I must have been nuts
Despite criticism of smokers for damaging their health and throwing thousands down the drain non smokers have no idea how intensely difficult it is to quit. When I first realised I really wanted to quit it was in the 1980s and the real misery of smoking started. Having already been smoking for almost 20 years you would have thought enough was enough. No. It took another 25 years before I finally quit. Total of 53 years or so before I finally quit.
I cannot help thinking there was some madness here but the addiction was so total I was in the grip of an insidious habit that seemed to be impossible the shake off.
At aged 67 Sept 2015 I finally had my last cigarette. Thanks to this community I was given the encouragement to see through the aching withdrawals of the poision chemicals the ciggy barons put in their cigarettes to keep me and others addicted.
No it was not easy to quit but the rewards are numerous. Rather than list the rewards the no 1 is self esteem. My identity is now a ' non smoker '. However , diligence is necessary because I can't fool myself into thinking " one won't hurt ". One puff will put me back to square one again just like snakes and ladders. Thanks all.
Hey Dobbin , you right what you saying. We are of the same age and smoked for similar number of years before we knew the fun was over. Mate, in our time of growing up it was macho...you know what i mean....Rockers,Surfies and Skinheads everyone smoked.We at age 16 or so wanted to play tough and unfortunately elder citizens all smoked so at that young age we took it as acceptable. Anyway, we have mellowed now and need to adjust to the times and therefore it means we cannot continue to smoke ;and rest assured it will be horribly sad if you or me was to regress. Cheers mate. Hang in there.
I applaud you tremendously for your very real and brave post Dobbin. I absolutely love how you describe your experience and I have nothing but the greatest of respect for you!!
Not sure if you guys have been hearing these advertisements lately but they are really advocating that it doesn't matter how old a person is, it's still worth giving up.
At 67, life isn't over, far from it, you've both given up and huge credit to you both!! I'm not sure what you look like Dobbin and the only reason I'm saying that is because I can see the pic of you Johnnie and you still have your swag happening mate!!!
Sorry but I did laugh when you talked about skinheads etc lol. Oh my gosh I used to be scared of then when I was a little girl haha.
Be super duper proud of what you have achieved Dobbin and that's so much for always keeping it real.
Hi Dobbin. My, how "cool" changed over the decades. What a huge disappointment for so many of us. Faced with the need to butt out or perish. Better late than never. We are now watching out for each other and welcome all stories. Let's face it, if you are not scared, you are not having fun. We were so scared when we started this journey. Now it is more fun as we look back on our stupidity.
Kim...........i was'nt a skinhead but a surfie back then...loved the beach.......
Great work dobbin. My wife and family have never smoked so I was always getting told to quit etc. It definitely is the hardest thing I have gone through personally in my life. I cant thank you and the I canquit community for being so helpful and laying a supportive foundation in place
Lol Johnnie, wasn't calling you a skinhead, just that I was scared of them. A surfie yeahhh!! Love love love the beach myself and loved listening to The Beach Boys.
I know you did'nt Kim. My comment was in good humour. Good luck with your quit journey. Cheers.
Thanks Surfie!! 😃 You've helped me ride the crave waves without hitting the sand. Onya mate.