I appreciate the welcome, and the videos I'm finding are very helpful. It's interesting to me how each and every one of us thinks we somehow are special or different when it comes to various things, but we really aren't so much. In reading and watching the resource material so far here on Freedom, I've realized that I'm no different than anyone else when it comes to addiction. Same excuses, same justifications, many of the same MOs (smoking as a reward for myself, etc). It is nice knowing that I'm in good company though!

The past couple of days have been difficult, particularly with it being Christmastime. Family get-togethers and big, delicious meals have presented me with huge challenges. Even though I've said several times aloud, "I'd like a cigarette," I have taken a deep breath and a drink of water instead, grabbed a piece of mint gum, and reminded myself of my reasons for quitting in the first place. Those reasons remain, regardless of how much my past associations try to trigger me to fall off the wagon. I'm  N T A P ... one day at a time. Seven days and working hard!