I made it! I'm BRONZE!!
I am so thankful for the chance to make this journey back to myself. The past 3 months have been glorious as I remember
little by little what life is like without being dependant. I've had a birthday, a vacation, enjoyed many a campfire complete with adult beverages and
still-smoking friends, and not once did I think about abandoning my journey. I'm thankful that I have my health, as too many people don't. I'm
thankful that I was persistent and didn't quit quitting. I'm thankful that I have overcome so many triggers...you really can do everything you
always did without smoking!
I was recently at a party and found myself sitting between two heavy smokers. It actually took a little while for me to
realize the importance of that. But when I did, oh what a feeling! "Oh wow, would ya look at this. Charity on one side, Diane on the other, and
I'm not even breaking a sweat! I don't even care!" I am still so psyched about that night. Later in the evening, Charity admitted that she
would like to quit and asked me how I did it. Well of course I write down this site for her, and then offered a nugget of what I hope was motivation. I
told her that when I smoked, I believed my struggle to quit would last years. I really thought I would be battling craves for a loooong time. I thought
comfort would take a very long time to set in. I thought it was a wall I could not climb. But I am amazed at my comfort level now! Not only now but for
the past month or so, I haven't been experiencing a battle. I also pointed out that every quit is different, and motivation is often difficult to
muster. But I urged her to give it a shot, she just might be surprised.
For instance yesterday I only thought about smoking once, and that was because my husband & I were eating dinner on a
restaurant's outside deck (lobster to celebrate) and there was another customer out there as well, smoking a cigarette. I saw the two women he was
accompanying, and they looked absolutely disgusted. Waving their hands in front of their faces, grimacing. I thought, there's another thing I'm
thankful for. I'm thankful that I'm no longer a source of displeasure for others.
Okay well I should get back to work now...wanted to drop in & celebrate my milestone! See you all at SILVER!!
Jamie - NTAP!!

