so i entered into the triple digit club about a week ago apparently. 107 days quit now.
and i am so freaking proud!!! i just can't express enough how free i feel from cigarettes.
case and point: went out of town to visit my parents this past weekend with my girlfriend. normally we would be going crazy not being able to smoke around them, not sleeping well, antzy, coughing, miserable. we'd leave as early as we could on sunday morning just so we could get a fix. this particular weekend? lazed around until our hearts were content. visited and enjoyed the company of others. that's freedom. that's what being quit is all about.
and the thing about it is, i'm not missing a damn thing. i don't miss cigarettes. i'm glad they are out of my life. went out to dinner the other night with friends, one of whom had been quit for three years before picking it up again. i mean, hey we can all understand that, but me looking at him, it's like why did you put those chains back on?
anyway, if any new quitters have read this far down i want to say a couple of things that maybe i didn't see or hear:
1. when i first started on this journey, all i did was think about cigarettes, almost constantly. i was white knuckling it, and that isn't necessarily the way to go. try to be a happy quitter, like thomas. but even if you can't, even if you're just holding on for dear life, keep doing it. one day at a time. promise to not smoke for one day. then fulfill that promise.
2. after that first month, i felt a bit like a newborn baby horse or giraffe or something. very unsure of my footing, kind of walking around in a daze. honestly, my work suffered, i couldn't focus, my routines were all out of freaking whack. i thought to myself on more than one occassion, this might not be worth it. AND THAT WAS BS. that was my own brain trying to get myself to start up again. this quitting thing is the most worthwhile endeavor i've ever done.
3. because what you don't realize (but would have if you'd read all of the reading materials and listened to dale) is that you just have to find your new normal. i know what that means now, i think i truly do. i don't necessarily have a new normal that i'm completely satisfied with yet. i could probably eat better and exercise more and help others more. but my new normal right now is one without cigarettes even on my mind. and i can live with that for now.
4. so hang in there. i promise promise promise promise that things get better. just hang on, keep them away from your face for today. deal with tomorrow tomorrow. keep your short term promises to yourself. and eventually, you won't even be counting the days. as hard as that is to believe.
5. i can see the beckoning hands from those who have already traversed no-man's land. can't wait to be with you guys. be there soon.
GOOD LUCK TO EVERYONE AND N.O.P.E.
