No more smoking

I have decided to quit smoking and today is my second day of being smoke-free. While I have never been a heavy smoker, it is a terrible vice and habit. I believe I have outgrown it. I am a proud person and it is humiliating to have to sneak away for a cigarette or having the tell-tale smell of smoke on my clothes and breath. I also want to quit for my neices and nephews. I don't want to set a bad example for them. Absolutely no good can come from continuing to smoke so there isn't any compelling reason to maintain this habit. If I grump out on anyone, I apologize in advance but I will do my best to curb that. I am going to be meeting up with one of my best friends in Vegas soon and she is going to be so happy that I quit. She has been very gentle (never judgemental) in reminding me that I should stop over that last few years.

Comments

[Viper]

We judge ancient tribal cultures as barbaric for their human sacrifice rituals, yet ironically we sacrifice our own bodies while reaching for Now. Our death rituals just take longer. Alcohol is used to quell Ego’s incessant thinking of past and future; Nicotine is consumed to induce pleasure that anchors us in the moment. In the Body, Mind, Spirit triad, Mind is always kicking Body’s ass for Spirit’s benefit.

There is an upside. It is these deep seated cravings in combination with non-smoking rules that drive urban dwellers into the most beautiful plazas of the city. A recent walking mediation led me to the Trammel Crow sculpture garden. Amid the works of French masters and enveloped by the sounds of water and classical music sat a handful of individuals in quiet repose. Staring with blank eyes they savored each and every breath. A gathering of Seekers meditating on a beautiful fall day?....Close, but no cigar.

No evil without good.

No dark without light.

Kytari, you are capable of great miracles. When you are ready to have the experience of your last cigarette, you will.

~Viper

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[Kytari]

Thanks for the support and I am so happy to hear about your success. Thank you for the sweet notecard I received this week. I hope to see you at Christmas. Save me some Kielbasa!

[J. Armstrong]

Kytari,
I am so happy you're quitting smoking! I know it was one of the hardest things I have ever done, but it was definitely worth it. I found for myself that I was able to quit for a whole week, but then on the weekend I would be around other smokers and I would be weak and I would smoke again. I finally discovered that quitting smoking was worth avoiding my friends who smoked for a couple weeks. I took two weeks away from all smokers or places where I enjoyed smoking(e.g. I always had a smoke with my morning coffee at the local coffee shop, so I stayed away from the coffee shop for a couple weeks). I found that I had more non smoker friends than I realized and that two weeks of doing other activities than going to bars, was actually a welcomed break. This is just what worked for me and you have to know your own strengths and weaknesses and do what works for you. Best of luck to you but I know you'll be able to do it... you are way stronger than any nicotine!
J. Armstrong

[JT]

When you do go cold turkey, after about a week make yourself go to the bar and
just deal with being around alcohol and smoke. It's the ultimate trial by fire,
but if you can do that just once the rest is down hill.

I wish I could give you some advice on how to deal with the insomnia and
anxiety of nicotine withdrawl. That's the part that really sucked for me,
and it took about 3 weeks to get past it.

[Kytari]

Quitting smoking is not easy. I haven't been able to go cold turkey yet but I have limited the number I smoke per day. Actually, I think I just smoke on weekends when other smokers are around. I am not giving up on quitting (as strange as that sounds).

[JT]

Congratulations on your decision. It's been 10 months for myself, and I literally still
dream of them. One thought that helps me is this quote on a sign at
my gym: "If you don't take care of your body,
where will you live?"