Whether you're a Newbie, a Returnee, in No Man's Land or In Between, or an Elder...Holidays are tough. Always have been, always will be. Let's just acknowledge that. As smokers, for years we used smoking as a reason (excuse) to escape the fray and go outside for a break. Or as a social lubricant, along with a drink or three. Alone, we used smoking as an "activity" to help cope with the loneliness. Now we no longer have that. Doesn't matter how big or small the holiday is, if people are involved, it's gonna be tough. And if you're alone, it's even tougher.
I refer back to Dale's awesome post https://excommunity.becomeanex.org/groups/best-of-ex/blog/2013/12/05/the-two-sets-of-seasons as a reference. We have to get through these seasons and holidays and milestones with new attitudes, new behaviors, and new lives.
Get through as best you can without smoking! Go outside anyway, take a walk, hug a tree, grab a buddy to talk to. If alone, go buy yourself a treat, see a movie, call a friend.
And if you want more ideas, go see /blogs/Youngatheart.7.4.12-blog/2013/02/25/100-things-to-do-instead-of-smoke by another super Elder!
We're in this together. We can do this thing. Happy Mother's Day, ya'll.
