Happy Report

No, I don't have a job yet, so let's get that out of the way, damn it

In the last few months, I have noticed that with all the disasters (sorta)
that I have encountered, and all the hard times and problems, which I talk
about here freely, not ONCE have I craved a cigarette. Now, I fell off the
wagon, mind you, but I have been sober for 42 days or something like that.
My point is, is there a time that you just don't crave any more? When I was
at Starbucks the other day, I actually sat outside with my ipod on and
reading my book. Someone sat a couple of tables and started smoking. My
attitude was just...indifferent. I really couldn't give a shit less. I did
not move. It's not that it didn't bother me, I just didn't care, and it was
as if he was reading a book and that is all.

Good, bad or indifferent, I am just happy to report that I have not been
craving or even thinking about cigarettes as problem solvers.. You see my
philosophy, is "Once an alcoholic, always an alcoholic" and I think it is
the same for smoking. Someone posted earlier that they considers themselves
a non smoker. I don't. I always say I don't smoke any more. I feel that
describes me more accurately. Just like drinking, after 15 years of not
smoking, I think I can pick up the habit just like that...if it's still
legal and I live that long..ha ha.

Just my opinion. Hey this is America, land of the free, and not "Al
Jumahiriyah al Arabiyah al Libiyah
ash Shabiyah al Ishtirakiyah al Uzma"

--
AZ

Great post.

After learning it the hard way I look it up the same way "once an alcoholic
always and alcoholic" plus "once a smoker always a smoker" The different to
my quit this time is that I care more about how I response to the urge of
smoking. Yes, I can tell myself hang in there the urge will go away or I can
learn new non smoking responses or both. Which I hope in the long run will
work.

One day I hope I will be at a point too, where I can sit beside someone
smoking and don't care about it.

HappyPolarBear
--
"Failing to prepare is preparing to fail"
I will not fail. I will prove that Bipolars can
stay quit too


"AZ" <zikra.nospam@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:QSrek.616$jT6.179@bignews5.bellsouth.net...
> No, I don't have a job yet, so let's get that out of the way, damn it
>
> In the last few months, I have noticed that with all the disasters (sorta)
> that I have encountered, and all the hard times and problems, which I talk
> about here freely, not ONCE have I craved a cigarette. Now, I fell off
> the wagon, mind you, but I have been sober for 42 days or something like
> that. My point is, is there a time that you just don't crave any more?
> When I was at Starbucks the other day, I actually sat outside with my ipod
> on and reading my book. Someone sat a couple of tables and started
> smoking. My attitude was just...indifferent. I really couldn't give a
> shit less. I did not move. It's not that it didn't bother me, I just
> didn't care, and it was as if he was reading a book and that is all.
>
> Good, bad or indifferent, I am just happy to report that I have not been
> craving or even thinking about cigarettes as problem solvers.. You see my
> philosophy, is "Once an alcoholic, always an alcoholic" and I think it is
> the same for smoking. Someone posted earlier that they considers
> themselves a non smoker. I don't. I always say I don't smoke any more.
> I feel that describes me more accurately. Just like drinking, after 15
> years of not smoking, I think I can pick up the habit just like that...if
> it's still legal and I live that long..ha ha.
>
> Just my opinion. Hey this is America, land of the free, and not "Al
> Jumahiriyah al Arabiyah al Libiyah
> ash Shabiyah al Ishtirakiyah al Uzma"
>
> --
> AZ
>

Instead of taking 30 puffs of smoke, AZ spoketh upon us:

>In the last few months, I have noticed that with all the disasters (sorta)
>that I have encountered, and all the hard times and problems, which I talk
>about here freely, not ONCE have I craved a cigarette. Now, I fell off the
>wagon, mind you, but I have been sober for 42 days or something like that.
>My point is, is there a time that you just don't crave any more? When I was
>at Starbucks the other day, I actually sat outside with my ipod on and
>reading my book. Someone sat a couple of tables and started smoking. My
>attitude was just...indifferent. I really couldn't give a shit less. I did
>not move. It's not that it didn't bother me, I just didn't care, and it was
>as if he was reading a book and that is all.

I could not care less about smoking. And that is what everybody comes
to sooner or later. Persistence is key.
Congratulations on both accounts Ala! It was anything but easy.

--
Tihomir 1Y1M, Knin, HR 44°N 16°E
http://www.quitbuddies.org

Quote 7307 of 8964:
.... Every woman should marry -- and no man.

On Sun, 13 Jul 2008 13:34:56 -0500, "AZ" <zikra.nospam@yahoo.com>
wrote:

>No, I don't have a job yet, so let's get that out of the way, damn it
>
>In the last few months, I have noticed that with all the disasters (sorta)
>that I have encountered, and all the hard times and problems, which I talk
>about here freely, not ONCE have I craved a cigarette. Now, I fell off the
>wagon, mind you, but I have been sober for 42 days or something like that.
>My point is, is there a time that you just don't crave any more? When I was
>at Starbucks the other day, I actually sat outside with my ipod on and
>reading my book. Someone sat a couple of tables and started smoking. My
>attitude was just...indifferent. I really couldn't give a shit less. I did
>not move. It's not that it didn't bother me, I just didn't care, and it was
>as if he was reading a book and that is all.
>
>Good, bad or indifferent, I am just happy to report that I have not been
>craving or even thinking about cigarettes as problem solvers.. You see my
>philosophy, is "Once an alcoholic, always an alcoholic" and I think it is
>the same for smoking. Someone posted earlier that they considers themselves
>a non smoker. I don't. I always say I don't smoke any more. I feel that
>describes me more accurately. Just like drinking, after 15 years of not
>smoking, I think I can pick up the habit just like that...if it's still
>legal and I live that long..ha ha.
>
>Just my opinion. Hey this is America, land of the free, and not "Al
>Jumahiriyah al Arabiyah al Libiyah
>ash Shabiyah al Ishtirakiyah al Uzma"

You are really experiencing your freedom. You deserve it.
Sue

I agree with you, AZ. I know I could pick up and smoke a sickerette
but I know that there is no 'just one' for me out there. So I just
stay smober and am glad that I love my smobriety so much. As I often
write, this is about my 5th or 6th major quit and I feel that I
finally have come to realize that I have to remain viligent but that I
can also think though the illogic of the 'just one' and say NOOO and
then go on with my life.

I have buds who visit me at my flat who do smoke. I am not thrilled
that they do it, but I do know how much their addiction is their
problem, not mine, and I do not have to smoke because they do.

Getting to this headspace has taken years, but it is *SO* worth it!

FlatironMike
One year, five months, three days, 12 hours, 14 minutes and 18
seconds. 10390 cigarettes not smoked, saving $3,116.81. Life saved: 5
weeks, 1 day, 1 hour, 50 minutes.