Alberta Quits Group

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Alberta Quits

4998

This group is for quitters from Alberta both new and migrating from Alberta Quits allowing us to...

4998

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Thought for Today

Thursday Smile

Teach

8 hours 8 hrs

6,826 Days Quit

Repost: Removing the Brainwash

Short and sweet - this is one worth printing and posting where you can read it as needed or keeping with you to read as needed.

Smoking does nothing for us people! Stop believing the lies.
KTQ
Cara
D6826
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Subject: Removing the Brainwash
From: Michaellevy
Date: 2014-07-01 08:13:16
Message:
I will not smoke today or ever again, because I am not missing... Show more

Good morning all
Happy Thursday to you!

Up and going for the day today. Subbing again and it is very snowy so I need to pledge and get on the road. Saying NO to smoking and keeping to my path along the Freedom Road. I am offering my hand to the next winner joining me kicking ash to the curb today.
Have a great day
Cara
D6826

3Y 11M
Life Saved
$101,366
Money Saved
184,302
Unsmoked

Show previous comments (2)

Thought for Today

Wednesday Smile

Teach

yesterdayyesterday

6,826 Days Quit

Repost:  Why "One Day at a Time" - Living in the NOW!

I really like this.   Yes we need to learn from the past, but we succeed by living and moving forward in the present.
KTQ
Cara
D6825

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When you’re new (and even when you’re not new!) life can be pretty overwhelming sometimes.

We can spend a lot of time assessing blame and dwelling in the past "if onlys" and preach about "what everyone else "needs" to or "should" do" but in reality, we have one primary purpose here: to help the person still using tobacco to quit. Our secondary purpose is to provide support to those struggling to maintain their smoke-free life. How do we do this? One day at a time...

Maybe it would be easier if there was a quitting smoking island or something where you could go and paint watercolors and listen to Beethoven symphonies until you feel strong in your quit, but there isn’t. You still have to live life, go to work, walk down the streets, deal with people, places and things, all of whom could cause problems, stress and many of which we perceive (because our inner addict is a liar and wants to kill us) "smoking triggers” in the past.

Maybe it was great if we could sit around all day and make a list of blame or fault or responsibility as if any of this would help us quit - it won't.

So, what we do is we focus on this not smoking thing just one day at a time. “One Day at a Time” is hardly a ground-breaking phrase or concept: it’s been around for centuries.

When we spend too much time focusing on the past (creating nostalgia or regret or blaming or making excuses or whatever) or the future (which can elicit hope, but also a lot of fear, since the future is unknowable), we’re not living in the NOW and therefore missing the whole point of life and living – we only have right now – the past is gone, the future not yet here – so why focus on anything other than right now whether that be to quit smoking or do anything else?

This does not mean we don’t care at all about examining what we may have done in the past to inform us on what to do or not do today, or forget about the future entirely, it just means that we try to have a more balanced approach and stop telling ourselves stories about "those good old days" or "what we deserve" or what "we're afraid of."

If we try to take on too much at one time it certainly will lead to disaster because we are loading ourselves up with guilt, fault or blame about the past, or worries and stress about a day that has not even arrived. Again, your inner addict is a liar and wants to kill you.

One day at a time is even a more sensible approach to quit smoking – we focus on not smoking today, or even 1 hour or 10 minutes at a time when need be – certainly even a person with just 8 hours without smoking can not smoke for another 10 minutes!

This breaks it down to a more manageable set of time within which to focus. We can breathe, relax, meditate for 10 minutes – we can stand on our heads – whatever it takes.

Here are a few things to try as you move through this:

Repost: Why "One Day at a Time" - Living in the NOW!

I really like this. Yes we need to learn from the past, but we succeed by living and moving forward in the present.
KTQ
Cara
D6825

*******************************************************************************************

When you’re new (and even when you’re not new!) life can be pretty overwhelming sometimes.

We can spend a lot of time assessing blame and dwelling in the past "if onlys" and preach about "what everyone else "needs" to or... Show more

Show previous comments (1)

Teach

yesterdayyesterday

6,826 Days Quit

Good morning all
Happy Hump Day!

I owe, I owe, off to work I go. Subbing in the south today so want to get out the door and on the road. Smoking is not going to be part of my day not today or any day thanks much. Saying NO to smoking and YES to my walk along the Freedom Road. I offer my hand to the next winner joining me kicking ash to the curb today.
Have a good one
Cara
D6825

3Y 11M
Life Saved
$101,351
Money Saved
184,275
Unsmoked

Show previous comments (3)

Thought for today

Tuesday Smile

Repost:  For the Strugglers Today

This is a great post.  Our quits are seldom linear - we have ups and downs as we progress and I remember being very upset when I would have a huge down past when I thought I should have one.  I often questioned if this process would ever get better- I can tell you from personal experience it does!
Have a good one.
Cara
D6824

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For the strugglers today
From zguy on 10/5/2007 12:01:29 PM

This means a lot to me. VegasHal qmailed me this on day 19of a former quit. I thought the old Nicodemon was gone, and let my guard down, and he jumped on my back, I was going crazy, and heading to the store for smokes. But I posted, and got a lot of help and support from the wonderful people on the Q.

Hope this helps you just for today.

You want a cigarette: Do I? What do I want? Specifically? What about the cigarette do I crave? Okay, fine. Maybe I want the "ahhh" feeling. But, wait, I'm through withdrawal. The first cigarette won't even give me the "ahhh" feeling anymore, because the "ahhh" feeling came from nicotine's ability to stave off the early withdrawal I felt after not smoking for 30 minutes or an hour. Now that I'm no longer in withdrawal, I'll only get dizzy and sickly from the first one, and that first one will be followed by the next one and the next one as I search for the "ahhh" feeling, and long before I ever get the "ahh" feeling, I'll realize I'm hooked again. Heck, I'll realize it after the first one.

You can handle just one: Can I? Why is it that in the past when I said that to myself, it didn't work out like I planned? If I could get by on just one, why didn't I smoke just one every now and again when I smoked, instead of smoking all of those other ones I didn't want? No. There is no such thing as just one for me, or the other greater than 90% of the smokers out there who smoke whenever their addiction demands that they smoke.

You NEED just this one: Do I really believe that I NEED to inhale hundreds of toxic chemicals into my lungs to get through this given situation? Do I really believe that I need to recommit to my addiction so that I can dull the feelings associated with this situation.

This crave is going to last forever, this crave is unbearable, quitting is just TOO DAMN HARD: Okay, what does this crave really feel like? How long is it lasting? Is it really lasting all day long? Or, is my fear of the crave, and my fear of failure, or my fear of success, making me THINK about it all day long? For how many seconds have I actually WANTED to put a cigarette in my mouth, light it and inhale, as opposed to just being anxious about my lifestyle change, and all of the things associated with it. Am I feeling anxiety? Or am I really wanting a cigarette? Will smoking a cigarette make me feel better or worse than I do? Furthermore, I KNOW from talking to all the former smokers around me that this isn't what being an ex-smoker feels like! I'm in the latter stages of withdrawal, and the early stages of reconditioning my life to NOT revolve around my addiction. Soon, I will be feeling a lot better, and I'll have a hard time remembering how hard this has been. It's only hard for a while.
Hope this helps someone. It saved me !!

Conrad

Repost: For the Strugglers Today

This is a great post. Our quits are seldom linear - we have ups and downs as we progress and I remember being very upset when I would have a huge down past when I thought I should have one. I often questioned if this process would ever get better- I can tell you from personal experience it does!
Have a good one.
Cara
D6824

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For the strugglers today
From zguy on 10/5/2007 12:01:29 PM

This... Show more

Good morning all
Happy Tuesday!!!!
Up and going for the day today. In my office again for the day. I am not going to be smoking as that simply is not allowed on the Freedom Road. Saying NO to smoking and kicking more ash to the curb. I offer my hand to the next winner joining me.
Have a great day
Cara
D6824

3Y 11M
Life Saved
$101,336
Money Saved
184,248
Unsmoked

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Thought for Today

Show previous comments (1)

Repost:  No Man's Land

I remember No Man' Land - it is a sight we see on our quit journey and once through, we move on again.
Have a great day.
Cara
D6823

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No Man's Land

From tc_guy 5/7/2002

Peace to all who read this.

I seldom start a post, unless it is to honor someone's anniversary. But I feel compelled to share something that I seem to be sharing a lot of lately... and that is my thoughts on 'No Man's Land'. No Man's Land is a dangerous and scary place... and it is a lonely time during a quit.

I call No Man's Land that period of time between about 1 month and 3 or 4 months into your quit, or about the time from the end of your first month until you become an Elder. This is a time when many people slip and go into a full relapse and have to start over... if they can start over, that is. I have some observations that may help some of you who are literally hanging on by your fingernails... or who may find yourself there tomorrow.

The first month is an exhausting but exhilirating experience... you are locked in nearly daily struggles and you get the satisfaction of successfully beating your addiction that day. You go to bed a WINNER each night (as Troutnut would say), and you are justifiably proud of yourself. Your friends and family are also supportive as they see you struggling each day to maintain your quit. And you are being constantly supported here, whether or not you post... just being here is good for your quit. And so, the battles are won and it actually becomes easier and the battles occur less often as you finish 30 days or so.

Around 60 days, you're starting to have some really good days, with very few craves and some nice insights about yourself... but then again, you still have some bad days. Those bad days can really be depressing... you begin to wonder if you're ever gonna be able to relax. Your junkie is whispering to you, telling you that 'just one' won't hurt. You've conquered your daily triggers, but now you start trippiing over the occasional ones... a death in the family, unexpectedly bad news, money problems, health problems, going on a long car ride, a trip to the bar, or whatever. You have a strong crave and you begin to doubt your ability to keep your quit.

In addition, the 3D support that you used to get is pretty much gone... non-smokers figure you should be 'over it' by now, smokers don't like to hang around you much because they feel guilty and addicted (remember that feeling?), and people who have quit may not remember just how much love and support you need well into the first few months. They all think you should be 'over it', you think you should be 'over it'... and the temptation is to have 'just one' to see if you ARE over it.

But of course you're not over it, are you? That 'just one' whisper becomes much much louder and becomes 'just one more'... and each time you give in to that whisper, the craves come harder and sooner. The one way to guarantee that your craves will never go away is to light up, to slide that old cigarette needle into your arm and shoot up. Those craves will be back and keep coming back. But if you protect your quit, your craves will eventually weaken and become even fewer and farther between.

As you get to around 100 days or so (some will be a bit longer)... you will begin to really get a healthy perspective on your addiction. You will see the huge role that smoking played in your life, you will see clearly what that addiction really cost you. And you will understand that it was a very high price to pay... the loss of your confidence, your emotions, your self-control... your SELF. All enslaved to your addiction.

Repost: No Man's Land

I remember No Man' Land - it is a sight we see on our quit journey and once through, we move on again.
Have a great day.
Cara
D6823

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No Man's Land

From tc_guy 5/7/2002

Peace to all who read this.

I seldom start a post, unless it is to honor someone's anniversary. But I feel compelled to share something that I seem to be sharing a lot of lately... and that is my... Show more

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Good morning all
Happy Monday everyone!

Up and going for the day today. It is snowing so it will be a slow drive down the Deerfoot this morning to the office. I am saying NO to smoking and keeping to my path along the Freedom Road. I offer my hand to the next winning quitter joining me kicking ash to the curb today.
Have a great day
Cara
D6823

3Y 11M
Life Saved
$101,322
Money Saved
184,221

Show previous comments (2)

Thought for today

Sunday smile

Repost: I am the Boss of Me!

This is an excellent repost. I found quitting so much easier when I realized that I was a slave and I was choosing to give my power to some little white tube. I love and value my freedom most of all with this quit. I never want to smoke again period.
KTQ
Cara
D6822

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I am the Boss of me! Repost
From renegademom3 on 9/26/2007 6:49:01 PM

I, of all people, posted this... Show more

Cig free Sunday!! Leafs win in OT. Happy man. Even happier that I gave up the cigs!! NOPE

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Alberta Quits

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