So, I Hear You're Trying to Quit....

As I sit here and type on my blog that I haven't visited in a few years, I am now thirteen years nicotene free.

I'm stopping through just in case someone has stumbled upon the blog and needs some inspiration.

I need you to know you can absolutely do this.

I also need you to know that it's okay to not want to quit.

Don't let folks guilt you into quiting because it won't work.

You have to find a reason for you and you alone. 

I remember one day, I woke up and decided that I just didn't want to smoke anymore.

Did I quit that day? Nope. I thought it out and planned a day. 

Was it easy? Nope. But I knew what I wanted.

Go back to October 2011 on this blog. I journaled my quit.

Journaling was my anchor, along with an awesome group of folks called, "Rocktobers 11."

We all quit together on About.com. Remember that website? Wow! 

Where the heck has time gone??? 🤣😂😅😆😄

Anyhoo, I want to tell you that if you've come to the realization that, "Hey, I don't want to do this anymore," you can absolutely do it.

Go to the beginning of this blog.

It may provide you with the insight to begin your own Quit Journey.

I know you can do it.

Until Next Time, Stay Strong Beloveds

Hugs, Love, and Healing Energy to the World
(For Those Who Are Open to Receive It.)

One Human Love

Obi

Knowing others is intelligence; Knowing yourself is true wisdom."
"Mastering others is strength; Mastering yourself is true power.

”Lao Tzu ~ The Tao Te Ching

MQM:CT MQD:10.27.2011:12:01:AM QBG:PROUD MEMBER, "ROCKTOBERS '11 !!"

Peace, Love, & Freedom to My Rocktober Family where-ever in the world you may be.
To Everyone thinking about Quitting and to those early on in their Quit, take it one day at a time, my lovelies!!

 You CAN do it!!

"We're Bringin' Smokeless Baaack!"

(to Justin Timberlake's, SexyBack..)

 "SEXY" & NicoFree" 

"Not One Puff Evah, Baby!!!"

Nine Years .. Who Knew???

Wow!! 

Nine years smoke free. Thank you to the God of my understanding. 

Nine years ago, I started this blog and I poured my heart out to whomever would read it. 

It was painful. It was funny. It was hard. But, it got better and better!

This blog was my therapy. It held me accountable to what I wanted to do.

I am going to share with each person who is trying to quit smoking and finds this post, "You Can Quit."

I mean it. 

If you want to laugh, just start at the beginning of this blog. 

It may provide you with the insight to begin your own Quit Journey.

I know you can do it.

Until Next Time, Stay Strong Beloveds

Hugs, Love, and Healing Energy to the World
(For Those Who Are Open to Receive It.)

One Human Love

Obi

Knowing others is intelligence; Knowing yourself is true wisdom."
"Mastering others is strength; Mastering yourself is true power.

”Lao Tzu ~ The Tao Te Ching

MQM:CT MQD:10.27.2011:12:01:AM QBG:PROUD MEMBER, "ROCKTOBERS '11 !!"

Peace, Love, & Freedom to My Rocktober Family where-ever in the world you may be.
To Everyone thinking about Quitting and to those early on in their Quit, take it one day at a time, my lovelies!!

 You CAN do it!!

"We're Bringin' Smokeless Baaack!"

(to Justin Timberlake's, SexyBack..)

 "SEXY" & NicoFree" 

"Not One Puff Evah, Baby!!!"

Beyond Five - The Move to Six Years Smoke Free

Wow!!

Well whatdayaknow? Five years later and thanks be to the The God of my Understanding, I am still Smoke Free.

I really wish I could explain the joy I feel today. I am thankful moreso than proud of my journey.

Life is constantly changing and sometimes, what occurs can bring us to our knees.

When I look back on this day, I remember how afraid yet determined I was.

When I encounter challenges now, I employ the same strategy that I utilized five years ago.

I plan, I visualize, I strategize, and I go for it.

Who knew five years ago, that I would be practicing Yoga four times a week.

I don't want to give anyone the idea that my life is perfect. It's not. It's far from perfect.  I am just happy to be where I am and who I am becoming. I owe that to my decision to stop smoking. The journey taught me how strong I was despite the many challenges that came my way during my first year journey.

I do want to give everyone who wants to quit, the idea that if you really WANT to, you too can QUIT if you figure out that this is coming from deep inside. I do want to encourage you to at least to start thinking about what you want for your life, especially if that means you want to be a QUITTER like me.

I want to Shout Out my Rocktober's 11 Family. We all quit together in 2011.  If you're reading this, please know that I miss you all so much and I think of everyone especially in the Spring and especially during our Anniversary.

Please know that these wonderful folks played a HUGE part in my recovery and my ability to maintain my QUIT. I miss the comradery.

As I've written before, I have QUIT for five years before. I am excited about staying Quit after five years. Tomorrow will be my first day of my test to stay QUIT for six years, which is something I have never done since I started and QUIT.

Onward and Upward.

Remember. I am certain, that if YOU want to, YOU CAN DO THIS.

Go to Day 1 on this blog (October 27 2011), which is five years ago, and read for your self. Laugh-Cry-Enjoy what you read. I really want to Pay It Forward to everyone who needs it.

Until Next Time-Stay Strong

Hugs, Love, and Healing Energy to the World
(For Those Who Are Open to Receive It.)

One Human Love

Obi

Knowing others is intelligence; Knowing yourself is true wisdom."
"Mastering others is strength; Mastering yourself is true power.

”Lao Tzu ~ The Tao Te Ching
MQM:CT MQD:10.27.2011:12:01:AM QBG:PROUD MEMBER, "ROCKTOBERS '11 !!"

Peace, Love, & Freedom to My Rocktober Family where-ever in the world you may be.
To Everyone thinking about Quitting and to those early on in their Quit, take it one day at a time, my lovelies!!

QQ You CAN do it!!

"We're Bringin' Smokeless Baaack!"

(to Justin Timberlake's, SexyBack..)

 "SEXY & NicoFree" 

"Not One Puff Evah, Baby!!!"

Four Years Ago....

What?

It's been four years?

Yes.

It's been four years since I made that first post putting myself on notice that I QUIT POISONING my body. Sometimes I go read my first blog and recall how afraid but determined I was. 

Over the years I have hoped and prayed that this blog has helped someone to at least start the process of at least visualizing themselves as a QUITTER!!!

If you're still on the fence about QUITTING that's cool. Push on to see yourself as a person who doesn't need to poison yourself to feel wonderful.

Humbled to the God of my Understanding for giving me the courage and determination to stay right where in this place of freedom from nicotine.

You can do it if you want to. Remember that!

On to year five - This my loves will be the real test.

One Human Love
Obi

Knowing others is intelligence; Knowing yourself is true wisdom."
"Mastering others is strength; Mastering yourself is true power.

”Lao Tzu ~ The Tao Te Ching
MQM:CT MQD:10.27.2011:12:01:AM QBG:PROUD MEMBER, "ROCKTOBERS '11 !!"

Peace, Love, & Freedom to My Rocktober Family where-ever in the world you may be.
To Everyone thinking about Quitting and to those early on in their Quit, take it one day at a time, my lovelies!!

QQ You CAN do it!!

"We're Bringin' Smokeless Baaack!"

(to Justin Timberlake's, SexyBack..)

 "SEXY & NicoFree" 

"Not One Puff Evah, Baby!!!"

Just (Be) Cause....

Have you ever seen a commercial and all of a sudden you start thinking about something near and dear to your heart? Well my Lovelies, I saw a commercial that made me remember something.  

I wanted to talk about cause and effect with you.

Yeah. Cause and Effect. I remember when I smoked there was always  some, “thing,” that caused me to want to light up.  Somebody or something was always getting on my nerves. I needed to smoke to calm down, or because I ate, or I wanted to smoke just to be by myself and think.

When I look back over those times, rarely do I remember what the root and real cause of my discomfort was. I do however remember how I called myself handling the situations.

I share all of this to say that is any of what makes you smoke really worth it?

Let’s look at it this way;

1.      (Be) Cause: Somebody dinged your car + You get upset = You smoke.
2.      (Be) Cause:  Your S/O forgot to pay a bill and a utility got cut off + You get upset = You smoke
3.      (Be) Cause:  You’re hanging out with friends having a few cocktails + you’re feeling good = You smoke

Now watch this – The Effect is now you have a breathing problem, that is the result of your smoking.

Stay with me now.

1.      Because somebody dinged your car, you now have a problem breathing.
2.      Because your S/O didn’t pay a bill and a utility got cut off you now have a problem breathing.
3.      And because you were having cocktails and feeling no pain you now have a problem breathing.

You get the gist. None of that makes any sense but there was a cause, and there was an effect.

The other thing I want to share from this, is that at some point we have to (yeah this includes me even though I don’t smoke anymore) really examine our triggers, i.e., those emotions that cause us to be impulsive with how we react to what happens to us, and how fast we move to handle things that happen to us without first handling ourselves.

As a part of our staying Quit it’s very important that we get comfortable with examining our emotions and sit with them for as long as we can in order to help identify the root cause that needs to be healed or addressed.

See my Lovelies when we were babies and we (emotion) cried it wasn’t a cigarette that made us comfy when we were (cause) hungry. We got a bottle! Follow me? Most of us as children were able to get our emotional needs me without a cigarette. So that stands to reason that WHAT???

Let's say it all together now??!!!

"We can still even as adults get our emotional

needs met without smoking."

You know I never mentioned what commercial it was that I saw. It was the commercial where the woman died from smoking. The commercial reminded me of all of you out there. Doesn't matter where you are on your Quit journey. as long as you don't give up trying. No judgment. Helping my Lovelies who read this blog is what was near and dear to my heart.

Listen we all have to go but I don’t want to die that way and I don’t want my Lovelies to die that way either.

Because Baby, it’s just not SEXY!!!

And that’s what we want. To Be Smokeless & Sexy

Wooooo Hooo!!

Until next time-Stay Strong!!

Sending Hugs, Love, and Healing Energy to the World

(For those who are open to receive it.)

One Human Love
Obi

Knowing others is intelligence; Knowing yourself is true wisdom."
"Mastering others is strength; Mastering yourself is true power.

”Lao Tzu ~ The Tao Te Ching
MQM:CT MQD:10.27.2011:12:01:AM QBG:PROUD MEMBER, "ROCKTOBERS '11 !!"

 
Peace, Love, & Freedom to My Rocktober Family where-ever in the world you may be.
To Everyone thinking about Quitting and to those early on in their Quit, take it one day at a time, my lovelies!!

 

 You CAN do it!!

 

"We're Bringin' Smokeless Baaack!"

(to Justin Timberlake's, SexyBack..)

 "SEXY & NicoFree" 

"Not One Puff Evah, Baby!!!"

 

Still Smoke Free & Sexy... :o)

It's been a long time, but I am happy to report that I am still Smoke Free and Sexy.

So much has happened since the last time I wrote. Each time I wanted to sit down and blog about my progress, something strange would happen and I would put it off. I am taking this time right nowto write and share. I may be adding more to this post,but I just wanted to get it in today, because 
 August 27, 2012, is my 10th Month Smoke Free Anniversary!

Yeah, Baby!!
*smile*

Where the hell has the time gone? Is it me or has time just put on some sneakers and sprinted? In two months, it will be a whole year that I haven't smoked (Lord Willing).

Soooo where do I begin?

Let's see. I did a liquid cleanse for three days last month. Made me feel totally awesome.
The fast was the thing that made me feel clean on the inside. It was as if there may have been some
residue inside (probably in my mind) and the cleanse just flushed it out. I might share the information on the cleanse in another post as I'm not sure about hyping products in this blog.

Anyway, I started walking again. I lost 10 pounds last time I checked. That wasn't the goal, but that
is what happened. I stopped eating meat. I only eat fish when I want to get some protein. I've increased my fruit and veggie intake considerably.

One of the things that has challenged me since I last wrote, is the condition of my family member
who has stage 4 breast cancer, who I wrote about back in May. Her condition has worsened.
We keep praying. We keep hoping. She is still with us. She has good days and challenging days.
Watching my loved one deal with this situation, is a challenge as one of my major triggers is
separation and loss. When I leave from seeing her, I am tempted to smoke because I feel the need to center and think deeply, like almost go into a trance. I don't want to smoke, but the stress from a lot of things I can't go into, is really pressing upon me.

The desire has been so strong for me at one point that I started having dreams that I was smoking.
I actually had several dreams, not just one. One of them was so real, that when I woke up, I could have sworn that I could smell smoke in my nostrils. I even felt the heaviness in my chest that comes with smoking. Like I shared earlier, I am dealing with the triggers on a daily basis. But my situation is NOTHING like what my family member is going through so I keep perspective and keep moving forward.

I take it one day at a time. Nothing more, nothing less.

To my folks who haven't quit, but whom are thinking about quitting, don't give up. When you are ready, you will quit. Just keep thinking about it. We become what we think about most. You can become a Quitter if you really want to. *wink*. I'm rootin' for ya and  remember, I'm dealing with My Quit, One Day at A Time right along with you, if you decide to join us, who have already quit.

To my Rocktober Family, wherever in the world you may be, Huge Huggz!! :o)

Hugs, Love, and Healing Energy to the World (for those who are open to receive it.)

Love & Peace,
Obi

Reflections in the Sun........

So, I go hang out in NYC this past weekend, which is one of my favorite places in the world to be. I wanted to visit with friends, just hang out, do a little personal celebrating because of a special day, and of course, shopping. :o)

We're having a good time and a friend says to me, "You're really uptight". I ignore her and think to myself, "Compared to what?" The weekend goes on and she makes another reference to me needing to relax. She then says, "You need to smoke a cigarette."

I didn't respond to the comment. While I know it was said in jest, I also thought it was a bone-headed, careless thing to say, considering she knew that I had quit smoking 8 (in a few days) months ago. I mean, I would never tell a former coke addict, "You need to snort a line," or tell a recovering alcoholic, "Damn, you're uptight, you need to take a drink."

Would YOU do that? I didn't think so!!

It tells me that people really don't take nicotine addiction seriously. They think, "Oh, you can stop any time you want to," thus you can pick it up at a moments notice and then drop it.

WRONG, WRONG, DAMMIT WRONG!!

People like me, who are addicted to nicotine, cannot just stop and start at random. That isn't how it works.  Just because nicotine isn't cocaine, marijuana, heroine, alcohol, pills, etc., does not mean it's any less addictive OR dangerous.

People die from smoking. Does anyone get that? Or better still, does anyone really give a rats patootey, that people are dying needless deaths from nicotine addiction.

If and when I am in this person's company again, I will respond to her by saying, "Just like you need to stop _______________" I'll fill in the blank when the time comes.

See, here's the thing; I'm not careless with my recovery and damn it, no one else will be careless with it either.

I did not come this far in My Quit, with the help of family, friends, and the wonderful folk who send well wishes via email, the blog, and My Rocktober Family, to let some person, who was careless with her words, throw me for a loop.

Hell No, We Won't Go (back to smoking)!!!

HELL NO, WE WON'T GO!!! :o)

Why, you ask? Well...because.....

"We're Bringin' Smokeless Back!! Those folks still smokin' don't know how to act!! Take it to the bridge!!"

Remember, I may not post every day, but I am here, fighting the good fight, right along with you to STAY QUIT One Day At A Time!

One Love to my Rocktober Family, where-ever in the world you may be.

One Huge Hug filled with Love and Forgiveness to the World
(for those who are willing to accept it.)

Obi  :o)

A Short & Sweety :o)

Something came to me a few weeks ago.  "We have to be careful of what we do to our bodies, while we are well, as it pertains to how it will affect other people, who are in our immediate circle of friends and family in the future.

For example, if you are over-eating right now and are obese because of over-eating, think about how it's going to impact those who may have to push, pull, walk, help you up some steps if you should need that type of assistance.

Or, are you still smoking? Have you thought about how you're gonna impact folks around you who may have to help you with smoking related illnesses?

Not judging anyone. Just thinking out loud. Remember, I smoked too, and I like you, struggled to quit and sometimes struggle to STAY QUIT, as life continues to go on, one day at a time.

At this point, it's almost selfish to do something that will harm your health if you have loved ones who will one day, have to take care of you because you didn't look far into the future.

Just something to think about.

One Big Hug for the World, (for all those willing to receive it.)

Obi

RECOVERY IN ACTION: THIS IS WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE

I want to share this with everyone who may be afraid to quit, thinking about quitting, or
who feels they don't have enough support to quit. I want to illustrate to you, by sharing
a moment in my life, that just occurred this month, that YOU CAN QUIT if you WANT TO QUIT
as well as STAY QUIT with your own help, support from others, and solid direction.

It's in the WANTING my Lovelies, I'm telling you, it's in the WANTING.

So, it's Mother's Day and my family and I come together at the home of my sibling. We're having a good time, eating some good food, enjoying each other's company, laughing with the children and making noise through out the house. The macaroni salad was magnificent if I must say so myself. *smiling*.

After dinner, and midway into desert, one of My Loved Ones, says to the rest of us, "I asked you all to meet me here at ____'s house for a reason. I have some news that I need to share." 
We all stopped laughing and chewing to pay attention to My Loved One. My Loved One's eyes lowered to the scan the table, and she folded her hands, while she was speaking.

"I want to thank you all for your love and support when I was diagnosed with breast cancer. I also want to t hank you for being there for me when I had the surgery." I need you all to know that when I was admitted to the hospital last week, it was because my lungs were full of fluid. When the physicians removed the fluid and tested it, the fluid contained cancer cells."

The room became so quiet. You couldn't even hear folks breathing. The air in the room became so thick with fear induced anticipation, for fearing what she was going to say next. One person broke the silence by asking my loved one, a question. Everyone began to gently ask questions of My Loved One because she had just had a successful double mastectomy back in January of this year.

My Loved One informed the family that the cancer may have spread and it may be lung cancer.
We all came together and had a group hug around my loved one. We all lowered our heads and began to pray. Some folks cried. Some folks got upset, and some even walked outside to get some air.

A few weeks ago, when this happened, I was thinking long and hard about smoking. I thought about taking a drag from a cigarette to ease the tension in my head and the pain in my heart. My thoughts were centered on making this feeling of hopelessness and helplessness go away. Most of you who have read the blog, are aware that one of my major triggers is loss and separation.

I started to feel it creep up. I started to feel out of control. I started to feel as if I didn't know what to do. I started to feel like I wanted to run. I felt like an impotent human being, who was about to watch her loved one, just waste away.

Yes, I wanted to smoke. I thought about it, and thought about it, and thought about it. I mentioned it to my Mom in a round about way. I didn't want to make this about me as we were all focused on My Loved One. Reluctantly, I said, "I am struggling with wanting to smoke right now...I really don't want to do it....but...it's creeping up on me." My Mom never made eye contact with me, just said, "You are a strong woman. You don't have to smoke, if you don't want to."

It's amazing that, no matter your age, (and if you have that type of relationship with your Mom) if Mom says something is gonna be alright, it magically makes it all better.

"I don't have to smoke, if I don't want to.." became my mantra. In a few days, I stopped thinking about smoking. I relaxed. I breathed. I allowed myself to imagine myself smoking and what it would mean for me at this stage of the game. I really did not want to smoke. I wanted the smoke to numb the fear and the pain that was coming to me. The truth is, I am afraid to see my loved one in pain, hurting, and knowing, that there is nothing I can do turn it off and make it go away forever.

Today, May 27th, 2012, My Loved One is in a better space. She is doing much better and is as spunky as ever.  No lung cancer. No cancer in the brain or other major organs. She is taking it easy.
She has another round of chemo and radiation. The physicians are watching  her and taking it one day at a time. 

I do believe in my heart that sincere prayer changes things, even when the outcome, is something that we didn't want. This is not a religious statement, but a statement of my Spirituality.
I know that prayer works, all prayer, in many languages, in many songs.

I am so grateful to the Creator of my Understanding for letting me see, seven months free of nicotine today.

As I shared before, I am right here fighting the good fight, with you to STAY FREE of NICOTINE. one day at a time.  We can do this. Do not fear leaving nicotine alone.

To my Rocktober Family, Much Love Where-ever in the World you May Be. I am thankful to My Rocktober Family for the inspiration, the notes, the hugs, the laughs, and the support that you give, when you all don't even know it. :o)

A Great Big Hug to the World, for all those who are willing to receive it.

ONE LOVE, OBI. :o)

MAY THE FOURTH, BE WITH YOU...... :o)

Whelp, here we are. It's May 4th, 2012 and I am six months free from nicotine (QD 10-27-2011).

Where in the heck did the time go?  I can still remember typing the first post and exactly how I felt, while typing it. I am so thankful to the God of my understanding and so many people who have
been a huge support, either by sending emails or joining the blog. I truly, truly, appreciate it.

April 27th was a very special day for me, outside of my 6th month anniversary. No, I'm not a Taurus,
so it's not my birthday. October 27th and April 27th are crucial dates for me. Let's just say, those
dates represent what is best in me.

I want to share something with the folks who are thinking about quitting and whom are visualizing themselves as an Ex-Smoker.  Keep thinking and visualizing how you look and how you are as an Ex Smoker.  Eventually, it will happen.  You will get the courage to quit. And what's better is, you will try. That was a major part of my Quitting process. Seeing ME as an Ex Smoker.

You have a HUMAN RIGHT to be nicotine free.

You weren't born with it, nor did you rely on it as a child to sustain you.

If you're reading this for the first time and you want to Quit, go back a few months and see the posts that will show in detail, what route I took to Quit. I am not saying you have to do the same. I am however, strongly suggesting that you develop a plan that you can stick to, and go with it. Wait..and modify it if you have to.

Now, for those who are hanging in there - Guess what? One of the challenges I had, has been resolved. YAY Whewhooo!! The only interesting thing is that, because I have changed my environment, and introduced new faces to my daily situation, new stresses have arisen and I have craved a cig. Did I give in? NOPE.

"Obi, why didn't you just get a ci g to take the edge off? No one would have known."

WRONG!! I would have known. I don't want to give folks the impression that I am this super holier than thou, politically correct, ball-breaking ethics and morality Queen. Nope. I'm not, that's not me.
It's just that, to break My Quit right now, would toss six months praying, planning, internal work, and practicing out the damn window. That just ain't gonna happen, not when I have so many resources to turn to.

Anyway, in regard to kicking the crave, I took a deep breath and realized what was going on, what caused the trigger, and worked my way through it (WAM TIT BIO LIP)

A few weeks ago, I saw a dear friend while I was out. I had not seen this gentleman in a very long time. He was always like an Uncle to me, so therefore when I saw him, arms went out for an embrace. Sounds wonderful, right?

Little did I know that this gentleman, had just smoked a cigarette. When I stepped away from the gentleman, my clothes were wreaking of the smell of stale cigarette.

I could tell I how far I've come, by my behavior. While I didn't act out, I was furious that my clothes smelled this way. Before I knew it, after my gentleman friend had walked away, I shared with another friend, a while later, that the reason I was frowning was that I had quit smoking back in October, and when folks who have just smoked, get too close to me, it makes me nauseous.

I want all of you who are still smoking to know, that if you really want to stop smoking, you will find a way to make it happen. It may feel frightening at first, but I am here to tell you, it does get easier as time passes.

Go a head, make pick a date a month from now, and stay committed to it. Start making a list of why you want to Quit. Keep it with you so you can add on to it, as revelations come to you.

Hold your head up high, knowing that you are working towards a special goal, for YOU.
Not anyone else.

Much Love to my Rocktober Family where ever in the world, you are.

Big Hugs to every and anyone on the path or about to step on the path, to Quitting

Despite what ou think, YOU CAN DO THIS...BELIEVE IN YOURSELF....AND MAY THE FOURTH BE WITH YOU!!! :o)

Peace, Love, and Huge Hugs to the World (for all those who will receive it.)
Obi

I've Been Thinking...(Take Cover!!!)

I've been contemplating/reflecting upon The Four Noble Truths of Buddhism lately and smoking cessation. I just want to remind everybody that I am not a Buddhist. Not that I find anything wrong with Buddhism (clearly), I just don't want to lead folks to think that I am something that I am not, or that I have knowledge about a subject that I do not have. Also, please understand that I am not proselytizing Buddhism. I just seem to click with its precepts as it relates to my recovery and understanding myself and my addiction to nicotine.

Okay! Ready? Here we go!

The Four Noble Truths are;
There is suffering in this life.
The cause of suffering is attachment. ( my words; egoistic attachments to people/places/things viewed through/based upon an illusion.)
The way out of suffering is attainable.
The method to stop suffering is adherence to the Eightfold Path.

Okay, Obi. We got it. Now What?

It hit me that, as it relates to smoking, that we suffer needlessly because of our attachment to an illusion, that we attach to the thing we are addicted to. The other reason why we are suffering is because of someone else's attachment to greed (money). Remember when I was talking about folks who make money off of us? I'm talking about the same people, right here.

"WatchutalkinaboutObi?"

Well, watch this; we feel bad when we quit smoking, because of our mental/physical addiction/attachment to cigarettes. We are (mentally) attached to an illusion caused by advertising and influence/faulty thinking that leads us to believe that, not only do we need cigarettes, but that, it's damn near impossible to quit. (Which opens the door to cessation drugs, devices.)

We are attached to an illusion that we HAVE to HAVE ciggs because of advertising, easy access, and other external factors.

It is an illusion, that we HAVE to HAVE cigarettes because they keep us calm, by soothing us when weare upset and it keeps us company.

It is an illusion, that we cannot live without cigarettes because the nicotine literally toys with our brain, causing us to feel withdrawal, when we stop.

Think about this for a minute; We were not born with a necessity for smoking.

Now, I'm approaching this part very delicately, because I DO NOT want to offend anyone but, with the exception o individuals who were born addicted to a host of drugs (because of selfish, absent-minded mothers who refused to quit smoking while pregnant *rolling my eyes*), we were NOT born addicted to nicotine. So therefore, it stands to reason that the craving for nicotine, comes as a result of external influences. I doubt very, very, very seriously, that those of us who are ex-smokers, and those still smoking, woke up one day and said. "Oooo, it's such a sunny day outside...I think I will start smoking, because I really want to become addicted to nicotine (Happy Smile)." NOT!!

WE ex-smokers and those still smoking, started smoking to fill a void. The void could have been anything. It could have been acceptance/trying to fit in for example, looking cool with the kids who were smoking when we were younger. The void could have been solitude. The void could have even been, I need something to do with my hands or I need something to calm me down, or I want to get higher, let me smoke this cigarette. Either way, an illusion was involved in our starting and maintaining smoking.

The question I think we have to ask ourselves at some point is, "How do we kill the illusions that make us feel that we have voids in our lives, and if we do, how do we fill them, so that we don't try to fill them with artificial means again, in the future?"

When will we say, enough. "I am not going to suffer behind this anymore!!"

Honestly, that is for each person to decide on his/her own.

When you get a chance, do me a favor.  Sit down in a protected and quiet space, and after  you say this piece to yourself, meditate, reflect on it for a while.. "Right now, here in this moment, I acknowledge that I am whole, just as I am. I do not need  (fill in your dragon to slay) to complete me."

Please know that you are not alone in your quest to quit and/or to stay quit.

Like I shared in an earlier post, I may not post every day, but I am here - fighting right along with you, daily to Stay Quit.

Huge Gi-normous love to My Rocktober Family wherever in the world, you may be.

One Big Human Love,
(Throwing my arms around the world, to huggg everybody who will receive it.)
Obi.