Quit Wins

[KEL]

I am sitting out on the patio next to my "ashtray" which is empty. 

Started me contemplating benchmarks of smoking cessation success which are challenging in the first months due to, well, you all know.

So here goes: I was at the shelter (where I am volunteering) the other night. A client who is schizophrenic and unmedicated asked me if I smoked. She was clearly in need of a fix. I was able to say "no." I was further able to decide that going over to the convenience store to get her a pack was not in my best interests.

Anyone else have a quit win or wins?

[jillar]

14 minutes ago, KEL said:

I was further able to decide that going over to the convenience store to get her a pack was not in my best interests.

Good on you for protecting your newborn quit KEL

[intoxicated yoda]

I actually could name a few wins I reckon, but the only one that matters for me right now is yesterday when I woke up I was 69 days quit.  Today it was 70.  Tomorrow doesn't matter.  You go girl.  You keep winning for you.

[Linda]

Good for you!!! Yes I have I had almost 9 months and went to a wedding and did some drinking( to much

and went outside for some fresh air and of course there were smokers a d one who had my brand

for sure he asked if I wanted one and I took it but thank god I thought a moment and gave it back and said

no thanks. I almost threw my quit away!!! I 

   

[Doreensfree]

Well done 

I remember the first time I said No....a huge sense of pride ....

You have to put your quit first ....which is what you done ...High Five !!!

[KEL]

Linda that is strong. To have the presence of mind to stay true to yourself in the face of weakened inhibitions.

I am so grateful I don't drink anymore because i think it would be almost impossible to do so without smoking. 

Thanks to all of you who replied!

[Kris]

That is great, I think if you had gone to get something for you client you would have put yourself at risk. If the client is there next time you are volunteering you should tell them you used to but quit, that might just put the thought in their head.  Here is a person that wanst to help me because she is also helping herself.  Just a thought.  It makes me feel good to tell people that I have quit, gives me more a sense of commitment to my own quit.  I chunked my outside ashtray the first day, I did not want it to remind me.  I actually had neighbors come to check on me because I am never outside anymore.

K

[KEL]

Its a beautiful sentiment. Sadly, she is very ill at least by our societal norms. I found her chats with her imaginary friends very articulate.

Normally, I am all about giving advice to others, carrying the message. But this position is a challenge to my big brain in that I am only there to be of service, to love. To provide a safe non-judgmental space for women whose lives are likely beyond "repair." Until we have resources to truly care for the mentally ill in our midst, self-medication is the reality.

Its humbling but the gratitude I have for being able to sleep on a church basement floor (a few nights a week) and not to think about how to get a smoke in is lovely.

You know I think I will get rid of it even though its not an "official" ashtray. Thanks for the suggestion!

[Linda]

2 minutes ago, KEL said:

Its a beautiful sentiment. Sadly, she is very ill at least by our societal norms. I found her chats with her imaginary friends very articulate.

Normally, I am all about giving advice to others, carrying the message. But this position is a challenge to my big brain in that I am only there to be of service, to love. To provide a safe non-judgmental space for women whose lives are likely beyond "repair." Until we have resources to truly care for the mentally ill in our midst, self-medication is the reality.

Its humbling but the gratitude I have for being able to sleep on a church basement floor (a few nights a week) and not to think about how to get a smoke in is lovely.

You know I think I will get rid of it even though its not an "official" ashtray. Thanks for the suggestion!

@kad657

[Linda]

@KEL Not sure what happened there. But I just wanted to 

say that is a wonderful thing you are doing volunteering.  Very

kind of you!!!

[Kris]

@KELNot meant to offend, I had been in that position before.  My husband had to be so called committed after brain surgery. He suffered a bad all during his cancer treatment and sustained a TBI.  They sent him home after rehab and did not prepare me for his scary behavior.  I took him back to the hospital but they could not care for him there, so placed him in a facility where they took all mentally ill patients (homeless and or arrested.  It was the scariest thing I every went thru.  All the patients would flock to me for things when I went to visit.  Most often for smokes or food of some sort.  I was not allowed to take my purse in much less anything else.  It broke my heart, I knew my husband was not there for long but those people had no one, no hope.  I truly admire that you care enough to be there for comfort for those lost in the system.

K

 

[KEL]

Thank you for the accolades friends but my motivations are selfish. I have had some serious challenges over the last few months in every area of my life. It seems everyone I encounter these days is having challenges in our "post-pandemic" world. I needed to feel better about myself because I was way into the depths of my sick thinking. 

Doing this reminds me that, but for the grace of God, there go I. 

 

[KEL]

Digging out this old thread because the thought that kept running through my mind today was "Quit Wins." 

With all of the newcomers to the site, I wanted to share one of (my) gifts of recovery from nicotine addiction. The early days are super tough and its easy to focus on what we are missing versus what we will gain by staying the course.

I hadn't skied since last April when I caught an edge (on the flats) and broke my ribs. I was down to about 4-5 cigarettes per day and was feeling positive about another quit. Well, the injury was bad and it served as an excuse to keep smoking which, in my mind, distracted me from the pain.

I didn't realize it but have had a deep fear of skiing again so even though I bought a pass months ago, today was the first day I went. It took quite a bit of self-talk to get me dressed and on the road. I had thoughts of smoking because that is how I used to cope with fear.

I had one of the most extraordinary days ever. Fresh powder and sunny skies. The tiredness, the out-of-breath feeling I had last year at the end of a run was simply gone. I told myself it was aging but the truth was smoking was affecting me negatively. It made me want to give up something that has consistently brought me joy over almost five decades.

We "give up" nothing by quitting. Rather we "give up" not being able to breathe, not being able to participate fully in life's activities whatever they may be. 

[jillar]

Love it @KEL glad you had a great day

[Doreensfree]

16 hours ago, KEL said:

Digging out this old thread because the thought that kept running through my mind today was "Quit Wins." 

With all of the newcomers to the site, I wanted to share one of (my) gifts of recovery from nicotine addiction. The early days are super tough and its easy to focus on what we are missing versus what we will gain by staying the course.

I hadn't skied since last April when I caught an edge (on the flats) and broke my ribs. I was down to about 4-5 cigarettes per day and was feeling positive about another quit. Well, the injury was bad and it served as an excuse to keep smoking which, in my mind, distracted me from the pain.

I didn't realize it but have had a deep fear of skiing again so even though I bought a pass months ago, today was the first day I went. It took quite a bit of self-talk to get me dressed and on the road. I had thoughts of smoking because that is how I used to cope with fear.

I had one of the most extraordinary days ever. Fresh powder and sunny skies. The tiredness, the out-of-breath feeling I had last year at the end of a run was simply gone. I told myself it was aging but the truth was smoking was affecting me negatively. It made me want to give up something that has consistently brought me joy over almost five decades.

We "give up" nothing by quitting. Rather we "give up" not being able to breathe, not being able to participate fully in life's activities whatever they may be. 

Great Post Kel....keep that positivity going ..correct attitude....

[Gus]

Awesome @KEL! I’m happy that you reconnected with something you enjoyed so much for so long! I hope that you laughed and laughed in the face of that old Nicodemon!!!

[KEL]

@GusI did! Hope you are doing well honey. Eleven months is stupendous!