Smoke Free and Loving It!
Five years ago at the age of 54, I finally confessed to my doctor that I smoked. I lied to everyone for years - like almost forty years. I was a closet smoker who smoked when I was stressed, smoked when I was excited and happy and smoked when I was bored. I didn't need much of an excuse to go off and light up.
My doctor prescribed Chantix for me and I took my time weaning myself off cigarettes. After about three months I was totally done. Chantix strongly urges using a support group and that brought me to this website. I really appreciated the support and, often when I wanted to sneak out to the garage and smoke, I would instead visit the site. I would read the wisdom of others and contribute my thoughts and would become inspired not to give up the quit.
Everyone knows its tough to quit and everyone has ideas on how to make it easier. Embracing a healthy lifestyle with diet and exercise helped. It's amazing how much better you feel exercising when you aren't also smoking. Finding other things to do when I would ordinarily go smoke made it easier. Reading a book, writing something, organizing something, anything to preoccupy my thoughts. And paying more attention to my spiritual life and prayer also gave me amazing strength and resolve.
I love that I don't smoke. I love that I don't reek of smoke and can look and feel so much better. I love that I don't get condescending looks from people when I smoked outside. I love that I don't have to figure out when and where I can have my next cigarette. Mostly I love that God gave me the strength to quit and doggone I did it! I carry half a pack of left over cigarettes in my brief case. I like to know that they are there but that I am stronger.
If you are quitting, if you have quit many times before, keep your eye on the prize. Don't think of what you are giving up and, oh dear, how will I survive my day without that cigarette. Look ahead. Push on one day at a time. You, too, will come out at the end and will love being smoke free!
Aprildancer
