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Be Prepared for the Change in Seasons

YoungAtHeart
Member
4 3 82

The change of seasons and holidays are annual events and we thus don't have a lot of practice relearning our past smoking rituals around them.  For at least the first two years after you quit, you might find yourself having thoughts of smoking as they occur.  Create a NEW association with them and it will get easier with time.

My first instance was that, after almost 15 months, I had thoughts that something was missing when I took my break from raking leaves.  I had relearned most things in my new life and had new rituals, but this was something with which I had not dealt.  It wasn't a crave exactly, but I did want to smoke a cigarette.  I created a NEW association by fixing myself a small, really cold Pepsi over crushed ice (I no longer drink soda on a a regular basis) and it was a treat.   Bingo!

Be aware as the season changes this year - and think ahead of time what you will do differently now that you don't smoke. 

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About the Author
I smoked until a vascular surgeon informed me of the damage I had done to myself by doing so. I quit 11 years ago, and I can swim laps virtually FOREVER now, walk most other days 40 minutes to an hour and a half. What a difference quitting has made in my life! I strive to help others find this wonderful freedom from addiction, too.