Any elders ever think that a lit cigarette smells good?

[desiree465]

 Or is it something that goes away and stays away. I guess I'm always afraid that I'm going to be triggered to the point of smoking, because I see people on this site relapse all the time and it scares me that I'll relapse.

[AnnetteMM]

I'm weird. I love the smell and it doesn't trigger me. Don't be afraid of triggers...when it happens, you learn from it. I learned that wine triggers me but beer doesn't. Like I said, I'm weird.

[JonesCarpeDiem]

From a distance

[JonesCarpeDiem]

I grew up four blocks from the ocean. We bodysurfed 10 hours a day. There was still smoking allowed at the beach back then. I remember the smell of smoke wafting on the breeze when I'd come out of the water and lay down. I thought it smelled good. It didn't make me want to smoke, it just smelled good. I didn't start smoking until I was 18 and the smell wafting through the air at the beach had zero influence on my beginning to smoke. I now associate the smell of smoke more with the memories of when I was 10 than when I was a smoker.

We learn to disassociate from smoking over time.

You don't have to hate smoking or the smell of smoke to succeed at quitting.

I don't like the smell of smoke on clothes, in a closed space or a crowded room and lately, not behind another driver. but I don't mind it wafting on the breeze on a hot day occasionally.  

[elvan]

I hate the smell...I know that I didn't when I first quit but I avoided being around smoke at all costs.  I STILL do, not because it triggers me...it sickens me and the damage that I did to myself by smoking is ALWAYS there to remind me.  No triggers here.

[Giulia]

Like the smell of freshly popped popcorn, I love the smell of a freshly lit cigarette.  And I think to myself - so what?  I'm not going to go buy any.  Just like if I pass the popcorn I'm not going to buy any.  No different.  It's just a nice smell.  The difference with popcorn is that it also TASTES delicious.  Which I know cigarettes don't.  The other difference is that popcorn doesn't awaken my popcorn receptors.  lol  I ACCEPT the fact that a cigarette smells good to me.  (But not that horrid stale smell on people's breaths or clothes.)  I also accept the fact that I will not act on that smell for I don't do that any more.  I have removed the choice from my life.  It is a non-option.  But it wasn't in the beginning of my quit. THE POSSIBILITY DOOR 

You only need fear relapse if you've left the option open.  And the way to keep that door closed is by reinforcement, by reading on here daily, by hearing NOPE over and over and over again, until there is no longer a question about it in your mind.  My attitude changed when I finally "got it."  When I understood that one leads to a pack, when I understood that cigarettes really do destroy your quality of life, that it's a FACT, that it will happen to me, not just to other people - that's when the back-and-forth dialogue ceases and when Freedom begins.

Remember - an urge is not a command.

[Bonnie]

'Freshly lit" is the key....you're so right, Giulia!

[Bellegonia]

That reply was brilliant.

[Jennifer-Quit]

I do enjoy getting just a whiff of the smell of cigarette smoke.  But actually nauseates me to smell stale smoke - on someone's clothing, in someone's house, or in someone's car.  And I know that I was guilty of smelling this way for years.  That is one thing that keeps me going - I do not want to ever smell like that again.

It is sad and sometimes discouraging to see people relapse.  Just remember, that these people made the choice to smoke.  It is all about choices - make up your mind to not smoke - no matter what!  You can do this!

[Bonnie]

I'm with you, Jennifer.....NEVER WANT TO SMELL THAT WAY EVER EVER AGAIN! NASTY!

[Sandy-9-17-17]

I thoroughly loath the smell of cigarette smoke, and yet, I can't be mad at the smoker, because I use to be one!   Addicted!   Yes, I wish I didn't ever have to smell it again!