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Share your quitting journey

Better Than Smoking

Maki
Member
6 7 86
‎06-15-2020 12:00 PM
  • Go for a walk , because walking is healthier than smoking. It's better than smoking . 
  • Pick up a craft or new hobby because keeping ones hands busy is better than smoking
  • Make playlists of inspirational music because inspiration is a happy tone and sets a happy mood . It's better than smoking . 
  • Call friends ; not to talk about quitting smoking but to bring happy news or good thoughts to someone else . Focus on talk that's positive . It's much more rewarding than smoking . 
  • Go for a walk because walking will not only help you pass the craves but will keep your heart healthy . 
  • Plant a tree , or a shrub in honor of your quit , place a plaque on it with your quit date and watch them both grow together . Patience brings beauty . It's better than smoking . 
  • Take frequent time outs in conflict ... be it with others or yourself . Addiction talks without thinking . It loves to be heard .  Addiction blames , addiction raises havoc in relationships with other loved ones and oneself . Time outs , are better than smoking . 
  • Walk , breathe in the fresh air , exhale the tension , smile . It's better than smoking . 
  • Excersise ;  burn off those craves  . It's better than a puff that causes another constant wave of craves . One round of craves is better than smoking causing a second round of craves . 
  • Dont dine with a cigarette , instead invite a real friend to dinner . Reward yourself with good company and good conversation and true friends .  A cigarette is not your friend nor is it's 24 other accomplices . They come in a package deal . You want the better deal . Freedom ! Family , friends you can count on . 
  • Go for a walk and a picnic . enjoy nature , it's better than smoking 
  • Go to the zoo , you can't tell me watching the monkeys won't make you smile ... it's better than smoking . 
  • Window shop and you got it  walk . It's better than smoking 
  • Don't buy beg , borrow or go dumpster diving for cigarettes , put another dollar in the jar . It is better than smoking.  Add em up at the end of the month . All those times you thought about smoking and didn't made you rich in heart ... donate to your favourite charity . It's better than smoking . It's more rewarding than smoking . 
  • Walk there and watch their faces light up for you brought them more than a gift ...  you brought them joy . It's better than smoking . 
  • Put your favourite mantra or your reason for quitting in your pocket .. Write on a stone "faithful to my quit" or " I pledge " or "  I got this"  something of significance to you . When you feel you are losing touch reach into that pocket or your purse and feel  it , touch it , hold it ; ask yourself what does it feel like, what does it say , what does it mean , what color is it , what shape is it , what is it's texture . " The crave will pass " might be written on it ... It's better than smoking . 

        Maki 

7 Comments
About the Author
Smoker of 28 years . COPD recipient . My biggest help to quit was to read other successful quitters testimony . I’ll have a thirteen years quit June 30 , 2024 . Biggest lesson learned : I learned the “Just one” lesson . You can never have just one .It is the the key to everyone’s quit . Having “ none” is the easy way to quit smoking . Quit tools : Made use of my strengths and improved upon my weaknesses . Quit benefits , more time with my family , better quality of life , better self image . How I kept the quit : one day at a time , one step at a time . I told myself like a broken record : “ Don’t smoke ; Do something different “ then literally went and did something different other than smoking “ . Quitting is not complicated , nope is it , however it will be the process of self discovery for you to find that out for yourself . How long will that be ? Up to you . We are all different and we come from different backgrounds and smoked for different reasons so no one can really tell you when it will get easier for you only that it will . Be patient with yourself . Who cares how long it takes anyway because we all came to quit forever . This quit is for life , your life , so embrace it , welcome it , it’s the best thing you will ever do for yourself . The money you save get a bucket list of little rewards and big ones and do them . Change the things you can . Life is worth living . This gets easier , oh my gosh , so much much easier . Give it a season , give it two and you’ll never want to let go of your quit I promise you that . It’s wonderful , absolutely wonderful to be free . Quitting btw was the hardest thing I’ve ever done just like everyone here . I shed buckets of tears for weeks , yelled into a pillow , stuck my head into a cold bucket of water and paced aimlessly in head fog . Was it worth it , every bit of it ! Biggest improvement : , my health , the relationship with my family ( all non smokers thank goodness ) and finances . When I started 2011. I was walking three blocks with the use of inhalers for copd . Latest accomplishment : still on the inhalers no further advancement of copd . June 1 2023. Did my first 10 k . Next goal is my second 10k by the end of 2024 . I’m 68 years years young and I’m an Ex smoker . I was able to take three trips ( out of country ) with my family because I quit smoking . Time I never would have had had I not quit . Money from quitting paid for them . I want to say you are in control , take your power back from cigarettes from vaping or any addiction you might have . Life awaits you , don’t let it pass you by . Make the decision to stop and one day that light will shine upon you and make you a whole new you . Thank you to Quitnet members and Ex members for the support and encouragement to quit and stay quit . That along with my desire never to smoke again has given me a life long successful quit . No turning back , ever .