Who ever said it would be easy...
To Storm, Dobbin, Manchild and a host of others. I am hoping you will be here for the long haul. I once said in the past that only 6% of “quitters” succeed. I despair when regulars disappear off the radar and like them, I know this is a very difficult road to follow. I hope you last the distance and I have enjoyed your posts over the past months and look forward to more in the future.
After 420 days smoke free, I am amazed because I quit a 45year habit cold turkey. For me there was no NRT that could possibly work as I had my own ideas about quitting or not quitting. Nothing could replace the so-called enjoyment I got from the habit. Now, I am so glad I can breathe and that over $8750 has been saved from the ashtray… not to mention the other plusses.
2 nights ago, my craving, named “Margaret Thatcher”, had me believing I was chain smoking as I slept. After the last cigarette disappeared I was just about to hand over $50 for another packet of cigarettes. Then I realised that I no longer smoked… and I woke up and was relieved it as a dream. More like a nightmare…
This is just a reminder that whether it is your craving or coming from some other force it is relentless. If it has an opportunity to take you backwards, so be it. It will if you allow it to do so. It is your decision to succeed or fail. A reminder, it took some determination and pigheadedness to learn to smoke. Now is the time to re visit that pigheadedness and determination to make a change and to quit. It can be done if individuals decide to make a change. Initially it may seem like you are being deprived of a lot until you decide it is something you should give up. Better to focus on the plusses… Any excuse to smoke can be negated by a logical reason to quit.
Thanks for your post Lia, it's a real timely reminder for us all. I was feeling very disheartened today, after talking to a lady I know quite well, she told me that she gave up smoking over 20 years ago and says she still has days when she wishes she could have a smoke. And that she could light up in a heartbeat. She also said her hubby felt the same and if it wasn't for the cost she would take it up again tomorrow. She said, once a smoker always a smoker, can only be an ex-smoker never a non smoker. I must admit this floored me, has anyone else had the same sort of feedback. However, although feeling very disheartened, I didn't have a smoke, but I admit I feel that her telling me this has put a bit of a downer on my feelings of accomplishment .
Trust me and your friend. No need to be alarmed. Just because you remember smoking to have been a pleasureable experience does not mean you will fail. Honestly, have you ever heard a non smoker say, "I would really like to light up!" Of course not. As smokers we have made so many pathetic excuses to light up and it's not easy to forget. There is no reason to feel down about your success. Just don't ever pretend it is easy. If I can do it, so can you!
Thanks Lia, your response about a non smoker made me laugh, you are so right, we should celebrate our successes and take each day one at a time keep it up Hun we will all keep going together
Well done on how far you've come. I think the thing is that the impulse will always be there. It's just that the longer you stay quit, the stronger you become and the easier it is to resist. I still come back here when the going gets tough to remind myself why ai want to stay on track.
Nonetheless, it takes astonishing strength to keep resisting something that is both bad for you but also gives you pleasure. Giving up is learning to live with that ambiguity. Well done.
yep my fav saying is my greatest strength is also my greatest weakness and understanding what that really means takes some decoding and I am sure ever addict has had to look down that road.
well done on your days and money saved but even more than that the hard line help for others :).
IC
I will add also that I can never ever forget I am an addict that's the time when I will smoke when I think one wont hurt me I am screwed.
I am an addict !! I can not smoke just one smoke.
IC
Hey Lia. Well done for you 420 days and thanks for the regular encouragement that has been so helpful. We ,as ex smokers , know what a gargantuan effort it took to stop but he ho we are in blue sky now. How wonderful is that. I still keep pinching myself to make sure it's not a dream. So many positives but the main one for me is self respect. I had a smoking dream a while back and I was dragging on a butt. What a relief when I woke up.
Like you I went cold turkey. I was 67 when I finally had the comitment to see it through
I definitely am a 6%er. Great to read your posts as well. Dobbin
Hey Lia. Well done for you 420 days and thanks for the regular encouragement that has been so helpful. We ,as ex smokers , know what a gargantuan effort it took to stop but he ho we are in blue sky now. How wonderful is that. I still keep pinching myself to make sure it's not a dream. So many positives but the main one for me is self respect. I had a smoking dream a while back and I was dragging on a do end. What a relief when I woke up.
Like you I went cold turkey. I was 67 when I finally had the comitment to see it through
I definitely am a 6%er. Great to read your posts as well. Dobbin
Lia, you nearly made me choke on my cup of tea while I was reading your post about naming your addiction Margaret Thatcher, so wish I'd though of that!!!! However, I did name mine Andy (after my brother) who is also a manipulative, self congratulating, egotistical idiot. -think I did quite well with that one! Mine also worked, so I think we can perhaps start a quitting NRT together of crappy people we want to punch. We should definitely get that one patented :) Thanks for your wise words and unconditional kindness and support. Hugs