As I was preparing my coffee this morning I reflected on my nonsmoking journey. The thought of smoking is no longer the foremost thought on my brain. I know when we quit we wonder when is the thought of smoking going to stop? At times it can be very agonizing. The answer: If you just hang tough there will come a day that you don’t think about smoking. I am sure you read it here all the time, but I am asking you to believe it does diminish. There will come a day when you are no longer concerned whether you desire a cigarette after a meal or cup of coffee. Most of us call it our Ah ha moment. You will know when it happens. The moment it clicks, and you realize “I don’t have to do that anymore”.
It has to start with the first 24 hrs. to hang tough, no matter what you are not going to smoke. Then you can make it through to the next 72hrs and your system is clean. There are ups and downs on this nonsmoking journey. Some equate it to a roller coaster ride. I still say hang tough, hold on, scream if you have to, the rewards outweigh the discomfort. Make your 3 weeks of withdrawals easier if you stay close to the site. There will be times that you have to out talk and out think your addictive brain but know that things will get better if you stay close for Reading, Studying, Blogging , Questioning, Making Friends, Researching, Learning, Relearning how to handle it all. It takes work and commitment. It does not happen overnight
Thirty (30) days passes very quickly while you are learning tactics to protect your baby quit. At this point you recognize that you have not lost a thing but have gained so much more. 60, 90, 120, 200 days you still have to work this quit but you can hang a little loose. You know how to ride the wave of a crave. You know your triggers and you are prepared for them. You are in control so now you can hang a little loose because SINAO smoking is not an option in your life ever again and you know that no matter what you will not take that one puff ever. NOPE saved me. 346 days smoke free is the best feeling in the world. Right now I can hang loose and still protect my quit.
