Several months smoke free.

[paigeoliver]

I was a smoker most of my early life  (19 on). I gave it up years ago, but I fell back into it early this year (I thought it might be OK to smoke a cigar on new years eve, it wasn't I was bumming smokes off random people the next day and by march I was buying my own.

I made the mistake of going along with all my lovely "born again" friends and their habit of smoking cigars on special occasions.

Well, this weekend marks 2 months smoke free. Not patches, no pills. It was always really embarrassing to me. I always did it in private. I was always afraid someone would find me out.

For those of you who recently did quit. You really can't just have a cigar or one cigarette. It gets you started all over again. I have learned this lesson not once, but twice (albeit the first lesson only lasted a month, this one had me smoking for six months).

Since I mentioned my "born again" friends in this message, I will clarify my own personal religous belief on smoking. I don't believe smoking is a sin by itself. It is only when it becomes destructive and takes over your life (pretty much 95 percent of smokers) that it becomes a sin. According to scripture it also becomes a sin when it negatively effects another brother in the faith.

The idea of negatively affecting another brother/sister sounds like it is a minor idea, but I believe that is the area where almost all the smoking related sin is sewn. Heck, I want to smoke just writing this.

Some people have the ability to smoke without negative side effect. Those who did not begin the habit until their 7th decade, people in their late 60s/early 70s without effect, or even people who have no family left in their downline.

I don't fall into any of those categories. I am unmarried (have not even met my mate yet as far as I know), thus I must guard my health closely for the sake of my future mate/s. So lets celebrate my lack of smoking, eh?

[missioncontrol]

Glad your giving em up again....

two months smoke free congratulations....

You must have stoped about the same time I did... Theres times I really want a smoke, but other times I don't miss it. I guess we will allways have a craving for them, we just have to fight it.

We can do it.

[Arcadiac]

Been smoke-free longer than I can remember.  A couple of years at least.
I got to a point where I could not draw a full breath.  That scared the crap out of me.  I went to the doctor and she told me I had the beginnings of emphysema, sent me home with an inhaler for attacks.
Been smoke-free since. 

It's still the easiest addiction to pick up if I wanted to, they're everywhere and still mostly acceptible. 

I had a friend who was a recovering heroin addict, he said giving up the heroin was easier.  Think about that for a minute. 

Most people successfully recovering from an addiction, realize that if they pick up just one it will start the cycle all over again as evidenced with your shared experience.

When I want to smoke now and again I just remember gasping for breath
in the last emphysema episode.  The urge passes. 

Having the urge is normal, having a plan in place not to smoke is the key to staying smoke-free.  Respect the addiction.

Congratulations on choosing to live healthier!

ARCADIAC!

[Bones]

I don't know about smoking being a sin but it's just plain stupid if you ask me.....

[J_K_M_A_N]

9-27 will be 4 years for me. I still want one from time to time but it is pretty easy to say no now. Most of the time it is because of stress that I want one. I tried the just having a couple when we were out once and the next day I bought a pack. You can't have them for just one night. It doesn't work that way. Good luck.

J_K_M_A_N

[Chickadee]

Congratulations Hope you can keep it up!

[Apollo]

Anyone who reads this and wants to give up, try Allan Carr's Easy Way to Stop Smoking from Penguin books. It works like nothing else, believe me.

[DarkKobold]

Congrats!

[pointdablame]

Good for you Paige, and everyone else who managed to quit.  keep it up.  I have a few friends that have been "quitting" since I've known them... it really is hard I guess.

[MajorHavoc]

Quitting is easy.....I've done it many times...Now staying quit.  That's the trick.  Congrats and best wishes for a smoke free future.

[Stingray]

It's a nasty habit, good for you. I also knew a guy who was a recovered heroine addict. He still smoked. Told me he could kick the herione, but not the cigs, pretty scary.

-S