~~What a wonderful thought it is that some of the best days of our lives haven't happened yet.~~ Ann Frank
We like to think that we know it all. We know what to do, we know how to do it, and we know we can handle anything.
And then we know better. Because in the blink of an eye, everything changes. It hits you unexpectedly and swiftly. What do you do when your world has crumbled around you? What do you do when when you get so angry you want to hurt someone? What do you do when you're so stressed you feel like screaming?
Because if you don't make a plan for these times that will come, you risk losing your quit. Our old addictive behaviors rear their ugly heads when life has handed us a curve ball, you know. We fall back on the negative coping responses we had for everything. Angry? Smoke and it will relax you. Heartbroken? Have a cigarette and calm down. Stressed? Blow it out with the smoke.
Smoking never did anything like that, you know. It didn't calm us down, relax us, or ease our stress. If you understand addiction, you understand this. If you don't understand addiction, put it at the top of your "things to do to quit smoking successfully" list.
And seriously, plan what you are going to do when life yanks the rug out from under you. Crying is always good....a healthy release of emotion. Journaling (or blogging) your thoughts. Running. Gardening. Talking with a friend. Singing. Painting. Yoga. Breathing!! So very important to remember to do. (Holding your breath keeps you tense and makes it hard to think clearly.) Sing. Stick your head in your freezer. Blow bubbles. Count. Laugh. Hug someone.
If you are contemplating quitting or you're newly quit, I can promise you that some of the best days of your life haven't happened yet. But they are there waiting for you. Be prepared for the unexpected and you can look forward to the unexpected, if that makes any sense. Because you will recognize it and know what to do to protect your precious quit. Quitting isn't a gift that it handed to you. You earn it and by earning it, you'll do whatever you need to to protect it.
Just a thought or two from a quitter.....Sheri
