checking in for 4th anniversary
a l l y
this is still the best place to come if you want to jump up and down and
shout and cheer! Yes! Hurrah! and so on.....
What can I say? It was tough back then, and I'm sure a lot of you are going
through that tough stage right now, but the message really is, loud and
clear: IT REALLY DOES GET BETTER! Yes! Smoking? I never give it a second
thought these days. I've even got to the stage where I don't like the smell,
and those who remember me from the early days will be surprised to hear
that, as I used to follow smokers around and exclaim about how nice the
smell was. Well, no more. Smokers stink, and I guess I must have stunk too,
back then, in my other life.
So listen, if you're in the early stages of a quit, and it feels like you've
got a whole lifetime of cravings stretching ahead of you, it's not true.
Every time you beat a trigger, that's one less thing to make you want to
smoke. The everyday things are easy. You soon learn that it's not necessary
to light up every time you answer the phone, or when you've got to sit and
wait and you're feeling bored. Those sort of triggers are so common that
they're soon behind you.
It's the other triggers you have to watch out for. The things that don't
happen very often. The first funeral I attended as a non-smoker was
tricky..... we always used to adjourn to the pub and puff away merrily,
shortening the time before our own funerals of course.
Last week, after nearly 4 years smoke free, I came across one last trigger.
It's ages since I did any painting and decorating, but I decided to paint
the hall. (Green, if you must know......) After I'd come down the ladder,
after finishing the tiring job of painting the ceiling, my first instinct
was........ to reach for a cigarette! Is it really more than 4 years since I
painted the house? I guess it must be. I remember those little rewards,
washing the paint off your hands and lighting up while you admire all your
hard work. Of course it wasn't hard to ignore the trigger, but I was quite
surprised to find there were still potential potholes lurking for me after
all this time.
The thing is to recognise triggers for what they are. Acknowledge them,
shake them by the hand, and let them pass. Each trigger dealt with is one
less to bother you in the future.
Oh dear - I'm rambling a bit. But, hey, I only post here once a year now, so
I've got a lot to get off my chest! I do miss AS3, and the little soap
operas that went on day by day. Are Diane and Eddie still around? I see Jef
is still working hard at keeping everyone smiling - did I mention that man
deserves a medal? Has Padders found her final quit yet? Oh, there are so
many old friends....... but I do hope my quit sister, Adrienne, has popped
in too, today, as I'd like to celebrate with her. Four years, eh Ade? Didn't
we do well?
:-)
ally
Four years, 2 hours, 51 minutes and 13 seconds. 43833 cigarettes not smoked,
saving £4,558.69. Life saved: 21 weeks, 5 days, 4 hours, 45 minutes.
a l l y
elle
I hardly ever come here anymore either, but I popped in on a lark today and
what good fortune to see you and ade both here posting your vvof posts.
Congratulations, dearie... amazing what we did, isn't it?
hugs,
elle
"a l l y" <al...@caneseatsDOGGIE.plus.com> wrote in message
news:Kw48c.23344$h44.3...@stones.force9.net...
Paula
Thanks for coming by ally...I guess we'll see you and Adrienne in a year
when you'll be five years!
Congratulations on your great quit!
Paula
"a l l y" <al...@caneseatsDOGGIE.plus.com> wrote in message
> Hello, my brave comrades. I just realised today is my 4th anniversay and
a l l y
elle <m...@privacy.net> wrote in message
news:c3ql8p$2admj3$1...@ID-159112.news.uni-berlin.de...
> Ally, so good to see you!
>
> I hardly ever come here anymore either, but I popped in on a lark today
and
> what good fortune to see you and ade both here posting your vvof posts.
> Congratulations, dearie... amazing what we did, isn't it?
>
my will power quitting smoking, but it was worth it. Isn't it great being
able to take big deep breaths of fresh air without coughing or wheezing? We
are going to live to 100, you wait and see........
love
ally
Robbb
> in too, today, as I'd like to celebrate with her. Four years, eh Ade?
Didn't
> we do well?
This is incredible!!!! How many of you Quads are there???? WOW...
To know that it does get easier and that even at 4 years a trigger can
appear...
Just thank you (both of you) - yes she was here earlier
Grateful for all the oldsters popping in!
hug
~robbb
7W
Goldie Darlin
*
*
Goldie
*
*
Pat and Ash
I trust all is well with Morris dancing and music-making.
So glad to hear you're still smoke free, and still active, and still
have dogs :-)
Best wishes to you,
...pat.
dof (took me a while to figure it out, but I think I understand now :-D)
--
Pat and Ash
pat...@sympatico.ca
http://www3.sympatico.ca/patash/
Pat blogs at http://patsgreenthumb.blogspot.com/
Ash blogs as Michael Court at http://conceptions.blogspot.com/
Black Sheep
> Four years, eh Ade? Didn't
> we do well?
>
Dawn
VVOF
Susan Alison
--
SusanandFred(moocher)VOFandabit
"a l l y" <al...@caneseatsDOGGIE.plus.com> wrote in message
news:Kw48c.23344$h44.3...@stones.force9.net...
> Hello, my brave comrades. I just realised today is my 4th anniversay and
>
Loretta Hefler
seems to be alot of 4 yearers here and we are grateful. :) Lynn
CuckooCathy(Cat)
Thanks for the post, it was truly wonderful to hear that it gets soooo much
better.
Congrats on 4!!!
Cat
Quit 3/23/04
"a l l y" <al...@caneseatsDOGGIE.plus.com> wrote in message
news:Kw48c.23344$h44.3...@stones.force9.net...
Nicole {Freezing in Wisconsin}
Nicole VOF
Adrienne Caldwell
can't have a Year 1999 Quit reunion somewhere in a centralized location in this
universe. It would be great to celebrate in person.
One funny thing I noticed about my quit that I forgot to mention is that when I
drink I get drunk much faster. Plus I drink more to replace the smoking. I
think one Friday two weeks ago was the first time I officially went out
drinking in ages. I remember trying to walk straight. I remember putting the
keys in the door. Next thing I know I wake up on the living room floor
surrounded by all of my dogs curled up against me. LOL.
Glad I'm not a real drinker and the above is only a once in every blue moon
type of thing.
Take care and congratulations again.
Adrienne
a l l y wrote:
Medic1455
--
Steff
Medic1455
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