I'm Feeling A Great Deal of Hope! Why?

[Nicolette]

Great stuff Hope (and hubby too). Keep it up! :Hug_emoticon:

 

[Deleted member 541]

Hope,

GREAT JOB!! Quitting smoking is no easy task. Hang in there hon you can beat this.....

 

[goingonhope]

It's amazing how we effect one another. When I ever found and read your encouragement Nicolette and She Cat, I actually felt my accomplishment. And, I felt a mix of other good feelings! :Hug_emoticon:I want to thank you both so much.

Nicolette I enjoyed that smile and hug, and appreciate that you included my husb. too in your encouragement. And, She Cat being called hon, I liked it and that great big tall GREAT JOB! ,,,luv it. It feels good to be seen and regarded. Again, thank you both and you're absolutely right. Quitting smoking is no easy task, and yet I feel very lucky to be allowed to be free of that sh't, "One Day At A Time."

Hope

 

[goingonhope]

I don't know how many days without a cigg.' Something like shortly over a month and it Feels Great. I mean really, I can breath again and I'm not coughing all night long and waking up hacking, gagging and even vomiting. I was doing all of that.

So, hubby and I are living without smokes.

Oh' and as this all keeps up, God-willing, I'll be able to have the surgery upon my eye that was cancelled nearly two yrs. ago because it wouldn't have been safe. While a smoker, ...in the doctor trying to save some of my vision, it too easily could've resulted in me losing the vision I do have.


Hope

 

[zoe]

Hope,

That is an awesome accomplishment! Congratulations!

Zoe

 

[goingonhope]

So, hubby and I are living without smokes.

So we both tried back in August 08' and failed, and are now once again both well on our way again without cigg's. Put down the smokes, and provided they stay down, "One Day At A Time." , what do I find, ......some more hope.

This feels great, already I find myself more energetic, laughing and smiling and seeing the humor in so much.

The best thing about all this too, is that 4 or 5 days ago, I hadn't the need for the medicine that I had to temporarily go on nightly, and that which I feared I'd become physically dependent upon, and so now it's been nearly 5 days, without such medicine. And, I feel great. Don't always concentrate easily, but do feel great.

Tonight I went out to bingo with the kids and we won 4 prizes!

It was nice!

There are other things today, as well as, yesterday and what with last night's awesome sleep, that struck me extremely well and hopeful.

 

[A-RON]

I'm so glad to hear all of this, Hope. Such a great post! I quit smoking a few months ago, but I've been really tempted lately. Whenever I think about it, I try to think of something I want more, that can replace the craving and that might be a little healthier. For example, I want to be healthy, so I might run a mile. If I can't run at that moment, I'll eat something healthy and trick myself into thinking that I want the healthy food more than a cigarette or a cigar. I decide that I can only have one thing, so I have to choose between the cigarette and the other thing. It also helps to make a list of all the things you'd rather have instead of a cigarette, and that way you can give yourself a treat everytime you have a craving.

Anyway, great to hear you so upbeat. You're such a good person, and I'm happy for you.

 

[goingonhope]

Thanks Aaron for posting here and for your comments. I find that what you do, is helpful as suggestions for me to do also. And, I'm going to give the making a list of all the things I'd rather have besides a ciggerette a try as well.

This morning as I awoke, I felt like I'd reached just the right distance away from my last smoke, to be most vulnerable and more so then previous days, to go ahead and give myself permission to smoke again, as a means of coping. However, because I was aware of such vulnerability, I was able to choose appropriately not to reverse direction. My awareness of what was going on within my thoughts and how and why I was feeling most vulnerable to pick up a smoke, in order to cope, was key.

Thanks again, Aaron for your kind and helpful comments.

Hope

 

[Tinyflame]

Hope, I might be a "bad" one to respond b/c I started again but hard-core smoker and quit for almost 3 years before I started again.

I felt like "absolute crap" (physically) 1st 6 months but then normal. Didn't bother me one bit after that psychologically either. After 2 years felt like I never smoked in my life.

Good for you! One day at a time! :)

 

[goingonhope]

Thanks Junebug! No, not a bad one to respond at all. In fact identify. I had just beyond 2 yrs. without a cigg. once, and gee was I feeling, doing and looking mostly well.


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I had quit successfully 3 wks. before my father died of lung cancer that eventually matastisized to his stomach, bones, and brain.

It was nothing short of the grace of God that I'd been allowed to quit then for as long as I did. As by this time I was seeing him regularly, as he and I would go to meetings together. He was in and out of the hospital, and by this time frequently in. The last of our attendance together at such a place was that New Yr., when he and I attended what is called an alkathon or meetings for hrs. upon end back to back.

It was like Wow! This is what he wanted to do! that Dec. 31st/ Jan. 1st.

As I recall him, I can well remember observing him from across the room while watching him observe and listen to others speak. And, then after he took a turn, I just knew how tired I was and had told him at about midnight that I had to go home. He chose to stay, until 10am the following morning, at which point a got a friend to give him a ride home.

It wasn't easy, but I'd had a great deal of acceptance then, and conviction within me that it was alright to be there for my Dad, as much as I was then, and as little as I could be other times when he was too busy being overgenerous and taken in by some woman who was lets say less than well-intentioned and honest.

That particular New Yr.'s evening alkathon, I remember overhearing someone state: "(His Name), he doesn't know enough to climb into his casket. Look at him, he's through, and yet doesn't even know."

After the move of my father, from this world to beyond, five days later. I was carried and remained able to stay smoke-free for another Yr. and 3 quarters.

Prior to all this I'd been a heavy smoker, became one at the age of 21yrs. old when I first put down a drink and immediately found myself substituting with cigg's that I had so long before detested seeing chain smoked by family, and was previously repulsed by.

When my little ones were nearly 1yr. old, I started up again and 2 yrs. later at age 3 they were both asking: "Mommy, Daddy, please stop smoking as it's not good for you, you'll die." "Come and play with us some more."

One yr. later my mother was diagnosed with cancer.

OM, why am I telling of and sharing of any of this now. I think it's because everyday, I continued to powerlessly smoke after I got started again, many times throughout my day, I'd get to thinking: "I'm dying and killing myself." "This doesn't make any sense." "What is wrong with me." "How can I ever stop." "Why God, Why me now?" "What about my kids?"

So, I've tryed again and again to stop eversince, and stay stopped, and little to none of it has been pretty in those inital days. When I'd make it then beyond some initial days, my problem was and remains staying stopped, "One Day At A Time." I do so hope that this is it, though I'll keep it in this day, this hour.
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THX Junebug, I don't know how through re-reading you post this morning, I find myself with so much to write here now, but I thank you for commenting in my thread, bc it has somehow allowed me to tap into the memory of certain painful life realities and memories, and I continue to be and am pieced back together more wholesome, with and through it all.


Hope

 

[Tinyflame]

Dear Hope,

I am so glad, you should rightfully feel such joy, hope, and pride in doing this. I really think it's terrific.

I am so glad if it ultimately could help you in the tiniest way feel more whole.

Funny hope,- my mom died of lung cancer, too, and I remember those kind of unfeeling, utterly painful comments, too (mostly from the Doctors/ Medical Staff). Remember feeling so defeated and utterly without hope when I heard them. But truth of the matter is, your dad/ my family were living each moment right up to the end. Sometimes I think people who make comments like that not only can't handle death but really can't handle people "living", either.

My dad died of cancer 13 years earlier almost to the day, too. I have often felt powerless to quit.
I know how difficult it is to quit, too; I started at 12.

You are so right- "One day at a time". And here's hoping one day we will be able to say "One (terrific, beautiful) Day at a Time".
:)

Keep

 

[Tinyflame]

Oops, hope, meant to add but "fingers too fast"..

Keep going. You are doing so great!!
(That's better :) )