What am I talking about? Relapse, lapse, slip, slipsies you name it. I am simply repeating what the elders have taught and what I have seen. Just because you have a numbers days, weeks, months, years under your belt you are not immune to losing your quit if you don’t guard it. The elders constantly preach protect your quit and they tell you.
How?
1) You have to change your way of thinking. It is no matter what, not one puff ever. NOPE
For me this weekend I could have been in “slipsville” and you probably would not have heard from me because one puff can lead to INSANITY. My daughter’s 40th birthday party was a major event. I was under a lot of pressure to help decorate, set up, prep food, greet guest, and clean up. I will not lie the thought of smoking crossed my mind. In the course of running around in circles doing errands there were several times that the association of smoking surfaced. I could recall smoking between stops. That is what I would have done. Luckily I had a quick reminder when I went into a store. I had my back turned to another customer and could smell the smoke. I smiled and a feeling of joy came over me and I said to myself, “Thank God I do not do that anymore”. My Dopamine.
The bottom line is we have to GUARD our quit no matter what is going on in our lives.
2) Stay focused and not be fooled and throw you quit away.
3) If you are going to drink or be in an environment of partying know your limitation. If you cannot do it DO NOT GO THERE. We have worked too hard to allow a one night stand to destroy our quit.
4) Most of all BE HAPPY that you can make the right CHOICE.
5) Self talk will work if you use it.
Tell yourself that no way am I going back to day ONE* UNO AGAIN! NEVER! Close the door and lock it and know that part of our life is over but NEF never ever forget.
Thank you elders. I could not have done it without you 266 days smoke free.
