My annual check in - 3 years on from 1 Jan 2019

Every year I make it a goal to come back in here and post to honor my quit journey. Only you guys know how hard the journey can be. And it is the support of this community that got me through some dark hours on my quit. I am forever grateful. So surprisingly, I screamed silently to myself many times in 2021 "I want a cigarette". maybe more times than the previous 2 years. It wasn't COVID (Melbourne most locked down city in the world) related. It was more challenging life moments of stress and missing that old "friend" (yes I know it was never my friend. but that's what we tell ourselves when we want one). I always knew my quit journey would never end, I still have to consciously stay committed in trying times, like a recovering addict. I always knew I was the person who could never just have one. So I have made another year. Still grateful for every day I am smoke free. The reason I quit was that I did not want to carry the burden of smoking anymore. You all know what I mean by the burden - its a bunch of stuff that we become wedded to like the inability to stop, being a social outcast, the headfuck of knowing you are actually doing something bad to your own health 25 times a day but can't stop, the smell, oh I could go on, you all know. My quit reason remains valid and true - I am so glad i have not lugged that burden through 2021. I am still learning 3 years later about the emotions my smoking smothered and am still learning ways to process thoughts and feelings without cigarettes. That is the constant along with the quit reason. So overall, I am in good knick. Sending encouragement to all those who may have started their quit journey on this New Years. Keep at it. Keep trying. It can be done.