"The good ol' days"??

[Xraysheila]

I was recently shown how I can play old commercials on my Echo video device. You know what was amazing? Smoking was everywhere! I am not saying this as an excuse, more of a sociology observation of the times. 

No one thought anything of smoking, any where, any time. A doctor could smoke in the exam room of a patient! And no one dreamt of telling a smoker they were being offensive with their cigarette. I remember smoking on airplanes, in the back rows. It was just a normal part of life for so many. It was on TV as commercials and in shows and movies, it was in magazines, it was on billboards. 

Again, I am not saying this is an excuse! Please don't misunderstand that point. However, I am wondering if this may be part of the struggle for people of my era. I know for years I personally thought, "Why all the fussing? This is nothing new. It's perfectly normal and acceptable. Who changed the rules?" BUT, all this "fussing" has contributed to my wanting to quit, so that is a very good thing! It is NOT normal, or natural, and it IS rude to subject others to my fumes. 

Just wondering if anyone else has pondered this. 

[Thomas3.20.2010]

I clearly remember as a young boy taking some change down to the vending machine and buying sickerettes for my Mother. Oh yes! That's how it was for me growing up! Nevertheless, folks still got all kinds of smoking related illnesses just as I did. I'm so glad I quit smoking before even more damage was done - I would almost certainly be dead right now - depriving my granddaughters of their Abuelo! The good news - studies show that it's the same process and chances of success whether you have been addicted for 9ne month or 40 years and everything in between.

[elvan]

I am a retired RN, I may not have accepted what smoking did to people when I started smoking at age 17 and thought it was glamourous and cool...BUT, I cannot say that I did not see the ravages of smoking in many of my patients over the years.  Of course, by then, I was an addict myself.  Now, I have those ravages to live with every day.  No, it's not an excuse but it certainly had an impact on those of us who remember going to the doctor and him having an ashtray on his desk because he was always smoking.  Doctors smoked in the hospitals, so did nurses (just not at the nurses' station).  We can really hope that the younger generation has a better understanding of what smoking does and that they do not smoke.  

Ellen

[meWisconsin]

Growing up in the 50's and early 60's smoking was everywhere. The only place I can think of where people didn't smoke was church. Smoking was part of the culture back then. People died young and people died of cancer but most people didn't associate it with smoking. We now know better but for some it was too late.

Everyone have a wonderful smoke free Wednesday and stay safe.

Terry

[Mike.n.Atlanta]

Everyone smoked when I was a kid. Family, friends of family, doctors, store clerks just about anyone you had to deal with. I was 1 of 9 kids. I remember so well being cooped up in the car, on the way to church, in the summer & Mama smoking. She wouldn't have the windows down because it would mess up her hair. This was pre-air conditioning in every car that rolled off the assembly line. Thinking back to times like that & remembering how bad I thought of it, I don't know why I ever started smoking. But I did quit so I've got that going for me.

[Mike.n.Atlanta]

At our church they smoked between Sunday school & the sermon service.

[sweetplt]

Hi and Welcome to Ex’s Xraysheila 

I think your generation has it tougher because smoking was so acceptable...what am I talking about? It was when I was young too...relatives smoked in the house and no one ever thought “Hey can’t be good for the kids?”....I remember being so sick with fever and upper respiratory (little kid not a smoker) mom taking me to the Doctors and everyone in the waiting room were smoking except me and mom ... I started vomiting from the smoke...and all looked at me disgusted...LOL...yeah the good ole days, not so good...since quitting smoking, I notice how many shows I watch on Netflix, Amazon, etc., and many smokers...it doesn’t bother me...because I really don’t want to ever go back to that addiction....you made an interesting post, it is good to realize we all come from different backgrounds, eras, etc.,

Wishing you a good Wednesday....Keep that quit going....~ Colleen 814 DOF 

[YoungAtHeart]

SO happy to see you, Thomas3.20.2010 !

♥

[YoungAtHeart]

Welcome!

Have you watched Mad Men?  OMG  - and the worst part is that people DID smoke and drink like it depicts.

The important thing you can do right now is to educate yourself on what nicotine does to your body and mind. To that end, I highly recommend Allen Carr's “The Easy Way to Stop Smoking.”    You can search for it online or at your local library.  Here is a video to inform you further about nicotine addiction: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IpWMgPHn0Lo&feature=youtu.be.

Let me know if you are using a quit aid and I will give you my thoughts on them.

The idea is to change up your routines so the smoking associations are reduced.  Drink your coffee with your OTHER hand in a place different from when you smoked. Maybe switch to tea for a bit.  If you always had that first smoke with your coffee, try putting your tennies on right out of bed, going for a quick walk, then taking your shower and THEN your coffee! .  Take a different route to work. Take a quick walk at break time where the smokers AREN'T.
 
You need to distract yourself through any craves.  You can take a bite out of a lemon (yup - rind and all), do a few jumping jacks, go for a brisk walk or march in place, play a computer game.  Keep a cold bottle of water with you. Don't let that smoking thought rattle around in your brain unchallenged. You might visit “Games”: https://excommunity.becomeanex.org/groups/games. The active ones are at the top of the list going down the left side of the homepage. We have a weekly Trivia Contest you might like to try, too: https://excommunity.becomeanex.org/groups/games/blog/2021/02/23/trivia-tuesday-02232021  Here is a link to a list of things to do instead of smoke if you need some fresh ideas:
 https://excommunity.becomeanex.org/blogs/Youngatheart.7.4.12-blog/2013/02/25/100-things-to-do-instea...

The conversation in your head in response to the "I want a cigarette" thought needs to be, "Well, since I have decided not to do that anymore, what shall I do instead for the three minutes this crave will last?"  Then DO it.  You will need to put some effort into this in the early days, but it gets easier and easier to do.

Stay close to us here and ask questions when you have them and for support when you need it. We will be with you every step of the way!

 Nancy

[Xraysheila]

I am using a nicotine patch. I saw that book recommended on an older thread and have ordered it!

[Xraysheila]

I remember the closed car filled with smoke too! That should have been enough to keep us from trying it - ugh!

[Barbscloud]

Welcome to the Ex.  When I started smoking, the tobacco companies concealed the addictiveness and health problems associated with smoking.  .  Everyone smoked, but at that time the consequences were hidden.  There is still a lot of smoking going on in current movies.  

Where are you with your quit?

Barb