~~I love my life. It's my way of saying "thank you" to the world.~~ Unknown
By the time I quit smoking, I was ready for other changes as well. I let go of the negative people and things in my life that kept me feeling unbalanced and victimized. I let go of old hurts. I forgave others. I forgave myself.
It was time, you see, to create the best me I could be. So I learned about me. What I loved, what I wanted to do, who I wanted to be. I truly looked at myself for the very first time. Not my looks but my life. It was a time of transformation.
I looked forward to it. All the time and energy and focus I once had on my addiction, I now put to creating a smoke free me. What fun!! And it distracted me from missing smoking. Rather than focusing on my quit, I focused on healing my spirit and my heart and my world.
Did it work? Well, I love my life now. I am far from perfect but having flaws is as natural as having thoughts. I am made of kindness and impatience, joy and distraction, delight and weirdness. Every day I give thanks that I have more time to learn, to laugh, to love.
In the three plus years since I quit, I have been a work in progress. But I have enjoyed the journey. I never regretted quitting. I never regretted forgiving. I never regretted letting go of all the negatives. I feel lighter, happier, and more relaxed than I ever have before.
Now, we are all different. Some of you may not need to create a life you love because you are already there. Some of you may view the world through a different perspective and joy is not a feeling you are looking forward to. Some of you may need a little laughter, a few good friends, and a bit of understanding.
Whatever it is you need to help you quit smoking.....find that! Find that focus that will get you through those first moments, the first week, the first year, of your quit. Develop your plan rather than diving blindly into something you aren't ready for. You need coping skills. You need support. And you need to know, deep down inside, that no matter how difficult your quit is, you will come through the other side with no regrets.
What does your quit consist of?
Sheri
