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Share your quitting journey

Day 365 for me!

NewMe
Member
1 14 57

As I noticed my 1-year anniversary approaching, my brain started nagging me to pull a Pulitzer Prize winning blog out of somewhere. After all, I’d learned some great things reading here, and with a full year under my belt, I should be able to impart some tried and true methods and techniques for reaching the mountaintop. I kept remembering one blog I had read when I was in the infancy of my quit. The author had set his sights on the goal of reaching one year, and likened the journey to climbing to a mountain peak. He talked about how important it was to keep your eye on the prize and to maintain a positive attitude. As I read his blog, I could hear the great MLK in my head, saying “I have a dream” and “Let freedom ring”. Clear as day. Inspirational. And forgive me for quoting Hillary, but I know that for me, it took a village for me to quit smoking. In the beginning, I was wallowing in pity parties because quitting is HARD and really SUCKS! But I am a wimp and knew I didn’t want to add to my misery by attracting any of that Tough Love. Lucky for me, someone else would always come along and ask that question that was just beyond the tip of my tongue. Express that bad attitude and get an Excellent response on how to develop a positive attitude. Find an answer to a question I had not quite put words to just yet. Always providing plenty of information that helped me to persevere and forge ahead.

I find it amazing how much information I have soaked up by coming here to read daily. And that information has changed me. I also don’t know if this year was unusual in the number of smoking-related deaths and serious illnesses reported here, but that has sure taken the wind out of my previous river of denial.

This site is absolutely amazing, and I feel it is an example of adversity bringing out the best in people. Quitting is definitely hard without proper guidance, and this community feels that and gives back in spades by lending a helping hand to anyone who wants to join in. To all that have helped me in this journey, I can’t thank you enough. Thank you to everyone who asked the tough questions. Thank you to those brave enough to roar about their angst, while I whimpered quietly at home, but gained great strides from the answers you got. A world of gratitude to all who stick around to guide others down the path to freedom.

And to all you newbies: be a sponge. Come here often and soak up all that you need. Take what you like, and leave the rest. But please stick around and find success. You will be so glad that you did. 

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