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Share your quitting journey

Beating Cigarettes Changed My Life

redraiderglobal
7 16 178

Once I beat cigarettes on April 1, 2011, I walked away from a battle that I had fought my entire life. After smoking 2 packs a day for over 30 years, my confidence in what happened next was shaky in what the future held. Would this be the final time? Well it was, and my health and attitude has skyrocketed in a positive way. Since then, I've become an active, athletic, adventurer who has joined and completed Peace Corps Service, just as the start. If you are considering quitting, make this your time. There is so much to live for, once you give yourself a chance. 

16 Comments
Mandolinrain
Member

You are correct on all counts! Congrats on your beautiful quit and for your service with the Peace Corps! I love happy endings

elvan
Member

What a beautiful and POSITIVE blog, thanks for sharing with us...

Ellen

freeneasy
Member

It's a life-changing, life-saving journey. Congrats!

JonesCarpeDiem

Good For You!

Did you use NRT'S

Cold Turkey?

Ecig?

Tips and secrets to your success?

Daniela2016
Member

Congratulations, mission accomplished!  Like Dale says: any tips for us who have not reached your "seniority" in smobriey?

Giulia
Member

Where'd you suddenly drop in from?  What a great first blog!

Quitting DOES change our lives.  And you're so right, once we finally let those cigarettes go, release the possibility of smoking, that constant battle is over.  And we are empowered like never before.  

Congratulations on your seven years smoke free.  Hope you'll stick around and keep spreading the joy!  Welcome!

redraiderglobal

Hi Dale, 

There were stages of quitting for me. The game changer for me was to realize I was enslaved. I can only speak from my experience, that quitting changed some things internally, that I still may not appreciate and understand. It's set the tone for my life now, as I realize that fear is a liar. The other side of the door was wonderful and life giving and blessed. Not sure if that makes sense, but it is what it is. How about your experience? 

redraiderglobal

Yes, Be kind to yourself. Understand that there is hope. Envision what comes next, as life without cigarettes will free you in ways you can't imagine. 

redraiderglobal

Thanks...Love to read all the success stories and see the posts. It really is amazing to see how strong we all are. 

Daniela2016
Member

Thank you redraiderglobal‌, I think what you meant by enslaved, is the realization smoking is more than a habit, it is an addiction, and one hard to overcome.  I am experiencing positive changes every day, and really look forward for a time when the thought of smoking will ever enter my mind anymore.  It took a while to accept I am an addict, that there is no such thing as "just one", and learn to live another life than the one prior to 3-11-2016!!!

Mike.n.Atlanta

Congratulations RedRaider! I'm with Giulia...stick around & spread that attitude.

Keep on keepin on,

M n @ Signature 002-1.JPG

Giulia
Member

Mole you doin' ok.jpg

How's it going?  You good?

JonesCarpeDiem

a friend asked me to quit to influence his brother. I just started telling myself to wait a little longer whenever I wanted to smoke. Went from a pack a day to 5 a day in 4 weeks. Proved I didn't need to smoke just because I thought I did.

Bought my last pack on a Friday and set my date for the following Tuesday. I had one cigarette left for the morning I quit. I didn't want to be focused on what I couldn't have when I got up. Smoked it at 7:15 and about 10 I went to the store and got a box of patches. I Used 10 patches over the first two weeks. When I forgot two days in a row, I stopped using them. Put one in my wallet with a promise to put it on rather than smoke. Played guitar 10 hours a day my first two weeks. Found a support website and learned everything I could and paid attention to others on the site. Joined this site in August 2008. Been here ever since.    

elvan
Member

JonesCarpeDiem‌ I SWEAR that every time I hear about that patch in your wallet, I laugh out loud.  

JonesCarpeDiem

It was my reasoning that I would have a security blanket in the form of a patch. Therefore, no reason to get uptight.

JonesCarpeDiem

In my opinion, THIS IS THE BEST WAY TO USE THE PATCH.