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Day 87: You know, this isn't always easy....oh, wait. Yes, it IS!!!

SkyGirl
Member
0 22 28

I know, I know...  

"Day 87???  Seriously, WHY is this person even here anymore?" 

"I've been fighting to get through Day 6, and this person is crying about Day EIGHTY-SEVEN??"

I'm NOT crying.  But I am still here on EX.  And I'm still here because the EXperts have taught us well.  They KNOW what they are talking about. 

Yes, the nicotine is out of your body in about three days.  Yes, the changes in brain function that were caused by nicotine take about another 21 days to right themselves.   And then...you go into No Man's Land.  (For information about NML, go to the page of jonescarp aka dale and check out his blog on No Man's Land.  Actually...Dale, could you please put a link in the comments of this blog?  Thanks. xxoo)

Dale (and other EXperts) know that it takes about an additional one hundred days after the first 30 to find your "new normal".  Your "new normal" is a life in which you don't smoke and, in fact, you rarely think about smoking and certainly don't think of yourself as a smoker anymore.  Your "new normal" means that what was probably UNTHINKABLE to you prior to beating your nicotine addiction  is now the way you live your life.

So take a look at your calendar for 2013.  Yes, take one day at a time.  Sometimes, in the beginning, it's just one hour at a time.  But go ahead and mark that date on your calendar.  130 Days from the date you quit.

I quit on Sept 27, 2012.  I'm wandering around in No Man's Land right now.  I'm doing great and I'm proud of myself.  BUT...every once in a while, a crave hits.  And hits BIG.  You have to be aware of this possibility in NML.  If you are not aware and ready for it, you might say "Oh, heck, I can smoke just ONE now."

No.  You can't.  Nicotine addiction is always ready to take over your brain again, even with just one cigarette.  I know this from personal experience.  I quit smoking when I was 30.  I was a non-smoker for 23 years.  During those years, I couldn't even imagine smoking a cigarette.  But my sister came to visit and, while having some wine, she offered, I took it. BAM!  Immediately addicted again.

So...is it hard to quit?  Not if you have done the recommended reading, done the exercises, make the commitment and stick close to the blogs. Not if you think of quitting as "freedom" instead of "sacrifice".

(And, btw, mark Feb 4 on your calendars.  I'll come walking out of No Man's Land on that day.  Woohoo!  There WILL be a party!)

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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