~~Wounds don't heal the way you want them to, they heal the way they need to. It takes time for wounds to fade to scars. It takes time for the process of healing to take place. Give yourself that time. Give yourself that grace. Be gentle with your wounds. Be gentle with your heart. You deserve to heal.~~ Dele Olanubi
I have a few minutes between visits so I thought I would pop in and wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. I have not done any Christmas shopping yet and no baking so I don't know that I'll be able to be here again before the holidays. Please know you all are in my heart and will be on my mind during Christmas. Those I know, those who helped me save myself, and those who I have yet to meet here, you all mean a great deal to me! We have a shared bond, a common goal. To quit and pass on our knowledge to the next in line.
I was a horrible quitter for the longest time. Really, I just sucked at it. I wasn't focused on what quitting truly meant and I was in the 'victim' mentality in my life so the world looked big and scary and I didn't move at all. At one time I would have called myself pathetic but now I know that my wounds had to heal their way in order for me to heal as well. Once they did...and once I did...I was able to move forward and understand what I needed to do to quit.
Regardless of how healthy you think you are mentally, emotionally, physically....once you quit smoking, you need to allow yourself time to heal. Addiction is truly a wound. Trying to ignore that wound or trying to force healing so that you can 'just get on with it' will only irritate it and make it harder to heal.
Give yourself that time you need to heal. Don't rush through it because it won't work. Give yourself that grace you need to heal well and whole. Be gentle with you. Because your life is new and may be scary as a non-smoker. You will need time to figure out how to handle all the new sensations (like anger, stress, excitement). You may need time to cry, scream, and get rid of all that negative junk you've stored up while smoking your cares away.
But never doubt you can do it. Never doubt that you deserve it! And never doubt that with time, you will heal.
Thank you, Giulia, for being the first to just notice me here. Merry Christmas to you and may you be gifted with peace for yourself over the coming year. Thank you, Sootie, for your humor, your wisdom, and your warmth. May you be blessed with the humor, wisdom, and warmth of those you love over the upcoming year. JonesCarpeDiem, YoungAtHeart, MarilynH, Thomas3.20.2010, Daniela2016, Strudel, JACKIE1-25-15, Mandolinrain and so many more who have graced this site with inspiration, motivation, and their own unique sparkle, Merry Christmas and may you enjoy happiness and love this holiday season.
And for those who believe they are struggling with their quits.....allow yourself to heal the way you need to, not as everyone else has done before you. Trust that you can and have faith that you will. Merry Christmas!!!
ps. I know I have left out names like my Tommy, Bonnie, Virginia, Diane Joy, and others. I love you all!!! God Bless and Merry Christmas!!
Sheri
