Wade in inch by inch or Dive In?

When i go swimming, there are ways of entering the cold lake water

1) Wade in inch by inch and clench my teeth until i can get to where it is deep enough to dive in.

2) Wade this way until i am out far enough.

3) Run and Cannonball off the dock

4) Do a graceful dive at a safe place from the dock.

I hate pain and suffering, numbers 1 and 2 are out. While 3 is fast, you may hit bottom if you don't know the water, or hit another swimmer. (Besides, didn't we always tell our kids not to Run on a dock, it could be slippery?) Which is why I choose the 4th method. A graceful dive requires preparation, if you don't want to do a bellyflop. A poise, with objectivity, purpose and preciseness.

My quit was like diving , the most painless way of accomplishing the goal. It does require some preparation though. If you don't prepare, it could be like #2 . I thought that I quit cold turkey, but i think it fact it was a new term I just found out about called Smart Turkey.

My cold turkey approach was successful because I WANTED to quit (even though interestingly enough i didn't mean to quit, I never thought that i could!) I did a few things a couple of weeks prior, which must have had significant bearing.

1. I wanted better health and started eating better and researching and

2. found that a simple lung cleanser i made and took for 1 week

3. made me put off having my first cigarette for 2 hours, which i then decided to challenge myself and had only 3 from the usual 28/45 years.

4. Next day had 5 in halves, and third day got a nicotine rush with first drag. (Using the 4 D's...Delay, Deep Breathe,Drink water, Do something (Distract yourself)

5. I joined a quit line like this, only this one is better. I learned for about the 4 D's, read stories, ideas, and loved the fact that i wouldn't have to do it alone.

6. I think that is when i realized i WANTED to be smoke-free and BELIEVED that i could achieve that because i had the right tools to use. Not only did i have the right tools, the site, the 4D's and the support, but i was also in the right mindset of Wanting and Believing. I guess it was pieces i read that gave me insight to how nicotine worked and hi-jacked our brain, how I became ADDICTED. I learned a lot about me, and replaced my smoking with my thirst for knowledge and trying doing my best to encourage others here. I apologize if i get long winded, but Allan Carr took 400 pages. I read it after i quit, but hubby read it and is just a couple of weeks behind me.

7. The fourth day i quit. I had a few cravings, which were more like wistful thoughts, for 3 days, while the nicotine receptors were being destroyed or unplugged... and then silence .....freedom.

Needless to say it is the best decision i have made in my life. I don't view it as "quit smoking" but achieving freedom, by having made the choice to be a non-smoker. The realization that smoking made me an addicts(albeit legal) and a slave to its unrelenting timetable for most of my life.

Choose your method of quit now, don't delay the one most important choice you will make in your lifetime. Look forward to a richer, fuller and happier life ahead. You can do it too, just as many, many here have proven. Prepare yourself and embrace this journey to a better you.