Now that I've finished hell week and am well into heck week, my mind has started wandering and wondering about the whole quit process. Nasty stuff, and clearly not for the weak. I've read a lot of data both on and off of this site, and educated myself on quit statistics. We all know that the key to a successful quit is mental; it's the commitment we make that helps determine the outcome. For some of us, health issues finally wake us up from our nicotine haze. For others it's a desire to live a healthier lifestyle. It may be a financial burden, or smoking may have just become a royal pain in the ass. Whatever it is that brought us here, we're here. But do we really want to be here? If yes, do we take what we need and move on from being consumed with the quit, or do we stay in the quit process? Yesterday I mentioned the little voice in my head who offered me permission to smoke (Larry, thanks for the "club" visual!). What is it that allows quitters to silence that? Willpower? Commitment? Fear of failing? Of having to start over? What makes some of us listen to that voice? Worse yet, think about the ones that slip and smoke without the voice at all. Habits are bitches to break. Some of us go into this to try and quit, some of us go into this to get through the quit. What's the difference, and in the end, does it matter? I think there's a huge difference and that it does matter. Some of us love our quits, and others of us are miserable every minute of it. Do positive and negative attitudes affect the success of a quit? If so, can we arm ourselves with appropriate tools for each attitude as we start our process? One of the keys to my very young quit has been blogging. It is in my nature to write, to share, to wonder, debate and discuss. This is the only site on which I blog, but I've read many blogs and forums and find that there are similarities in all. Some quitters know from day one that they are finished, and others repeatedly reset their quit dates. It's those that hit the reset button that impress me the most. Reminds me of The Little Engine That Could. We can all do it, but we have to have the right attitude. As always, I'm grateful to this site for allowing me to express my thoughts, frustrations and victories. I'm particularly grateful to those who have been here longer than me who offer continuous support, laughter and encouragement. I can't imagine getting through the withdrawal period without you guys; I would surely have failed. As I've pulled through the worst part of my withdrawal process, I'm going to find that it's harder to post regularly, unless we start a recipe sharing blog, lol. I'm going to switch my focus to supporting others rather than seeking support. What a wonderful transition to make! xx Susan
