But more importantly is recovery!
As you can see I haven't been here in almost a year exactly. The reasons are many. I am over five years quit now...........I claim SUCCESS! It did not come from sympathy or soft cuddly fuzzy support (not that I don't appreciate bi-directional loving and gentle care) It came from hard personal work and change........NO DRUG CAN DO THIS FOR YOU! No NRT, no tranquilizers, no anti depressants, NONE OF IT! IMHO those things are snake oil. (I already know that opinions are like A-Holes and I am definitely one) Yet....who is recovering and who is not?
Death from illness, caused in part or whole, due to smoking is not discriminatory and for sure will be disrespectful and likely quite harsh. I know addiction and recovery from living it not studying it in college courses or as a business. I also know relapse and the mechanisms I USED to follow that path too.
AND.....I know success and change and redirection and LIVING, BREATHING, RECOVERY. I have tried to share that with my fellow addicts. Take what you can use and ignore all the rest. As far as I am conserned track records speak for themselves. If it works to keep you from using then no matter what others say it is right for you. If not, and you constantly relapse, even after years, then it is NOT!
A "Quit counter" is exactly what the words mean literally. Count the days of your successful quit....period. Splitting hairs and justifying this or that in the name of comfort and warm fuzzies, feelings, and etc. is deadly enabling. Take it for what it's worth to you.
I wish you all great success and healthful recovery. I am walking that path with or without you for certain. It may sound cold but I can assure you death from smoking WILL BE COSTLY, PAINFUL, AND INDISCRIMINANTLY COLD................not to mention FINAL!
I will leave my blogs and account here................I hope they help at least one other person to change and success.
My name is Papa Jim, and I am an EX nicotine junkie.
I have been FREE of nicotine for 5 years, 1 month, 13 hours, 24 minutes and 5 seconds (1856 days).
I've not smoked 37131 death sticks, and saved $8,022.79.
I've saved 128 days, 22 hours and 15 minutes of my life.
PEACE!
