The best things about not smoking

[larklibby]

I recently wrote the below for my blog on this website and was asked if I could also post it here. It may strike a chord with someone thinking about stopping, if it kick starts just one persons quit, then it's worthwhile.

 

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For me, the best things about not smoking, becoming a non smoker, are the small things. I have never been driven by 'how bad' smoking is for your health, of course, clearly, smoking is terrible for your well being. Somehow, my brain had learned to navigate around that fact, because of the nicotine, the drug; It was dismissed - 'it won't happen to me' attitude. So finding a driving factor for my quit has never been clear cut, until one day I had a moment of clarity.

The day I threw away smoking out of my life, the day before I found this wonderful website, I saw sense. I had been thinking about quitting for about a month, but as ever with a quit 'it was never the right time'. So I had been soul searching for a reason that I know would help me achieve the quit. Of course I had the normal reasons: financial, health and 'you ain't getting any younger!' And then after 25 years of smoking, it hit me, it was obvious. I realised that nicotine had control over me.

I was in every sense a 'slave' to a drug. A junkie. 

My day would be structured around smoking. Did I have enough smokes. When I would smoke. Do I have enough smokes for tomorrow? All this would go through my head first thing in the morning, sometimes even before bed the night before. It seemed normal.

To not have that constraint on my thoughts and movements really is an indescribable euphoria. It's finding inner freedom, shaking off a dependency that gave me nothing. All the things I thought I couldn't do if I stopped smoking, I can, and better: Socialise, be creative, and concentrate. 

Yes the first two weeks were a bastard nightmare, but, I would do it again in a blink of an eye if I knew it would get me to where I am now. 

Even after just a month, I feel brilliant. A million times better than I did after having a smoke. I still have a journey I know, however whenever I now get the urge to smoke, I visualise a prison cell in my head, and say to myself if I smoke again I will be walking back into that cell. It works, it works for me - I will never want to lose this feeling I have.

So anybody thinking about stopping smoking, not only look at the health and financial aspects of smoking, but see it as taking back control of your life, take the helm back - it's yours. 

[Still winning]

Thank you for posting this :)  

 

I believe this is really powerful! Because if only folks knew how much better a quit gets, day by day, month by month.

 

xx

[Devil Doll]

Great post. Definitely pin worthy.

[cpk]

A solid quit! Simple and streamlined. This quit's not built on sand, it's got a firm bedrock philosophy.  A manly quit, if I may be so sexist! :pioneer:

 

 

In my book, Larks is a Hero !!!!!!!!!!! :sun_bespectacled:

[Doreensfree]

A brilliant honest post Karl....

Your doing great ...and I'm happy for you....great attitude....

[cpk]

Great post. Definitely pin worthy.

I agree! Powers that pin, please do yr thang!

[Runfree]

To not have that constraint on my thoughts and movements really is an indescribable euphoria. 

 

You offered up many wonderful points in your post but this is what stood out for me.  The precipitating factor in my quit was that constraint on my thoughts and movements.  And if I were to drill it down deeper, it would have been based in fear, frustration and disgust.

 

Thank you for sharing Larklibby.

[queen greenlover]

Hopefully some fence sitter will read your post & decide o quit too. That's the thing-once people decide & stick with they realize what a doofus they were for not quitting sooner. :rolleyes: :rolleyes:

[Markus]

LL,

 

This is very well written. It appears you have all the tools you need. The philosophy is sound. The dynamic of using the analogy of addiction to a prison cell is most appropriate. And, you realized you had no control over your addiction and you took measures to change that.

 

The rest is history. You have quit and I hope you stay around as long as you feel comfortable here. And paying it forward like this is what keeps a site like this alive. 

 

People come here for inspiration first. If it isn't here, they will find it elsewhere.

 

I am glad you found yours and congrats on your stellar quit!

 

GTQ,

 

Markus

[MarylandQuitter]

Great post and insight.  I too would always worry if I had enough smokes to last at work.  What if I had to work over?  Would I have enough?  It was like almost a panic if I was running low.  Now, all that stress is gone.

[Evelyn]

Great post!

[Tink]

Excellent post Karl, so pleased to see you rocking it!

[starrynite]

Great subject and your thoughts/emotions/progress you have shared and I can relate too as others may as well. I agree its the small things that we don't think much about while smoking that appears as soon as you quit that we missed out on. Freedom..freedom to come and go without thought.. no more supply to tie our addiction over til we are close to our supplier which was that gas station tabacco outlet or corner drugstore..no more of those chains and more just getting up and doing. Freedom is a huge thing to me..so good for you and thanks for a great post.

[cpk]

As I read this am momentarily headed into the kitchen to make coffee which I will have while snuggled in bed. This may be the most delightful freedom yet...to be warm and cozy while drinking my morning coffee instead of standing out on my porch with a coat thrown over my pajamas, sucking on a poisonous cigarette. It's funny how this is the smoke people say they miss the most when quitting...when in reality it was the worst cigarette of the day...the one that started up the chain. Besides being just foul...yuk! Freedom gets bigger and bigger!

[Ramona]

As I read this am momentarily headed into the kitchen to make coffee which I will have while snuggled in bed. This may be the most delightful freedom yet...to be warm and cozy while drinking my morning coffee instead of standing out on my porch with a coat thrown over my pajamas, sucking on a poisonous cigarette. It's funny how this is the smoke people say they miss the most when quitting...when in reality it was the worst cigarette of the day...the one that started up the chain. Besides being just foul...yuk! Freedom gets bigger and bigger!

 

CPK - This is the cigarette I miss the most.  In my first couple months I drank black tea instead of coffee because the association was so powerful.  I went back to coffee around the 2.5 month mark.  And still, after all these mornings, I occasionally experience nostalgia for the combination.  ARGH!!!  Why won't that association be entirely defeated yet?????

 

That being said, I can actually TASTE my coffee now - - I can differentiate better between different roasts.  Coffee is delicious.  I think my experience differs from yours because I smoked that first one inside, at my kitchen table.  You were smart to make it inconvenient and uncomfortable!!  And I envy your gratitude!

 

If I look at my memories more completely (and not with an addict's tint) I can also call-up the wheezy, gasping sensation of my lungs and throat first thing in the morning.  What a way to wake up!!!  To meet the morning with a sick reminder of mortality and impending disease???  No!  One should greet the morning with an affirmation of life and one's personal prana.

 

Crazy, insidious addiction.

[cpk]

I didn't smoke inside my home or in my vehicle, ever, and didn't allow anyone else. Hated the smell. I smoked because I was addicted.

[cpk]

CPK - This is the cigarette I miss the most.  In my first couple months I drank black tea instead of coffee because the association was so powerful.  I went back to coffee around the 2.5 month mark.  And still, after all these mornings, I occasionally experience nostalgia for the combination.  ARGH!!!  Why won't that association be entirely defeated yet?????

 

That being said, I can actually TASTE my coffee now - - I can differentiate better between different roasts.  Coffee is delicious.  I think my experience differs from yours because I smoked that first one inside, at my kitchen table.  You were smart to make it inconvenient and uncomfortable!!  And I envy your gratitude!

 

If I look at my memories more completely (and not with an addict's tint) I can also call-up the wheezy, gasping sensation of my lungs and throat first thing in the morning.  What a way to wake up!!!  To meet the morning with a sick reminder of mortality and impending disease???  No!  One should greet the morning with an affirmation of life and one's personal prana.

 

Crazy, insidious addiction.

The association will be defeated when you want it to be defeated. You are in charge of your quit.

[MichelleDoesntSmoke]

Luckily I don't have too much of an association between coffee and smoking. And thats a very very good thing because I DO love my coffee!

 

That being said, the first cig in the morning is the one I miss the most. The good news is that the past few mornings have been easier than the first few!!!

[cpk]

First cigarette was important because the body was craving nicotine after doing without for several hours...that's all. It makes sense the more mornings without it the easier it gets. It was not more merrier than any other smoke of the day...just needed more. Have a good week, Michele, full of many creative mornings. Hmm...think I'll make French toast for breakfast this week! :party:  Here's to great fun mornings for all!