the Quit Smoking Journey is an amazing one

[babs609]

One of the many things I learned on my post smoking journey...is that putting them damn cancer sticks down has made me stronger than I ever thought I could be. 

I do believe, now more than ever, that being a smoker weakens you.  Horribly.  More than I ever realized.  Seriously drags you down and beats the crap out of you every single day while smoking and the longer you smoke...the weaker you become...the stronger the addiction...the more important the cigarette becomes in your life...can't live without it...can't ever see myself enjoying a day or a moment without my trusty "friend"  What BS!!!!!!

 

It truly is like a very dysfunctional, abusive relationship but you don't really see it until you are able to look back at it and say WHAT THE **** WAS I THINKING??????????????????????

 

Crazy crazy stuff.  I still can't believe it.  I can't believe I was a smoker but most of all..I can't believe how much of a slave I was to that damn addiction....that bully...that manipulator. 

 

It's amazing...really AMAZING how powerful the mind is and you really can convince yourself that something is true for you...when it isn't.  Makes me question all my thoughts and all my beliefs and everything I ever learned in my 47 years of living because lets face it....just because I learned it...doesn't make it true....

 

Geez...I have a lot of inquiry to do....gonna take some time.  Good thing I quit smoking because I have a better chance now of being around long enough to do all this questioning and searching.  :)

 

Big WOW moment for me today....BIG!!

 

 

[Still winning]

Babs, I hear you, I really do!!  I am part angry at companies producing cigs and governments not putting their foot down and letting them actually increase the nicotine and chemicals in them. (But we can't licence some life saving medicinal drugs?!) However it's the sheer anger at my own stupidity that I always come back too. That I let myself believe the "I enjoy it, i need it" lies for so long.For your sake I am delighted that break through thoughts are coming for you.

 

For newer people, the benefits of the quit really are UNREAL!! So many of us quit for health, for finances, because it was time and without exception have all felt an increased inner strength in addition to the reasons we quit. I would have quit for that alone before but I never knew that would happen. In the words of Markus, guard the quit :) It really is the bee's knee's  :D

 

x

[Doreensfree]

This is by far the most I have ever gone without smokkng in 52 years....

I now find my self being angry at myself....for believing all the lies that involves around smoking...

Believing I wasn't strong enough to quit....

I tell myself every day ...how proud I am....I beat this dam awful addiction...

Every new person that climbs on the train....is one more person that the tabasco company,s has lost ...

[JackiMac]

I just love those light bulb moments Babs, and its reading a post from a long term quitter like yourself, that makes me more and more determined thank you xx

[Markus]

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[marie-quit]

Very inspiring thanks for posting. My Quit Date is Monday -- Cold Turkey. This is the type of "stuff" that is going to help me through the rough spots.  

[starrynite]

Amazing post..I so agree with you..kick that habit right in the Butt.. you can do it mariecan..good luck and keep kicking butt everyone. We weren't born with a smoke in our mouth. And the hell if I am gonna make those pusher tobacco companies walk around with the big coin and deep pockets on account of my health and welfare..good luck to all..keep smoke free

[babs609]

Very inspiring thanks for posting. My Quit Date is Monday -- Cold Turkey. This is the type of "stuff" that is going to help me through the rough spots.  

 

Awesome Marie!  Stick around...keep reading and absorbing all that you can.  The more prepared you are for your quit...the easier it is.  

 

Believe me...you won't need to wait to be 2 + years to feel your own "aha" moments and see benefits to quitting.  They happen right away....just get stronger as time goes on.....things become clearer and clearer.

 

I think all this came about since my trip to Daytona...being around so much smoke I actually had a few moments where I felt a little left out...like I was missing something.  We are talking only moments though...seconds..and not even to a level of concern that I was going to smoke.  Just that automatic thought that comes out of nowhere.  The next morning I would wake up and think about them same smokers I slightly envied....and imagined them waking up coughing and with their hoarse voices and scrambling to find their cigarettes to go with their morning coffee....

 

Me?  I was out running on the beach  :)

 

 

 

Welcome to the forum Marie..and be sure to introduce yourself here...http://www.quittrain.com/forum/3-introductions-about-us/

 

So many wonderful people here ready and willing to give you support.  

[cpk]

Hmmm. I heard something similar years ago from someone who quit smoking then took a vacation to Paris. She didn't feel left out, but observed how strange it was to visit a culture where everyone was smoking.... in the coffee houses, on the streets, and in the nightclubs. It was more annoyance --- to spend so much money on a dream vacation...then to be subjected to smoking everywhere. I read that Disney Cruises has now banned smoking on the balconies of their rooms and smokers who have already booked are very upset. At least you are on the right side of a topsy turvy world!