Calling It Quits

The Intelligencer Wheeling News-Register ^ | 29 Apr 07 | FRED CONNORS

[leadpenny]

I still miss a smoke, especially with that first cup of coffee in the morning - like right now. Come June, it will have been 10 years since I had my last cigarette. Good luck!

[Jay Howard Smith]

Smoked non-filtered Camels for 50+ years. Couldn’t smoke on the 14 hour flight over here and quit them then & there. Besides, no place to buy em where I am.......I dont feel any better or worse.....~!

[Bahbah]

Morning, lp.

Good for you.

[leadpenny]

I probably quit five or six times in my 35 year smoking career, but never for very long. I smoked those damned unfiltered Lucky Strikes in the 60s and into the 70s.

[leadpenny]

Good morning.

I trust you never got hooked on the vile leaf?

[mitch5501]

Funny I should read this now.I'm on my 8th day without a smoke (37 years a smoker)

Actually I'm amazed at the sheer amount of bull-crap my own brain will serve up as justification for lighting up again.

The more I lie to myself the more determined I am to not do it.

Should be a hoot! (groan)

Thanks for the post.God bless

[night reader]

I still miss a smoke, especially with that first cup of coffee in the morning - like right now.

So, if the morning cup'a joe reminds you of the weed, drop the Java also. Your bod doesn't need caffeine any more than it needs nicotine.

[Larry Lucido]

I thought this might be another opus.

Actually, I guess it was a smoking opus.

A smokus?

Either way, it’s just as preachy. Forty five years, and all of a sudden now it’s a “sin”? (A health matter, yes. But a sin? Guess we need to raise taxes more.)

Why do folks feel compelled to regale us with opuses and smokuses? Can’t anyone just shut up and quit? Or quit and shut up?

[RobFromGa]

PING, this thread might be of interest to you! Freegards, RobFromGa

[kanawa]

Thanks for the ping.
Still have the smoking monkey on my back.

[leadpenny]

“Smokus”

I thought of putting a “(not a FR opus)” after the title.

One of the times I quit I was evangelistic about it. I soon realized people have to decide for themselves.

[RobFromGa]

It is a tough one to break I hear. I would imagine quitting is a lot like becoming sober. The tough part is the decision that you really want to quit, and are willing to follow through on that committment when your brain gives you excuses to smoke just one more, or one more pack, or one more carton, or just for the rest of this week, month, or year.

[leadpenny]

I gotta have one vice. Well, two, counting Free Republic.

[leadpenny]

8th day.

It really is one day at a time. Everything is better without ‘em.

[Raycpa]

Its been about 20 for me and I haven’t missed them for 19 years. In fact each year that goes by makes me loathe them even more. I’m having my first cup of coffee as I type this and it taste’s so delicious. A taste I could never have had 21 years ago.

[RobFromGa]

I soon realized people have to decide for themselves.

That is so true, we cannot even really help until the other person is ready to quit for their own reasons.

Congrats to you on your success and for sharing it with the group, you might have helped someone on the fence today to see the light!

[TN4Liberty]

Why do folks feel compelled to regale us with opuses and smokuses? Can’t anyone just shut up and quit? Or quit and shut up?

Because it is difficult, scary, and people need support. It is also good that people publicly commit to changing something like this, as it helps with accountability.

Push the back button if it offends you. You knew within two sentences what it was about.

[Lazamataz]

I’m on day 15 smoke-free. Nic patches help a lot. The first few days were tough, even with the Nic patch.

[RobFromGa]

Actually I'm amazed at the sheer amount of bull-crap my own brain will serve up as justification for lighting up again.

Isn't that the truth? You have taken an important step by realizing that there is a part of your mind that is working against your best efforts to quit.

This is called our Addictive Voice and more information on how to recognize and beat this voice can be found here. [It is written pertaining to alcohol but the destructive voice is the same].

[CDHart]

We quit in 1998, after 35 years of smoking. But it was because I was diagnosed with lung cancer and given less than a year to live. I was cancer free until 2005, when they found a small spot in the other lung. They've got it under control, but not without a lot of expense and problems. I wish I had never seen a cigarette. And yet, to this day, I want one. Dumb, huh?

Carolyn