cancel
Showing results for 
Show  only  | Search instead for 
Did you mean: 

Share your quitting journey

Day 34: To Newbies...may I offer some advice?

SkyGirl
Member
0 9 15

I came to this site because I wanted to quit smoking.  I recognized that many of the people here had already done the thing that I wanted to do.  So I read what they told me to read.  I did the tracking exercises.  I went to the other sites that were recommended.  I was a STUDENT and I learned how I could stop being a nicotine addict. 

It was like a lightbulb went off the day that I GOT it. 

I understood COMMITMENT instead of "trying", "attempting", "hoping".

I understood taking PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY instead of wishing for "luck", and blaming "stress", "weakness" or "being around smokers".

I understood seeing quitting as FREEDOM instead of seeing it as "sacrifice", "giving up", "suffering through" or "losing" something.

When I quit, it wasn't "EASY".  Sorry, Allen Carr, it wasn't.  But I had a whole new way of thinking about it and that made it EASIER.

No, I'm not an Elder.  I'm not an EXpert.  I only have 34 days under my belt.  But I have more than that.   I have the knowledge, the understanding, the thinking, the confidence to know that I will never ever smoke again. 

And I have all that because I LISTENED to the people here and I FOLLOWED their advice.  Thank you, EXers!!!  You have literally saved my life.  xxxooo

9 Comments
About the Author
I'm a 64 year-old flight attendant for a major US airline. Prior to that, I owned an ice cream store and six hot dog carts and put my five kids thru college on hot dog earnings! Prior to THAT, I was Director of International Administration for Domino's Pizza, Inc. I was married to my H.S. sweetheart (dad of my 5 kids) for 17 years. I've been with Jeff for 23 years, but we just finally got married in 2016! Jeff & I live in Cape Meares, OR right on the beach. I'm from Ann Arbor, MI, where many of my kids/relatives still live. My flying base is Washington, DC, where I have a condo that I stay in when I'm between flying trips. My dream is to retire and stay home with Jeff and my two cats, Kenneth & Barbara...not happening soon, though. So I go home whenever I can get a week or more off. I LOVE to meet up with other EXers in the cities where I lay over. I usually blog about what cities I'm laying over in, so let me know if I'm staying near you! I'll buy dinner!! Xxxooo, Sky