For those who have quit for longer than a year: Does your quit date mean anything to you? Do you do anything special to reward yourself or otherwise think of that date in any special or different way(s)?
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For those who have quit for longer than a year: Does your quit date mean anything to you? Do you do anything special to reward yourself or otherwise think of that date in any special or different way(s)?
That's good to know, AnnetteMM. I wasn't sure if I should feel weird for looking forward to the anniversary of my quit date. I'm only three weeks smoke-free at this point but I so eager for the warm and fuzzies I'll feel once it's been a whole year. I seized on the opportunity to 'engineer' the moment I got rid of my cigarettes in a way that has made it impossible for me to forget. How I got rid of my cigarettes
Yes, Yes, Yes! I treasure everything about my quit. It has been six years for me.
My quit date is July 4th - so I consider the parades, fireworks and special events as also in honor of MY QUIT!!! It took me FOREVER to get up the gumption to quit, so I do celebrate the fact that I bit the bullet and did it. I celebrate each and every one of the 7 years (so far!). As a matter of fact, I take note EVERY winter night when I get in bed with feet that aren't like ice cubes - which is what they were when I smoked. Now they are warm when I get in, and warmer still after I am in bed for a bit. I cherish the smell of the salt air when I travel the bridge to our barrier island ocean town. I couldn't smell it when I smoked.
There is ALWAYS something to celebrate about our quits - and the quit date is but one.
It's interesting you should mention something about noticing a smell that you didn't as a smoker. About a week ago I ate a place known for its cheap, buffet pizza. Everyone knows that you're paying for quantity, and NOT quality at this joint. I've gone there off and on for years, but this was my first visit as an EX-smoker.
After my first piece, I found myself wondering if they'd changed something about the recipe because it tasted better than what I was used to...
So much of what we think of as gustatory is really olfactory. Their food still sucks, I was just tasting more of it for the first time :-)
I am celebrating my ten year anniversary today. I usually come to this website each November and have a look around and read some posts or questions. I logged in daily the first few years I began my quit and found the advice, friends and conversations to be of so much help to me! I celebrate each year by treating myself either with a nice dinner out, buying some pretty flowers or just sharing with those I know and love what a great day it is to celebrate. In the beginning each day, week or month smoke free was a day to celebrate... now I think of quitting more in years.
Celebrate every milestone!! It is a huge accomplishment that you will never regret!
Yahooooooooooo - WAY TO GO TEN YEARS NON SMOKER LIFE STYLE - CONGRATULATIONS
GOOD JOB!
Wow Debi12 a super duper CONGRATULATIONS on your precious quit journey YAY for 10 splendiferous Smokefree years of Freedom and counting WTG YAY for each and every year WON. 
Quitting smoking was and is harder for me than alcohol and cocaine which I was also addicted to. It will be as important and anniversary as my marriage and birthday!
Connie
When I 1st quit, I had to take a smoking cessassion class, and happy i did, I learned alot of tips and tricks there,. not everything works for everyone, but it was suggested that in the beginning, it was important to reward oneself, just small things. I did this every week, then once a month on my quit date. It keep me focused on the next reward. The rewards got bigger with longer milestones. I worked up to an 8 year, new sewing machine, upgraded that on year 10. Make it fun!!
I believe that if it did not mean everything to me that I would be at high risk of returning to smoking. Quitting smoking has been like having a reverse labotomy. It means everything, whereas smoking used to.
Absolutely. Celebrating one year smoke free is the best. And, celebrating milestones along the way is so motivational.
Barb
My quit date is a very special day for me. Yes, I DO celebrate it and unlike birthdays, which I have become less and less fond of as my body ages, my quitbirthday is a day I look forward to as it just keeps getting better and better every year.
This is the quit gift my husband gave me. (I'm a bug lover.) It's probably the only gift I've been given in which I remember the actual date.
That was an inspiring blog, Giulia. I definitely need a reality object. I was actually thinking along those lines already, but I just didn't know what to call it. Thank you so much; that was exactly what I needed to read this morning!
Maybe a week to ten days ago I began thinking that there should be something in my life I could view or interact with on a daily basis that would serve as a reminder of how I used to smoke, but also strengthen my commitment to never start again. I thought maybe a tattoo would suffice, but once the tattoo is complete, you never have to think about it again. That didn't seem right.
Reading what you wrote (as well as the comments) presented me with what I think is the perfect solution. Since I'm not married and have no piercings, jewelry has never had any real meaning or symbolism in my life. So... I think I'm going to have a ring made and start wearing it as a constant reminder. Maybe I'll even add an engraving of my quit date and mantra.
The act of putting a ring on each morning and taking it off at night before bed feels like a close representation of my previous relationship with cigarettes. It will be something that I will always have on my person and also (hate to go there) something I could easily get rid of if I blow my quit.
Trust me - if you get yourself a ring that symbolizes your quit, and you put it on in the morning and wear it throughout the day and think about that ring ever day - you won't easily toss it out if you relapse, (could be worth a dime - doesn't matter) and it really may just help keep your free. Here's part of a response I put on one of my own blogs:
"In Uta Hagen's acting class in NY, one of the techniques we practiced was to focus on a particular mundane object in our home and spend a lot of time thinking about it, making up a story about it (if it had no personal reference already imbued.) Giving it a life so to speak. After spending several hours doing that, this mundane object grew in stature in our mind."
It's up to YOU to imbue that ring with specialness. For it has none on it own. And you do that by just really thinking about what it means to you, how it symbolizes your quit. YOU make it important to you. It could be a rock you pick up somewhere, or a piece of special bark you find off a tree. It doesn't have to be a ring. It's whatever "speaks" to your soul. You know? If you see something somewhere that you think symbolizes your quit - THAT's the thing you need to put in your pocket or in your home. If it's small enough to carry with you throughout the day, that's good. But it could be something you leave at home to come back to, an object that waits for you that says "have you made it through the day? Do you still honor me and thus your quit?" You know what I mean? Yes. I know you know what I mean.
You need that ring cemented to your finger - no losing a quit EVER again!!!
And, I cherish my key and necklace memorial one year spoons from Missy. I always receive compliments on my necklace. I also still apply my monthly cigarette budget to "Me" now. It's been fun to use that money in different ways. Now it will go to Christmas!
Barb
Yes My quit day changed my whole life
Cousin-Itt 1197 DOF
I celebrate every year by having a lunch out this coming July will be 6 glorious Smokefree years and I still smile at each and every Day WON and my smile gets even bigger when my anniversary rolls around.
THANKS FOR ASKING AND YES YES YES YAHOOOOOOOOOOO - YES I SHARE MY STORY AND PRAISE MY SAVIOR AND LORD JESUS - THANKING HIM FOR SETTING ME FREE IN JESUS NAME AMEN HOORAY FOR JESUS IS MY PRAYER
I'm going to be the weirdo here who says that while I remember EVERY November that it is my quit month....and always remember the friends who quit with me in November 2009.......I did not remember the day this year. Only when I came on to the site was I clued into the fact that it was the ACTUAL day.
That is NOT to say my quit is not a big deal to me. This was one of the BEST decisions I ever made in my life and for my life. It is just that the further I get into becoming a non smoker......the less I count actual days. I just wanted you to know that because although the day will always be precious.......the fact that I spend most days completely free not only from smoking but from wanting and/or needing to smoke is much more precious to me. My life is now a smoke free life......and yours will be too. You are not "only three weeks quit"......YOU ARE THREE WEEKS QUIT! YAY FOR YOU!. Celebrate any time you understand you are freeing yourself from a deadly addiction.
Stay Strong.
My quit date is important to me. I failed to quit on my original date but managed to quit for good two days later with encouragement of a friend. It’s important to stay positive. I felt good about myself because in those 3 days I smoked 7 cigarettes and I was a pack a day or more smoker. I viewed it as an accomplished not a failure.
JIM!!!!! So great to see you. I've been wondering where and how you are. I miss you on here. freeneasy
Hi Jim!!! How are you? So good to see you on this site....stop being such a stranger! We miss you!!!
My quit date was chosen with care - the first day of Spring! There was and is no way I'm giving up that date! It means so much for me!
Yes the date still important to me as well as I finally broke free from this addiction.
It reminds me of all the emotion flip flops my brain has gone through.
It's as important to me as my own birthday! I will always celebrate my quite date - my second one is coming up in December
I rewarded myself at 30 days, and then at 90 days. Those milestones were clear to me as HUGE humps to get over.