New campaign perhaps?
Hi all,
Firstly I think it's great that so many
are uniting world wide to quit or remain quit.
Anyway, I heard a Quitline add on the radio in Melbourne Victoria over the weekend and I'm not sure if it's a new
campaign they are trialling to assist
people who are hesitant to quit.
I didn't hear the whole advertisement but I think they are trying to encourage
people who may not be ready to quit
today for example by at least asking
those people to call Quitline to even
discuss quitting down to quit.
If of course I heard right, for some, that
may actually spark a bit of interest because it's a "not so in your face"
approach.
I think there is potential in that because
some people may feel less threatened
and at least give them a call.
I don't think there is a smoker out there
who isn't aware of the health risks or
costs but continue to smoke regardless.
Maybe this new approach and of course
if I heard it right, may actually start
getting those who may not feel they
are quite ready yet to pick up the phone
and have a chat.
I'll use myself as an example, I always
put off calling them because I wasn't
quite ready and thought they would be in my face. I was really surprised to find
out about their well established research
and different techniques.
As caring human beings, we can only hope that more people choose to at
least give it a go.
It's funny because I'd always change
stations in the past not wanting to hear it lol.
My friend at work is still smoking, the one that said I'm his idol for quitting. I try not to give him a hard time, but he has to walk by my desk when he's headed out for a smoke. I'll be like, "you headed out", "yeah" , "smoke one for me". He would say, "stop it". Or I would be like, "you headed out".........."yeah".............."Let me know how the weather is". I won't keep asking him when he's going to quit, He needs to make that decision. But I'll keep asking how the weather is. Lol.
Hey that's really cool what you're doing.
It's also letting him know you care which
is really nice. I'm sure he will follow
in your steps soon.
Hi Kim and Mike, look sorry i do not agree with your comments to your friend Mike. As quitters we cannot look at existing smokers as aliens. It is our individual choice. Everyone has his/her life to live and can choose to live it in any manner they propose. Mike, i feel you may create friction with your friend and jeopordise your friendship. Not being harsh but only my opinion.
I'm afraid you might he right Johnnie. He may or not be taking it as a joke. I will apologize to him today and let him know i was kidding around and it won't happen again. The last thing I want to do is create friction. My intentions may have been taken the wrong way. Thanks for bringing this to my attention.
Hey Johnnie,
I can see your point and respect it. You are
spot on though with what you said about
other people's lives.
I always try to walk beside a person and
never in their shoes.
Hi Kim, glad you understand the point of view i was making regarding Mike's comments. I am sure Mike has understood and that i was not being rude. I know from experience when i smoked how i had some irritating situations from non smokers.Anyway that is all in the past but i still respect an individual's rights in life. On a happier note ,how you keeping up with the lozenges breakdowns? Hope they working for you. Cheers.
Hey QB Kim,
Aussies have better quit smoking programs in general from what I've seen so far. Very supportive and helpful. So if Quitline is getting on the radio there and trying to engage smokers to quit is great. They should try to sell shirts or something, I'd buy one. Anyway, that doesn't happen here in the US. Not on the radio I listen to at least. They just pass laws to not smoke in bars, restaurants, and pretty much all public places within the past few years. Smokers here have been treated like outcasts for several years now. I know I've felt like an outcast. Maybe that's a good thing, cause it kind of forces smokers to chose to quit. Oh BTW, I talked to my friend at work and tried to apologize and he was like... why are you apologizing???, you can call me puff daddy if you want too. He said it didn't phase him, he didn't even think about it. I just wanted to make sure we were good and we're good for sure. So that's a relief. One last thing, hope we are still quit buddies, not 100% sure, but I think I know what you were doing. I don't need anyone to stick up for me, I'm a big boy and can do it myself. It's either that or it was a straw that broke the camels back type thing, not real sure. Anyway, talk to you later.
Hi Johnnie,
Yes, of course I understood and I saw your point of view also. Ive actually got them into quarters and have no more than 6 a day (quarters) I mean. I have felt a few cravings here and there but I think that's okay considering I tossed the patch a week ago and gave also really cut back on the lozenges. I never really had that many of them to start with by personal choice.
Actually the biggest craving I had was after I had read a post you had replied to about how you'd rather spend your money on cake or chocolates. That made me laugh a lot but then boy did I crave cake all day lol.
Thanks for checking in, much appreciated. Cheers.
Hey QB Mike,
Yes, there is a lot of support here. The Quitline have great quit smoking counsellors and I found them wonderful in the early stages. I had the same counsellor help me once a week for the first 3 weeks. She took my smoking history down, really educated me on what was available and then recommended a plan for me and then asked me to check with my doctor about her recommendations which was did and it's helped me so much.
They are very non judgmental and I really like their individual approach to quitting. As they said, what suits one person may not suit another and I totally agree with that approach. She is actually due to call me tomorrow to help step down in patch strength so I'm happy that I'll be able to say I quit that already.
Oh really glad you and you're bud are all good. You seem like a switched on caring kinda guy so I thought that may be the case.
Hey we are 100% Quit buddies and hope we are for some time to come. Seems like some long term quitters paired up for ages which is really cool.
On the side note, it became one too many straws but I can absolutely see how you may have viewed it as your first thought but I can assure you, that wasn't it.
I had a far better day today because I took a planned day off from work and went to the hairdresser and she gave me a wonderful head and neck massage after she had finished washing my hair.
The forecast for tomorrow is that you're going to have a great day at work and we are both going to hit our 2 months Quit mark!!!
Catcha later alligator