Well - here I am at three months. I remember how I felt on that first day - June 12th - and it is amazing at the difference now! I feel great - despite some challenges going on in my life right now. That is what is so odd - I probably have more stress right now than in many years.
I just read a few blogs which reminded me of the fact that I have determined that smoking does not help with the stress. Both Steve (his wife reminded him that he was letting his emotions control his decision to stay quit) and Bill - who called smoking a "distraction" rather than a stress release. Those moments of stress come....and for me, after 40 years of dealing with that with a cigarette - it is quite a learning process to "deal" in new ways.
In one of my first blogs, I mentioned an experiment I did on my last day of smoking. Each time I smoked - whether it was out of stress, boredom, frustration, etc.....I asked myself - "Okay, is the stress gone - is the frustration gone?" Each time the answer was no. I remember those thoughts any time I come close to thinking about smoking.....it won't make a difference! As a matter of fact, I believe that it led to a lot of the feelings of stress in the first place!
Some of my new challenges include two new part-time jobs. I am teaching part-time and managing a tutoring company. Both are proving to perhaps be a bit more than I realized! That, along with having my sister and her boyfriend move into my house due to financial issues (they both smoke!), and dealing with caring for my elderly father......however, none of that has beat me!!
Due to the new jobs, I haven't been on here as much as before - and it may be even less in the future. However, I want to thank all of you for your support!! That has made all the difference! I will continue to come here as often as I can......
Thanks!!
