From: Penny Sent: 6/16/2000 7:27 PM 1 of 15

Joel, that is my absolute favorite of yours. I had that on my fridge since my first day of my quit. Read it every single morning. Hey, I read that before I even met you!! Now I am lucky cuz I can tell everyone I know the person who wrote "My Cigarette My Friend!" Thank you Joel!

Penny

I have been Quit for: 6M 2W 2D 21h 7m 40s. I have NOT smoked 6995, for a savings of $1,396.36. Life Saved: 3W 3D 6h 55m.


From: Laila (staff3) Sent: 6/27/2000 11:40 AM 2 of 15

You know what Joel,

the second day of my quit, I started crying histarically, when my b/f asked what was wrong, (I had been fine an hour ago...) I told him that my "BEST FRIEND" was missing, and that I was lonely, and did not know how to cope... Well, having never smoked a cig in his life and having no idea what I was rambling about, when he figured out that it was my "CIGARETTE" he just about hit the roof, but it did not change my perspective....

Then I went looking through the posts and found this, really, I have never looked at my Cigarette as a friend again, the idea is really laughable, what was I thinking...

I am feeling much better today, I think I have made the right move in getting the nic out of my system, I feel like I am in a lot of pain, and I don't want this prolonged anymore then it has to be...

have a lovely day,

Laila

image
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1week 3days 17hours 52minutes smoke-free, 265 cigs not smoked, $59.63 saved, 22:05 life saved

btw, I feel like I am starting to take it a few hours at a time, instead of a minute at a time...

getting bye, refusing to give in,



From: Linnee Sent: 6/27/2000 4:43 PM 3 of 15

Joel...what can I say? After a particularly stressful incident with my teenager, I thought a cigarette would make me feel better. Instead I came to the message board and read this. Powerful stuff. The withdrawal is worse now than it's been in 2 days, but I'm standing firm.

Thanks,

Linnee 1 day,14 h, 45m, 36s


From: Joel (Mgr) Sent: 6/29/2000 6:52 AM 4 of 15

Thank you Laila,

I was just about to bring this up for the same reason as I was writing the response to you about the "Freeze" thing.

Hope you have a good day

Joel


From: Debi Sent: 6/29/2000 6:56 AM 5 of 15
That is my favorite!!! It really packs a punch!!! I've had that on my mirror for months now and read it every day. It still makes me cry, but now the tears are happy tears cause I'm not reading it and saying(thats me), now I read it and say THATS NOT ME!!!!! WOW! Debi...Four days, 7 hours, 55 minutes and 20 seconds. 129 cigarettes not smoked, saving $23.71. Life saved: 10 hours, 45 minutes.

From: Joel (Mgr) Sent: 6/29/2000 7:18 AM 6 of 15

This is my favorite too. I knew as I was writing it that it was different. It came out almost completely intact on it's first draft. Normally I would edit and edit my letters back then, never quite satisfied with how something sounded. And as I was writing, I would think of something different to say, often the final version seeming nothing like the original concept.

But this one was different. It flowed out in its entirety with what seemed like no effort or thought. I was sad when I finished it, feeling like I would never be able to write something like this again. To some degree this sentiment turned out to be true. I'm so happy it is still being used and helping people after 16 years.


From: Laila (staff3) Sent: 6/29/2000 7:26 AM 7 of 15

Wow DebI, you are doing great :-)

Seems like everyone here is doing so well, that just shows to me how much FREEDOOM works,

Joel, you are a real friend, and an insperation to us all :)


From: Debi Sent: 6/29/2000 8:01 AM 8 of 15
Thanks Laila! Your doing great too ya know!!? Hope things are easing up for you. I've been wanting to try and help you but I am no expert. Always afraid I will say the wrong thing! Just know that i'm here,rather I say anything or not, and I'm wishing you the best! Hugs, Debi Thanks Joel for writting that.It has truly made a difference in my life!

From: AMYBEADS Sent: 7/17/2000 7:58 AM 9 of 15

Hi Joel!

Thanks for posting that again. That was one of my favorites at the beginning of my quit. It is a very powerful message of exactly what we are not missing. I think of this very article even now when I get one of those very far and few between craves.

Amy
3 months, 1 weeks, 6 days, 23:32 hours as an ex-smoker!!!
3,150 cigs not smoked,
$606.38 saved
1weeks, 3 days, 22:30 hours of life saved


From: Laila (staff3) Sent: 7/17/2000 8:03 AM 10 of 15

Hey Joel, it is a great post,

My sickarette used to be my best friend, and for the first three days into my quit, I morned his loss, my b/f could not understand, then I found Freedom and read your post, I was amazed this was such a common feeling, and it really did hit home, I think i can safely say that my sickarette became my enemy 27 days ago with these words of wisdom.


From: quitting in Alaska Sent: 7/22/2000 5:30 PM 11 of 15

I really appreciated this article after the feeling I had when I smoked my last cigarette the night before I quit. It made me think to of the shame and alienation that smokers feel as they are standing outside in the freezing cold or worse yet in the "smoking"section in airports, little cubicles with many people lighting up. Cigarettes are no friend/

Nancy


From: GrumpyOMrsS (mgr) Sent: 7/22/2000 7:38 PM 12 of 15

Hi Nancy.....

You mention smoking cubicles in airports......all the big airports I've been in lately do not allow smoking in any way shape or form. Neither do the malls and in a lot of cases, the individual restaurants in malls. You want to smoke, you do it outside and a lot of cities are making it so that you cannot smoke within 50 ft. of an entrance to a building.

I sure am glad I quit......I condsider every day I have not smoked to be a blessing and I wonder what took me so long to quit. You'll know when you've achieved freedom from smoking when one day a great big smile crosses your face and you feel like a horrible weight has been lifted from your shoulders.

Keep reading Nancy....knowlegde in necessary in defeating this addiction.

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Linda.......Six months, two weeks, five days, 8 hours, 31 minutes and 52 seconds. 4027 cigarettes not smoked, saving $688.49. Life saved: 1 week, 6 days, 23 hours, 35 minutes.


From: Zep (mgr) Sent: 8/12/2000 7:59 AM 13 of 15

image

The Cool Turkeys of Freedom


From: Christiana Sent: 9/22/2000 11:22 AM 14 of 15
Hello , Giving addiction an identity, and a personal one who is not so nice to us, makes sense to me. I get to see it better, for what it is. Thank you . And gee, am i the slow learner, being used that way, for almost 40 years and not catching on. Knowing this, in light of my glass being half full today, i will use this as yet even more armour in my decission against picking up for today. Later Christiana

From: GrumpyOMrsS (mgr) Sent: 9/29/2000 1:40 PM 15 of 15
a good read for those who REALLY miss their smokes....


I saw Freeflight request this one come up. Seemed like a good idea to me too.

Joel