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Read a member curated list of EX Community content over 10+ years

elvan
Member

OUR crazy quilt

Become an Ex is a lot like a crazy quilt.  My understanding of a crazy quilt is that is it all kinds of different fabrics sewn together into a quilt, not necessarily in any sort of pattern.  It CAN be in a pattern or it can just be randomly put together.  I think that pretty much describes all of us and how we are “sewn” together randomly.  Each piece is different and some pieces are bigger than others, some are older and more frayed, some are almost new looking.  There are pieces of silk, wool, velvet, denim, camo, madras plaid, polka dots, bright colors, dark colors, fancy lace, dotted swiss, pastels, and nearly invisible colors.  There is virtually every kind of fabric that exists in this quilt and every shape and every size you can imagine.  When a piece of the quilt is torn off or falls off, there is always another piece of fabric that can replace it.  It’s never going to be exactly the same, but there will always be another piece.   The quilt, like, Becomeanex.org will grow and grow and will remain intact and will become stronger, impenetrable in a way.  The quilt will be there to throw over the shoulders of someone who is struggling; it will be there to comfort and to celebrate.  Think of yourself as a piece of this quilt and hang on, be ready for challenges and be ready for celebrations.  Be ready to hold someone else on so they won’t be the missing piece of fabric, let’s all put this quilt together and make sure it is there when one of us needs it.  It’s pretty big and it can cover a whole bunch of people at one time.  You can be covered by it or lay on it and just feel its strength and its diversity…think about what kind of fabric you are. I am a pretty worn piece of denim but I am also pretty strong, all things considered.  I would like to be covered and comforted by those velvet and silk pieces, or maybe just a worn out tee shirt. The quilt is within your reach, always, but you have to be smoke free, there will be no smell of smoke on this quilt, there will be no burn holes in it.  The fabric may not be perfect because of previous damage but there will be no future damage.  Cover yourself with the quilt or lay down on it in the sunlight or make it into a magic carpet and go for a ride.  You choose what to do with it as long as you hang on.

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30 Replies
karen230
Member

Wonderful image of the Ex site. I can so relate to it as I am a quilter! The beauty of a crazy quilt is the diversity. I am so grateful for its comfort and warmth!

Karen

Newfound_Joy
Member

I LOVE IT!!  You are one heck of an AMAZING woman, Ellen.  If you can write like this even under the constant pain that you are in..............WHOA the sky is the limit for you once you get your health under control.  And I know YOU SHALL figure out a way.

Yes, I love the idea of all of us being a part of your creative quilt.  This thought shall stay with me forever.  The only idea I would add is that when one piece of the quilt is torn off or falls off, I can feel the pain as being a quilt fabric piece member.  It does hurt us when we lose a member.  I have seen it a few times.  I have found that my QUIT is not just about ME - it is about ALL of the pieces of the quilt as we bind together to help and support one another.  I have EXPERIENCED it when I relapsed at 83 days, and I truly saw the hurt and pain I caused to other friends on here - not just to myself.

Ahhhh, I think I shall lay down and relax now under the strength and warmth of your quilt.

Thank you!!

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cheyenne7
Member

Ellen, what a creative mind....you have described this community in a beautiful way....I  will hold this thought....

I am honored to be a piece of the quilt....and may I add that when a piece does fall off, it doesn't mean that it is lost forever....the piece has a chance, many chances to find its way back to the quilt....it is often hanging on by a single thread, but the strength of the stitch is trying to keep the piece from totally detaching....

I know when a piece disappears, I always hold out hope that it will find its way home...and it often does, as I did when I fell off....thanks to you all : )

Thanks for this touching post ❤️

Sick-of-it
Member

Beautiful, I was blessed to see a lovely crazy quilt this week, lady and her daughters had worked off and on for years and had it nearly finished.  It had the most beautiful embroidery work.  This was AQS in Paducah this week, didn't get to go but maybe we can all save our smoke money and go next year.

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lois2
Member

i sure like that thought Elvan being a part of this quilt, it is beaty so many diffrent color.thanks fo sharing.

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Magstoyou
Member

That is such a great blogg!!!

Thanks for sharing,

So neat!!!

We need a like button!!!

Mag285d

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moody_9-18-13
Member

Ellen, what a lovely way to think of this group.

Though we are a collection of people, all different, we share that we are nicotine addicts who want to be free of our addiction. 

Really nice blog, thank you for sharing!

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Strudel
Member

I love this! Ellen - what a wonderful blog! The symbol of the quilt has a special meaning in my quit journey...thank you so much for this! 

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