Description
Since I post the NML blog every week, my blog history is very cluttered with repeats. Here is a list of my favorite personal blogs from earlier in my quit that are buried pretty far down the list. It helped me tremendously to write these; I hope other quitters find them helpful, too.
Quitting isn’t about what you think it’s about. Are you strong enough to give in?
http://community.becomeanex.org/pg/blog/read/6821246/are-you-strong-enough-to-give-in
Quitting may not be easy, but it’s not as hard as some try to make it, either.
http://community.becomeanex.org/pg/blog/read/6705580/which-type-of-quitter-will-you-be
A different way to think about quit aids.
http://community.becomeanex.org/pg/blog/read/6458096/tools-are-just-tools
The four things that made all the difference in my quit.
http://community.becomeanex.org/pg/blog/read/5745805/how-to-quit-smoking
Junkie Thinking – recognizing (and overcoming) excuses.
http://community.becomeanex.org/pg/blog/read/5617362/junkie-thinking
Uncomfortable Truths. Pulling no punches.
http://community.becomeanex.org/pg/blog/read/5518853/some-uncomfortable-truths-warning-tough-love-en...
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What is No Man’s Land (NML)?
If you’ve been reading blogs, you’ve probably seen different people mention something called NML or “No Man’s Land”. The first month of a quit is emotional and exhausting; you live in the moment and focus all of your energy on your brand new quit. After the first month, things start to change. No Man’s Land is months 2-3-4 of a quit, give or take a couple of weeks.
Thanks to the leadership of our elders, we take NML very seriously on this site; it is a dangerous time, and is when most people relapse. We try to shine a light on it, take the mystery out of it, connect people who are going through it so you can talk about it and feel a little less alone.
I post a blog every Wednesday afternoon about NML; a rotation of different topics that cover different aspects of NML.
- Are you in NML?
- Kick it to the Curb
- Bumps in the Road
- Good Grief!
- Romancing the Cig (a.k.a. Fixating)
- Dealing with Surprise Stress
- The Forever Quit
- Life After NML
- Seasonal Firsts
You can find them in my blog history, and watch for them each Wednesday afternoon. Also be sure to read the original blog about NML on Dale’s page: http://community.becomeanex.org/pg/blog/bex_user_138672/read/3559619/no-mans-land-days-30130to-prepa...
No Man’s Land doesn’t have to be a scary place. If you understand it, are prepared for it, and know who else is in there with you for support, you can reach the other side!
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About Me. Nearly everyone in my family smoked when I was growing up; parents, grandparents, aunts & uncles, cousins. At this point, everyone except one aunt have quit. I experimented with smoking as a teenager, but didn't start smoking seriously until my early 20s. I always promised myself I'd quit by 30, and now I'm in my 40s. So, 20-ish years of smoking around a pack a day. My husband has never smoked.
Interests: Hosting parties, dogs, reading, music, boating, motorcycles, and more. My husband would say "bonfires and things that explode."
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Dear Cigarettes,
You are the obnoxious, codependent friend that all my other friends hate, and none of them understand why I keep bringing you everywhere. They don’t understand the power you’ve had over me. But I do – I can finally see it. You steal my money, stink up my house, stain my teeth, and embarrass me on a daily basis. You take, take, take. You argue that you’re giving me pleasure in return, but that’s a lie.
I’m done with you. Get out.
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From the EX trip to Vegas in May 2013:
Back row, Patty-Cake, Determined in Dakotas, Sky Girl, Rick, Joyeuxencore, Strudel, Pir8fan. In the front, me, Stacie, and Misty@Dawn.
Determined in Dakotas, Pir8fan, Misty@Dawn, me and my husband.
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Quitting may not be easy, but it is very, very simple. You make the decision that you don't smoke anymore, and you honor that decision every day. It's that simple. Does that mean it's easy? No. But strip away all the distractions and excuses and bullsh*t, and all you're left with is yourself. And the best thing is, when that's your mindset, quitting isn't nearly as hard as you think it will be.
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A note to new members:
I have tried to quit many times in the last 10 years. There are two reasons my current quit is successful, and I believe it will be my “forever” quit. First, I took the time to educate myself about this addiction instead of assuming I knew how to quit. Every other quit attempt had failed, after all, so obviously I didn’t know how. Second, I could not have quit without opening my mind to the advice of the people on this site who have quit successfully, and being willing to accept their tough love with humility and good graces. I am an addict, we all are. And as much as I resented the tough love at times (when my whiny inner addict was still in control), I now know that the tough love is what saved me. If quitting were easy, everyone would succeed the first time they tried.
Educate yourself and make a plan:
www.quitsmokingonline.com
http://media.wix.com/ugd/74fa87_2010cc5496521431188f905b7234a829.pdf
Brief Description
I stopped making excuses on March 12, 2011 and have been smoke-free ever since 
Website
www.quitsmokingonline.com
Location
chicago area (far north suburbs)
Interests
"it's not that some people have willpower and some don't. it's that some people are ready to change and others are not." ~ james gordon m.d.
Skills
"nicotine addiction is like an itch. if you itch it's nice to scratch it. but better to have no itch at all." ~ dali lama
