8 yrs Today - Repost

Well, now 8 yrs. have gone by. It's beginning to look like a miracle has
happened as I'm still putting time in smoke free. Oh, yeah... And Selma
and I have heard from Mark, another 5/25'er. Still smoke free!



8 yrs Today

Aho. Wow. I am sitting here feeling pretty amazed. I've hit another
wonderful milestone. 8 years today. And I think I arrived at this
smoke-free place in what seems like no time a'tall! That's truth. Though I
have not forgotten what it was like to be where you are. I have not
forgotten all of the emotions involved in quitting smoking. Getting smoke
free seemed so impossible at times, I was sure I was never going to get
there. But here I am. 8 years down the road and still truly quit and
happily so!



As each year passes, on this date, I usually sit a moment with you and pick
up the talkingstick. I'd like to do that again.



Just so you know...I am Yukpa hashi. I am Cherokee, Choctaw, English and
Scots. I quit smoking for good on May 25, 1998. I spent the first year of
my quit with AS3. Without this newsgroup and the wonderful support I found
here, I am positive I would still be trying to quit, totally frustrated with
myself and very low in the self esteem department. But with this newsgroup
I realized I wasn't alone. I always had someone to reach out to when the
going got tough. I had a forum in which to get information. And I found
like souls all traveling on the same path Some have become very good
friends. To those of you, I deeply thank you for traveling on this journey
with me.



Although I don't recognize the names anymore, I do recognize the stories. My
story was like yours. And then I met ddsteve and Cognitive Quitting and
that changed everything. I was also at a place where I was willing to do
whatever it took to get smoke free. I was tired of HAVING/NEEDING TO go out
in the middle of the night to the local 7/11 for smokes because I had run
out! True story. I had awakened in the middle of the night one night and
wanted/needed a smoke. I had smoked the last one the night before, thinking
I always get up early enough; I would have time to hit the smoke shop before
work. The feeling in the middle of the night was so intense though. I
could not escape the... want/need. The next thing I knew, I was at 7/11
buying nicotine. And the sad part is that I didn't feel like I had a choice

about that. I don't think I did. I wonder how many of you have done the
same thing. You know what? Being smoke free means you don't ever have to
feel that loss-of-nicotine panic ever again. And that need to get up in the
middle of the night becomes only a need to go to the loo. (Well, some of us
old folks do that, you know. Giggle.)



I could go on with more stories from my journey but what I'd really like to
say is this. getting smoke free *can* happen. I did it. And believe me; I
was totally convinced that I could not quit smoking.



A side benefit was that I learned much about me and my body. The journey
was a true eye opener. And that's a good thing.



Which brings me to another point. If you are not doing well, talk to some of
the longer term quitters and ask them what they did to get smoke free.
Remember your quit is your own to design. I have always said because we are
each unique, it might require any combination of quit methods to quit
smoking. Find out your options! For me, Cognitive Quitting was the key.



Hello to all of my old friends. I'm doing well. Joe and I bought a house
out in the country and life is truly sweet. I hope the same for you.



Oh! Oh! I almost forgot... If you know of my story, you know my grandsons
were my main motivators for quitting smoking. They have been my best pals
and greatest support along the way. I expect a call from them tonight. We

still celebrate Grandma's clean smell.



And now I am passing the talkingstick ---->>>> What are you doing to get
free? OR what did you do to get free?



I love this newsgroup,

PatB/Yukpa hashi/Laughing Moon

www.talkingstick.net