It happens in the blink of an eye..............
A new york minute....................................
A single heartbeat of time.......................
YOU 'GET' IT.... YOU HAVE AN EPIPHANY.
We all want to quit smoking..... That's why we're here. We start out motivated and wonderful...... but somehow we start out feeling a loss. In the back of our minds....... we feel something soothing...comforting...pleasureable... is being removed from our life. And its not pretty. It gets hard...we feel anxious and upset. It takes sheer will to stop. FALSE.
I am proud and happy to be a NON-SMOKER. For all of you who don't know me... and there are many, many, new and wonderful people here now......... I quit smoking on May 23, 2012 at 5:30 in the afternoon. I quit cold turkey. I'd had enough. I have been an off again on again smoker since I was 15. I had a 9 year quit under my belt that I ruined. I've had many 1 year quits.....
Last January...... I had a very rough event happen in my life. It was late and I was devastated. I turned to the one thing that I KNEW would calm me. I took 5 puffs. I felt increased anxiety welling up inside of me and I felt light headed. My heart started racing. I KNEW AT THAT MOMENT...... smoking was not the answer. I walked away and have not looked back.
WHY...... when someone was hurting me..... would I deliberately hurt myself even more? There was no pleasure....... there was now increased pain. Smoking was never the answer....... it is a horrible addiction that I... a grown, intelligent woman was suffering from. I HAD MY EPIPHANY.
I knew and understood........at that moment.... that smoking was killing me slowly and I found no joy or pleasure in it. I had just always told myself I loved it. WOW.
That was a mind blower when it hit. We love smoking... its sociable... its relaxing.......its calming and soothing........ it brings folks together....... drinking and smoking go hand in hand. Mom and Dad were always SO COOL....... laughing.... having a great time. Smoke in one hand...drink in the other. I COULD NOT WAIT.... to be that cool.
KNOWLEDGE IS POWER.
KNOW AND UNDERSTAND YOUR ADDICTION.
DO NOT THINK OF YOURSELF AS A VICTIM....... BUT AS A WINNER. BREATHE IN YOUR SUCCESS.
I guess my message today is this................... if you are a new quitter... your Epiphany will come. At some point, you will understand completely, why you quit, but STILL romanced the cigarette. When this happens...... your quitting days will be over. There will be no more relapses...no setbacks.... no slips. You will be living your 'Forever Quit' You will find NO pleasure in the thought of smoking.
When you finally realize the brainwashing, we've lived with for years that the Elders here talk about...... when you know what the craves REALLY are....... when you GET IT how deadly cigarettes are..... that you would never eat a poison mushroom.... or drink clorox..... or walk out in front of a train...... or cut off your own hand..... YOU ARE DONE. You have had your 'moment' You know your addiction.... and he IS NOT your friend. "Keep your Friends close.... and your enemies closer" And NEVER,,,, for one second.... think anything different.
N.O.P.E.
