Greetings,
My name is Star and I just became a member. I have been a nicotine addict on and off for over 40 years, I'm ashamed to say, but I now feel I will succeed in staying nicotine-free. You see I did not plan to stop 3 weeks ago although I have wanted to do so for a long, long time. I stopped smoking on July 14, 2007 and thankfully found Joel's Library and Video Lessons sometime during that awful first week and they helped me get through those early days. Also reading some of the postings I realized I was not alone in my quit, there were many others going through the same addiction withdrawal and they were succeeding and maybe I could too.
On that day in July I became so angry with myself for continuing to cough from the irritant, that I just stopped smoking "cold turkey". I kept asking myself, how could any sane person put poison into their lungs? I must be crazy? How could I do this off & on for some many years? After weeping buckets from my rage I proceeded to throw away all my cigs, lighters and outside butt cans, as I never smoked inside our present home. I was so mad I even cleaned out the car ashtray with some orange smelling cleaner, and continued to clean the whole car to wipe out any remaining smoke stink.
Then yesterday I spent the day with my youngest son, our daughter-in-law and our 4-year old twin granddaughters. I was able to swim with them, run across the lawns with them, play games with them and never had to COUGH once. I could even sing songs with them 4 & 6 verses and never COUGH once. I gave them a bath and read a bedtime story to them and never did I COUGH once. The whole day was pure happiness; being healthy and able to enjoy our love ones is joy.
Yes, I feel very proud of my quit, maybe I will buy myself a new bike to replace the one I gave away last year. I still feel very emotional and weepy at times and wonder when the "strong me" will return, but then I remember, that "strong me" was a smoker and now I am a healthier "former nicotine addict." So I guess I can become used to this new me. Thank you for listening.
