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Share your quitting journey

Decisions = research education + action

Maki
Member
5 4 74
‎12-19-2020 11:12 AM

Gmorning ......

Back on track ... first thing coffee as I write this blog , second exercise. If I wait I'm less likely to do it . If I wait stress will likely get the best of me .

Now smoking is never a thought not during stress or anxiety , not this Christmas season or others past but stress and anxiety still exist . Action is the only thing to relieve them , and that takes research sometimes or discussion before a decision can be made , however in every case it takes action for the solution . It's how we quit smoking as well and it takes practise , commitment and responsibility . 

With covid , a lot of decisions have to be made for a lot of us right now myself included and it never fails when it rains it pours at the worst possible times . An telephone appointment with my doctor two days ago poses more decision making . Pros and cons have to be weighed just as when I quit smoking . What are the benefits of surgery being so soon ,especially now with covid at its highest point and  how can that even be with surgeries being put off because of covid , why can't it wait , what are the pros and cons . What are the facts , what is just assumption .  What is safer .

My decision . No one can make it for me . Just like keeping your quit , it's in your hands . You may get a second chance, but you may not ... choose wisely . Will you risk going to the store where covid is to get a pack of cigarettes and risk your life both ways or just not smoke . 

Smoking is not the answer , no  .  Smoking is never a cure for anything ! Will deciding on something with full knowledge help , yes.  Education is key . Following through with a decision is the next step and the last step . 

So thanks for letting me talk this through .

We have wind warnings today .. winds up to 90 ... so we will batten down the hatch and put the snow shovels away before they get blown away . Every warning requires a decision to take action. Last night we had freezing rain warnings  .. so many decided to stay off the roads . Day before we had snow and high winds . Shovelling was pointless as it just blew back in , so I waited . 

We make decisions every day , many times a day .. keeping your quit should be a priority decision followed through with action .  Number 1 priority every morning , every afternoon and every evening and if you find yourself wanting to smoke .. weigh the pros and cons of losing that beautiful quit . 

Stay safe all . 

4 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 .