Sazerac and the Elevenses

[Sazerac]

Eleven
Although Ten years quit was the milestone, in this eleventh year

I have utilized the lessons learned by quitting nicotine/dealing with addiction in another profound way.
My body was rebelling after my years of abuse, from smoking, from defying gravity for 69 years !
Arthritis was making for painful days.

No surprise. I was lucky I could still breathe after so many years smoking like a whore in church.

 

After experiencing symptoms of an autoimmune disease, I decided to take radical action.
First, I learned everything about Sjögren's syndrome and then looked for solutions,

just I had come to this site and availed myself to Joel Spitzer's work and other information.
Second, I took the initiative.

Instead of quitting nicotine (smoking),

I stopped consuming anybody with a mother, cold turkey (pardon the expression, lol) including dairy.
As a 'foodie' omnivore, I never in my wildest days thought of changing.
But here I am, a raw vegan.

I found a marvelous resource online, just as I had found y'all.

Dr. Brooke Goldner offers a free hyper nourishing protocol that has help thousands reverse disease.

Look her up if you are curious or in pain yourself.

Sure, it was a radical act for me

but there was no doubt in my mind that I could succeed,

after all I quit nicotine!

 

The results have been astounding. My body moves freely again.
I feel healthier than ever before and empowered.

Exactly what quitting nicotine/smoking did for me.

The changes also helped me face other truths;

Dealing with habits and addictions around Food!

To examine using food as comfort or reward just as I used cigarettes.

Now, food is nourishment

and I know all the cells in my body rejoice after being malnourished for decades.

The lessons learned around my nicotine addiction were a struggle eleven years ago,

now they are easier to initiate and complete.

To change is a pure gift we have the power to give ourselves.

To trust ourselves again after a lifetime of addictive behavior.

To stay current and change whenever needed because we have the tools!

Our brain knows the drill and also understands the profound rewards.

Hello to all you beautiful nicotine free creature

who understand the need to change,

who have the desire to confront their addictions

and gather the tools to begin and and continue on this marvelous journey.

 

Here is a kindly hand up, or stand on my shoulders if you need to see the other side.

 

Know in your struggles and successes that others understand

and are amazed at your fortitude minute by minute, day by day and soon...year by year.

Decade by decade!
Thank you for telling your stories and strengthening the thread that weaves us all together.

NOPE NOPE NOPE NOPE NOPE.

Sazerac.

[Sazerac]

Thanks to all y'all for making quitting informative and interesting with a bit of distraction and fun.

[Doreensfree]

Hi Sister.

Its good to see you, 

Nice to hear you have found answers to help in your struggle with a few ailments you have/ had …

Hope your feelings the best you can , 

it’s hard to keep track of old members anny,s as all the tracking disappeared , due to the board needed updating . 
Soooo Congratulations on your fabulous 

11 years .. 

I think we laughed our way through out early quits 

Take Care Sister in crime
 

[Genecanuck]

@Sazerac ... Congratulations on moving into your 11th year, smoke free, nicotine free!!!  

 

You were one of the people that reached out to offer support to me when I first joined this site a few years ago.... and I am grateful for that!

 

I did not quit at the time but you were the reason I decided to come back to the Quittrain when I was ready to not only stop smoking but stop the nicotine patch.:)

 

I am happy to hear that you have been able to apply the lessons leared about addictions to other areas of your life. I sincerely  hope you are finding some relief from your other health challenges. 

 

Wishing you all the best. Thank you for being here for so many newbies in the past.

 

Warm Regards,

 

Gene

[Sazerac]

2 hours ago, Genecanuck said:

You were one of the people that reached out to offer support to me when I first joined this site a few years ago.... and I am grateful for that!

 

I did not quit at the time but you were the reason I decided to come back to the Quittrain when I was ready to not only stop smoking but stop the nicotine patch.:)

 

Gene,

People say, 'you know it is all worth it if I help only One person'

and I was greedy about this, I wanted to help zillions. Even if I didn't know.

But, your words...touched me.

Realizing that I made a difference in your decision in returning to QTrain

and making a commitment to yourself.

It is magnificent to help One person, to hear their words.

Thank you so much,

what a great anniversary present,

there could be none better.

[Paul723]

Sazerac has given a lot of wise words to this forum and to a new quitter it is worthwhile to find some of them.  Before she had even one year quit (let alone ELEVEN!) she wrote this:

Quote

 

For a while, I really missed stepping outside for some deep breaths, albeit nicotine-y breaths.

Stepping outside for a break,

or a look/see,  

for what to do next,

for a Think.  

Then,  I said, 'go outside, you big goof'.  

Go outside and take some good clean breaths...AND have a think.

It is taking me a while to separate a break from a 'smoking break'.

but, the ceremony of a break remains.

It is an important time, stepping away and now it is smoke free.

 

 

 

Smoking and nicotine had become such a dominating force in our lives that we have all had to find new ways of operating.  I myself had developed routines that made “breaks” to smoke.  These are gone now and if I need a break, I just take one without smoking.  Easy.  I'm pretty sure I've recycled this post.  

[jillar]

Happy anniversary @Sazerac, its good to see you Thank you for the update and your words of wisdom and support. It really sounds like you're living your best life

 

[johnny5]

Nice to see you check in and congratulations on 11 years smoke free @Sazerac  You have inspired many.  

 

[DenaliBlues]

Truly an inspiration to those of us following in your footsteps! And wise words about translating what we learn about addiction to other facets of our lives. Thanks and happy anniversary! 

[Cbdave]

Gday

Great to hear youve got your health back. Funny how smoking can mask our real health. A well deserved 11years

[Mac#23]

Congratulations on such an epic quit. It's because of you and the other quittrain long term quitters that inspires the rest of us. I grateful for you and everyone else here that gives me the strength to stay quit. Thank you.

[Gus]

Congratulations @Sazerac! On quitting what made you that to become THIS! So inspirational to me and so many others. 

[notsmokinjo]

Oh congrats my artistic friend who not only wrote her words of wisdom into my quit but who also gave me back the gift of art. 

 

ARE-levun is a wonderful quit.

 

 

[despair not]

Sazerac

 

Sorry missed this

Congratulations on 11 years great job.