, the one thing missing is...I really don't know how to put it...maybe chi. There's a certain chi to smoking, and maybe it's crooked chi but it's chi. When straightened out, a former smoker's chi is distinct in a primal way that is completely different than a never-ever-have-smoked person's chi. I even think there are positives to a smoker's/healed smoker's chi...there's a level of humor, compassion, intelligence, wit, and pathos that is distinct to this chi.

Romping is slow dancing in snowdrifts and falling down and getting all wet and cold, too. Tomorrow I'll ramp it up to some rolling jiggity jogs. Gee, give me a break, MQ, I was OUTSIDE IN THE COLD AT DAWN (ON SUNDAY) BREATHING IN AND OUT! :download:

Smoking stole exercise. Okay, I LET it happen. I was working with horses last summer and pulled my back throwing hay. The smoking got a stronghold. I'm steamed. The good news is my back is better, I'm quit, and I'm starting to exercise in The Season Of Frozen 2015, but whining a bit, too. Thanks for the support. Love your awesome description and declaration of love for exercise!

Gosh, Ms. SP, I keep checking back to see if someone has replied to this. Seems like the addiction is using your excitement as leverage to try to stick a foot back in the door. Whenever I make improvements in my life the dancing skeletons come bursting out of the closet. They are just thoughts. Too. Ramped up because there's more at stake. Which is also just a thought. There's nothing at stake. Your quit is secure. I'm new to THIS quit, but I've made many other changes, and the skeletons always dance. Loving kindness may help. And new underwear. I fight back with frilly sexy new undies! Geez, I hope someone more mature comments soon! Be well, Marti. May the Goddess of the Quit breathe blessings on your sleep.

Was up and dressed at 5:30 a.m. (on a Sunday? who is this person I've become?) and decided to take Ava's challenge to exercise for 30 minutes. Went out at 6:30 a.m. and walked, jumped, romped in a snowfield. I live in a picture perfect mountain town, and the scenery was gorgeous that time of day, with everything all quiet and still, the sky dusty pink. I didn't cough. I wasn't out of breath. But here's the thing. I'm 25 days into my quit and I still feel heavy and logy. I just wonder how long it will take until this feeling of heaviness lifts. I really enjoyed getting out in the fresh air and will probably keep doing it first thing in the morning after coffee. I've been waking up much earlier so I can fit it into my daily schedule. easy-peasy

I dreamed about my dead dog. I dreamed she was alive, and when I woke up I was really sad. Then I remembered this post from you, bakon, and flipped my thinking, and thought about what a great dog she was and how she gave me 12 years of bliss. So thanks, bakon, this worked, and I appreciate your comment so much. Well done you.

30 minute dawn romp in the snowdrifts and snowfields...thanks for the challenge!

"Cigarettes are such a lie." Rob sums up the truth.

Congratulations. :sun_bespectacled:

:shout: :shout: :shout: Nope! :girl_pinkglassesf:

:wub: NOPE :wub: