235 days without a cigarette

I quit 235 days ago. A few weeks after I quit I was posting here and eagerly reading other people's posts, especially posts from those of you who were going through the same things. I'm normally a heavy smoker (2 packs a day) and have been smoking since I was 14 years old. I'm 50 now. Giving up smoking (and nicotene) was a great move and I don't regret it one bit. I can still remember some of things I learned from giving up. I'd like to share them with anyone who is interested.

1. I thought I was addicted to cigarettes but I'm actually addicted to nicotene and stimulants like coffee (After giving up cigarettes I almost blew my head off drinking coffee so now I've given up coffee too)

2. E-cigarettes are cigarettes to me. Addicts only vape e-cigs that contain nicotene

3. Nicotene screws you up in so many ways. It screws up your head and your stomach and a bunch of other things. I don't care what the medical community says because I know for a fact nicotene is bad. Why? Once you quit taking it in any forms you will realise how much better things are.

4. Addiction to nicotene is not just in my body but in my mind too. I remember going through cycles (withdrawals) of approx 30/60/90 days where the going go worse at those peaks but afterwards got so much better. I really started to feel I was getting further away from ciggies at about 3 months. After 6 months I'm breathing a lot better than before.

5. When I gave up, I was in the midst of all sorts of new problems unrelated to my addiction. In fact, my problems in life escalated even more. This is when I began fan my faith into flame (for another blog altogether) I've every reason to start smoking again but I don't want to. Nicotene is a two faced friend. If you don't like wicked two faced people then think of nicotene as one of those and then its a lot easier to stay away.

6. Posting how I felt was very helpful. So was going for a walk every time I felt strong urges. I'm still doing the walks but only because they've now become a new habit (a good habit)

7. I'm still very aware that I am one cigarette away from being addicted to cigarettes again. I know that now I'm quit that I must never become complacent and think I'm cleverer than nicotene. I need to come back here once in a while to give back to this community and to remind myself that life is better without cigarettes but also to remember where I've come from.