on Nov 19, 2018
What do you love to do? What subject do you read everything you can get your eyeballs on? What motivates and engages your avid attention? What makes you curious and question and seek to find answers? It could be cooking - new recipes - or new crafting techniques, parenting, or it could be sports, or politics, or technological inventions... Whatever it is that you spend time and energy and thought and attention on - that’s the kind of focus and attention and curiosity that will help you overcome this addiction.
You need to become fascinated with quitting. It needs to become your focus in life. (MOO - my opinion only) Not forever, just until you “get there.” And what I mean by “get there” is - until you get to the point where you’re not suffering over the choice, that decision you’ve made; where every thought isn’t about how you want a cigarette; where you don’t even consider smoking in your life any more. That’s called Freedom. That’s what all smokers who want to quit wish to experience. And I think in order to do so, becoming fascinated with the subject, isn’t a bad thing.
So become fascinated with quitting. And become fascinated with your own personal journey in regards to it. It’s a deep inner self-looking journey. There is so much discovery and thus so much potential for growth. But that kind of “inner looking” takes courage. And hard truth. I hope you have or gain that in this process.
It’s when we understand the emotional excuses we make, that we can overcome those excuses and thence overcome this addiction.
I hope all who are new at this journey discover the fascination with the process and make it your passion. As one who is passionate about the Freedom we attain from quitting - I want YOU to have what I feel. It’s amazing.
Never give up.
I really like this blog. thank you! I hope someone gets it.
Love it with a passion!
And to those just starting out, I will testify that this freedom from addiction is more wonderful than you can imagine. The fragrance of just mowed grass, a salty ocean breeze, the unhurried company of friends, the elimination of the constant background stress........it is all so amazing.
And it's why I am still here, 6+ years after I quit to help all I can to achieve it, too.
GREAT blog, G. Well done!
(and I am joining Marilyn.H.July.14.14. in looking for the "Helpful" button right now!)
Nancy
And lookit who's here... those with long-term quits. I figured everybody would be involved with their holiday weekend and nobody would probably see this blog. And I thought - wow, what a stupid time to put up a blog here. But then, when the calling calls....
Thanks for seeing, reading and responding. I love you guys.
Giulia
As always Ms G, eloquent and thought provoking - A BLOG WORTH READING CAREFULLY.
Apart from quitting being my passion, I find experiencing the passion and the journey of others on this site strengthens my own quit daily.
Luvya!
Bree
Helpful.
Would never miss a day on this site. Holidays or not. Thanks
Barb
BEAUTIFUL, G! What an inspiring and honest blog...it's true...it DOES have to become your passion, at least at the beginning and, for some of us, much longer than that.
Thanks for the reminder.
Love,
Ellen
Thank you Giulia, there was nothing more important in my life the first 6 months of my quit, really, it is the truth.
It was center stage, my life revolved around how to keep it going, how to adjust, step forward or back in some actions, activities, way of thinking. I guess one would say I was fascinated with the changes it prompted in my body, conscience, environment. Was I positively involved with it, I think I was, otherwise I would not have made it to where I am today.
Hoping many newbies will get the message, thank you for sharing lady G!
I had already went to bed.
It's ingrained inside my head
I'll remember until I turn red
Smoking is not for me. .
Great blog! Finding a passion! 'BECOME FASCINATED WITH QUITTING'. Yes...thats what has to be done
GOOD SUGGESTIONS-Thanks Lady G-life saving BLOG-for ME-thank you again for teaching ME-to remember only by Gods grace-i made a decision-NEVER TAKE ANOTHER PUFF EVER-your ACTIONS - speak louder than words-you are living your non smoker life style HELPING us above yourself Lady G - thanks for teaching ME to do the same-if you can-i can-TOGETHER-LIVING THE N.O.P.E. LIFE-ONE DAY AT A TIME WITH YOU IS KEEPING ME-OPEN MINDED AND EVER LEARNING -YOUR THE BESTEST TEACHER TO ME! LOVE YOU MY BELOVED LADY G.
Thank you Giulia, I am finally beginning to see a light at the end of a long tunnel. Quitting has been my passion for years, but somehow, I missed the boat. I think I must have been incredibly stupid, I've finally come to terms, with I DO want to stay quit. I hate the stink. Just at my hairdresser's today, and I could actually smell, the shampoo and moose she put in.
Christine13 You haven't missed the boat, you just keep falling off it and have to climb back up the ladder. I think your passion for quitting has at this point brought to an equality between the number of days you've quit and the number of days you've smoked. I hope that some day you will be on the plus side of the equation. Stupid you're definitely NOT!
Thank you Giulia I'm just seeing this post now and it's another blog post that I wish had a helpful button because I'd be tapping on it right now but I'll have to settle for the like button instead awesome my friend and Fellow Exer and most definetly EXtended family, I'm wishing you and all of my American friends a very safe and Happy Thanksgiving Smokefree of course .
The great thing about this site is - it doesn't matter when you see a particular post. If it helps, if it pushes that inner button to become smoke free, if it pushes a thought to stay smoke free - it doesn't matter. For some it's just a seed being planted. For others it's a plant being nourished with some great thought-provoking manure. Blogs are the lifeblood of this site community. Some resonate with all, some resonate with some. I can't imagine that some resonate with none.
I do believe all our blogs resonate with somebody sometime. That gives my heart hope. And that's why I hang around. For that hope that someone else will come to understand not only how to become free, but that amazing feeling of having achieved that freedom
I wish you a happy and safe evening in your lovely Canadaland.