Ramona

Well done Rowly! Got your runners high?? Must feel good.

I don't mind the dreams - I'm always so grateful and relieved when I wake up: "oh phew" just a dream, I can keep breaking the chains!!!

X 2 with Doreen here. Quitting IS a "flippin' amazing" accomplishment. RC - you can do this. Stare that struggle down. This war is yours to win. Thanks for the cliff notes Sunny!!!

Wow! Three years!!! I didn't realize how long you've been quit. That's pretty freaking awesome. Heroic! Nicely done.

Love this writing. So true. More present now than I've ever been. Experiencing moments more peaceful than any I experienced as a smoker. Now it seems there are times where life is really okay and I don't need anything. No jonesing...no SUPER hyper active life... driving = smoother time = slower. I feel grateful for the every day stuff. Sure I have moments of extreme duress and anxiousness. My adrenaline is pretty powerful now. But this is life on life's terms. Can't have the good without some bad.

Electronic = better than smoky death inhale. Do it!!!

Yes, Jasmine is a border collie/black lab mix...good call NewIdentity!!!! She's 6 years old. Nicknamed "The Statue" because when she's not wildly sprinting in the woods she remains insanely calm and still. She listens to me almost 100% and I've taken her to my work to visit patients. She's smart, calm and loving. Floyd is a Jack Dempsey fish - a type of South American Cichlid. He has his own 30 gallon home because he'll be growing quite large. And yes, he has a personality. He's of the aggressive variety. My female swordtail fish (from my community tank) gave birth a couple months ago in an isolation tank. I now have 3 TEENY TINY swordtails (the only babies who managed to escape their Mom's appetite). 3 tanks in all. But I want more!!! I guess you could call it my new addiction. Guess this is what happens when you're 32 and you have no kids (and don't plan to have them). I want to eventually get a chameleon (for the boyfriend) and another dog.

Watching & smelling an older female smoker and thinking, "that won't be me!!!!"

Howdy.

!!!8 IS GREAT!!!

I'm actually sort of looking forward to my next dentist appointment. When I told my dentist I'd quit smoking I could tell he: A: Didn't think I'd be able to stick with it and B: Was rooting for me (hardy har har) He's real cute so I want to impress him.

Deep breaths (again).

No wine or gin for me - - lest I incur the usual, drunken, facial lacerations of my early 20s (and I'm way too cute for that!!!!! B) ) Plus, I don't think we heal as quickly, or completely, in our 30s. Any who. Mountain jog to start the day. Cuddles (+) w/ the BF. Maybe a town fair. Definitely eat something delicious. Continue to be thankful for the privileges I have. Pet my dog a lot because she hurt herself today @ the dog park (thinking she's still 2 when she's actually 6). Work an overnight shift into Sunday morning. Then hang with Grams.

Think we forgot to acknowledge this milestone! Happened 10 days ago?? Unless I'm missing something... CONGRATS!!!!!

Deep, deep breaths today. Lovely.

Nope.

One of my fish! Name: Floyd

My dog!!!

Nice! I wish I lived there. I'm so into fish now. I started 3 aquariums since I quit smoking. And I see no end in sight. I just want more. Yikes.

Oooh! Have fun with the sugar detox. I found the experience entirely worthwhile. I was able to pull it off for about 27 days. I ate literally NOTHING with added sugars (except those found naturally). My problem was that I ended up eating A LOT OF FRUIT. And normally I don't eat any fruit. So my BMs were not pleasant. As soon as I resumed my "normal" diet my body went back to normal. What I liked the most, though? The calm, serene, less-stress me. That was nice. I will try again but I can't let myself binge on fruit like I did.

Zum geburtstag. (I think that's it...took German for 2 years but that was in MIDDLE SCHOOL)

Cold Turkey 6

Naw...this one happened to be a Mozzie-free sewer. Plus, the guy was literally encased in feces - even if there were a couple mosquitoes they would not have been able to penetrate his shit shield.

As a smoker (after working 16 hours) I'd feel all wiry and anxious and strung-out from the cigarettes I had used to "fuel" me through that double shift. Instead...I'm just sleepy, peaceful and grateful to be home.

I'm with Ria. Excellent post. We all have coping methods - if vaping is your choice - DO IT! I'm totally addicted to exercise as a way to cope with my moods & stress! What if my body did not allow for such a high level of endorphin production? If exercise was not an option - where would I turn? It's mainly important for us to go with what feels HONEST to us. I would not feel honest vaping. More importantly, I know it would lead me to a real cigarette. Cause it's the smoke & death I really want...like Doreen feels, I can't risk it by going there! But for others, vaping may not trigger that cigarette desire. So that's fine! On that note: smokers that want to smoke are also just fine. Lastly, back in 2012 I attended Nicotine Anonymous for about 8 months. The guy who opened the meeting had been quit for 15 years but his wife had never been able to stop. This devastated him. She was real sick from smoking related health problems. But by the end of my time with that group his wife had moved over to vaping. He was OVERJOYED! She had been vaping for 2 months by the time I stopped going. There was relief and hope on his face as he discussed her new found success. She wore the vape as a necklace - she had finally succeeded in a healthier lifestyle. This was good to hear.