It's been a while...

[Daniela2016]

I've been lacking inspiration for the new quitters, so I felt as I have nothing particular to contribute.  That made me show up less and less often.

But there is one thing I need to share with our newbies: for those of you finding it hard, or those who are just playing with the idea of quitting and are here more to observe than to do, I have some words for you: keeping smoking is going to get harder than what quitting today is doing to do, and to the 2nd category, don't ponder anymore, just do it.

I never had a better idea in my whole life than the one signing up on EX; I had been quit for over a month when I arrived here, and remember almost every day prior to singing up.  And not much after that, mostly the accolades for the milestones I was hitting, the words of encouragement, the private IM's from some of the members, everything I needed to get through the hard times at the beginning.

Because there is no better place for a smoker who wants to quit than being here!

It would not be fair to name my supporters for they were so many; some already left the site, after they were quit for a while, others are still here after 8, 10, 15 years of being smoke free, and supporting still all of us.

This is a thing I can say which needs no inspiration: singing up for EX was the best thing I could have done for quitting smoking. 

The support you get, the jokes, the partners in quit, the Daily Pledge, the laughs and cries, all make this place real, more real than the neighbor across the street; because if the neighbor crosses the street once a year to bring you holiday cookies, this place is been here day and night for me, and everyone else who wants it.

For them I am here today, to wish them all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year, and to add my gratitude for the people who make this site a real place.  And also for the newbies, congrats on choosing us, you did good, stick with your decision, and be proud of what your are accomplishing every day!