Eight is Great....

Greetings, Beloveds - 

October 27, 2019 marked eight years smoke and nicotine free.

I am extremely humbled and thankful to the God of my understanding for the needed grace to be able to be free of smoking and nicotine.

My prayer for anyone who is reading this, who also wishes to quit, is that you too can find the needed peace and grace to quit.

Listen, it can be done. I'm not gonna sugar coat it and say that it's easy. All I will say is that it will be worth it.

If you want to laugh, go to the beginning of the blog and check out the first year of my quit. It might make you laugh, it might make you cry - but something, will happen. If nothing else, it will give you something to think about.

Remember, you CAN quit.

YOU CAN WIN. 

Don't know how? Go back to the beginning of the blog when you're ready to quit and just read.

You are awesome and if you would like to QUIT, you can and you WILL. 

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!!!"

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!!!"

Happy New Year....Yaaaay!!!

Just wanted to stop by and wish everyone a Happy New Year!!

This is usually the time when folks  plan to Quit.

Guess what. When you're ready?  This Blog will be right here for you.

My advice that doesn't seem to change? Go to the beginning and read each post one day at a time.

Remember to own your Quit. Don't let anyone control you or your process.

This is CRUCIAL: Take Your Time!

You can only account for where you are in this moment right now. Not yesterday. Not tomorrow. Right now.

One last suggestion? Get some support. Try About.com for the Smoking Cessation Forum.

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!!!"

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

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.

THREE MONTHS QUIT???...AWWEE, SHH&%$ !!!!

Guess what? January 27th, 2012, marked my third month, Quit.

(Deliberate pause)

 Yaaaayyy! Whoop Whoop Whoop!! Whose ya' Momma!?!?!? Yeahh, Baby!!! (Rollin' arm like Arsenio Hall..Runnin' around slappin' high fives in tha air...lol.)

Okay. I had to let that out. I've been holding it pretty much all day. I shared that this is my third month Quit with folks. Some just don't seem to get it. It's okay. I'm a party all by myself. I am proud of myself for getting this far, but that does not overshadow the humility I feel for the entire process. It's a struggle on some days. I still get the automatic urge, when I'm not on my game. I acknowledge what the urge is, why I am having it, and I move the hell on. I don't have time to entertain urges anymore. The urges get NO LOVE from me.

Anyhoo. I'm still walking. Walked 1.2 miles one way. This is what happens when you're walking with someone you admire and having really good conversation. You actually walk further, faster. lol. I need to do a better job with stretching and hydrating because I got leg cramps in the middle of the night. Can we say, "OUCH!!!??".  I also need to wear better leg gear. My thighs were a bit frosty on the walk back. 

I am so thankful to the God of my understanding, for this opportunity to QUIT, and the desire to STAY QUIT. If anyone is reading this blog for the first time, and wants to quit, or is thinking about quitting, check it out. You may not have to do all of this stuff. I'm just sharing how I did it, so IF you want to, make your own plan, and work it out.

This is what I did;

I planned a month in advance, when I was going to quit. But prior to that month, I thought about Quitting, All The Time!

I smoked every day, until my Quit Time & Date. (October 27th, 2011 @ 12:01 AM.)

I made a list of reasons why I wanted to Quit.

I prepared self talk. Real conversations that only I, could have with myself about doing the right thing
and the wrong thing, and the many justifications that I came up with for my Stinkin' Thinkin'.

I believed that I could Quit. I got it in my head, that I could do this and that nothing and no one, was going to stop me. Not even ME. I did not see it as, I was losing something. I saw it as re-gaining my independence from a controlling force, that I could not see.

I gave myself options. For example, instead of smoking I could cut my hair, buy stuff (within reason), try new cocktails (within reason), anything but smoke. As far as the urges go, I could roll around on the floor, scream, kick, stretch, sing, hum, do kegals (see an earlier post about the kegals) go, WAM-TIT-BIO-LIP. Anything but take a puff, to deal with the craving. I embraced the pain of the cravings, as markers for growth and to remind myself of what its going to feel like, if I mess up on this quit.

I prepared spiritually, by chanting the Daimoku, which is "Nam Myoho Renge Kyo". (Not saying you have to do this, but some sort of meditation is helpful.) Whatever spiritual/meditative piece you use, make sure you use it in a way that permits you to get inside and deal with YOU. Shut everyone else out for this, your special time and work on repairing, loving, and forgiving YOU.

I prepared by using visualization. I imagined my Quit Self and what she looked like, how she behaved as a Non-Smoker. **She looked cute as a non-smoker...fresh, flirty, positive, bright, self-confident, ready to help others, full of energy**

I began to examine, my behavior in terms of what I believed, smoking was doing for me.  I did a lot of reflection and retraced my steps, examining how I failed my first quit that lasted five years.

I resolved to take this quit slowly...even if it meant taking it one minute at a time.

I refuse to let My Quit, get dull. I am going to have fun with this. Don't believe me? Check out some of my past posts. lol.

I prepared by buying a case of water, providing cinnamon candy and gum sexy pops (lollipops) started playing video games, increased my crochet time. I decided to take accountability for my Quit and OWN IT. It's mine. Not anyone else's.

I thought about the mind f&^% that the tobacco industry, has been playing on me and folks like me, who are nicotine addicts, all over the world.

This was NOT a part of the plan. I joined a Smoking Cessation Group, online. I L.O.V.E. IT
Believe it or not, I look forward to checking in with my Quit Buddies from time to time. I enjoy reading various posts. Let's me know that I am not alone in this quest to STAY QUIT.

The folks in the Smoking Cessation forum are so, so, so, kind. From observation, a lot of folks on/in this forum, "Pay It Forward".  It's so amazing to see. Sometimes, I get a little emotional reading how folks who will probably never meet each other, reach out and support each other through a very challenging time. It's simply amazing to observe, the level of human loving kindness in the forum.

Every day I get stronger. Every day I am more thankful. Every day I become more humble as I walk this journey to Stay Quit. I'm dedicating this blog entry to my Rocktober Family, BuddyClyde, Frank, Jim, Lori, and David in Canada, BCBabbler, Honefone, Shakti, Deez, Mistydog, LadyCity, the Moderators, and a host of other folks whom I admire for their inner strength and resolve, to simply say, "Hey, no matter what, I am NOT giving up."

This is such a wonderful journey of self discovery, self exploration, and self recovery. Every day, by the Grace of the God of my understanding, I get to find out, just how tough I think I am, in terms of being able to stay on course and to stay on my game with my Quit. So far, so good.

(((((Scrrrrrrreeeeeeeeeeeeccchhh))))

Enough of the serious stuff!!!!!

I'm ready to dance and celebrate being Nicotine Free!!! Come on!! Everybody who has Quit and is Staying Quit, party with me!!  Shucks, even if you haven't stopped smoking yet and are just thinkin' about it, let's go!! Click the video and where Justin says, "I'm bringin' sexy back," say, "I'm bringin' Smokeless back.."  We'll figure what to do with the rest of the lyrics later....for right now, "Raise your hands in the air...and wave em'  like you just don't care...if you've drowned the sticks, and you're ready to Quit, somebody say, "OH YEAH!!!!"

One Human Love,
Obi.

"We're Bringin' Smokeless Back!!!"

Those folks still smokin' don't know how to act..lolololol.

"Getting A Grip on My Quit.........."

One of the things that has been a challenge for me is controlling my body
movement when a really quick urge to smoke comes. I usually turn my
head, to look for the pack, or raise my hands or raise my arms as if reaching for
a cig, until it quickly dawns on me that, "Hey, you don't smoke anymore," and
just as quickly as I remember, I go on about my business, as if it never happened.

Yesterday, while watching a movie, autopilot kicked in to smoke, because I had
been sitting still for a few hours. When the urge came, I went through the motions
and then refocused on the movie. During this time, I sneezed. Now, you may
thinking, "So what?" That is something that most folks do. Normally, you would
be correct except that I have a secret attached to my sneezing.

I squeeze, when I sneeze. Yes, you heard it here first!

Yes, I squeeze because of a serious fear of an episode of flatulence, while sneezing.
Long story short, I was in a meeting years back where the presenter sneezed and,
well you know the rest. Can we say, embarressing? We all had to remain professional
and pretend as if we didn't hear it. Yeah sure, pretend that I didn't have tears in my
eyes from trying to keep from bursting with laughter. O-kaaaay.

Anyhoo, my experience permitted me to come up with a fun, funky, sexy, thing
to do, when an urge comes, or when autopilot strikes.

KEGALS!!!!!!

Kegals are pelvic excercises. Yep, the ones that help us with incontinance.

The excercise strenghthens the bladder. But get this, it also helps men and women,
in other sexy ways. Ladies, Kegals help with keeping things tight in your Sacred Space
(vagina/Yoni). Guys, Kegals can help you, have more intense orgasms.

Okay, so here's what I've been doing the last few days. When the urge comes to
smoke, I refocus and concentrate on my pelvis, particularly my Yoni.
I perform 10 sets of 10 Kegals. By the time I am finished, the urge has passed,
and I have just increased the probability of making some mothers' son,
extremely happy, when that time comes.

Now, I'm not suggesting that folks start out doing 10 sets of 10. Instead, start
by doing 3 sets of 10, within a span of five minutes or work up to it. 
Watch your breathing and be patient with yourself. The muscles you're
working are the ones that you use to stop urine from passing. If you are
squeezing your hiney, your tummy, or your thighs, you're doing it wrong.

My Quit is very important to me, but I refuse to let it become mundane,
hum-drum, and rigid. It's my opinion, that we should celebrate Quitting and make
the process as fun and upbeat as possible, so that we can STAY QUIT and
stay positive and encouraged on our journey.

Whelp, I'm gonna go practice my err-uhm. Yeah.

Peace, Love, & NicoFreedom!! to everyone who has Quit or thinking about Quitting.
To my Rocktober '11 Family, where-ever in the world you may be-Stay Strong!!

~ "We're Bringin' Smokeless Baaacckkk..." ~

Not One Puff Evah, Baby!!!!!!

Obi-Waughndaye :o)

Three Weeks....Nicotine Free...Imagine That. :o)

In an effort to be as forthright as I can, about quitting, I'm going to share one of the first things I did while preparing for MY QUIT.  See, part of my goal with MY QUIT, is to de-mystify the process, so that folks won't think it's easier or harder than it truly is. 

When it comes to Quitting, one of the things I strongly believe is, as Yoda said, "Do, or do not, there is no try." That may sound harsh, but there is a reason for it. There is value in the struggle to improve ourselves.

I decided that I needed to perform a Mental Detoxification for myself. What that means is, I had to clean my mind of the junky thoughts I had, concerning smoking. I had to get real with myself, and make the hard self statements.

The following are some of the statements that I came up with for My Mental Detox.  You can come up with your own. Yes, I still go back and read them from time to time.

 Mental Detoxification
1. The woman you are becoming, does not smoke.

2. You are trying to reclaim that woman who quit before and who was a vegetarian, remember her?  
    The one who you consistently ask about her whereabouts?

3. Your chest hurts. Your back hurts. Your heart is feeling funny when you smoke.

4. Your throat hurts when you speak for long periods of time.

5. The inner part of your nostrils smell horrible.

6. You did not come into the world smoking, so you can stop.

7. Take very small steps once you stop. It all starts with one step. Seconds lead to minutes, Minutes lead to Hours, Hours lead to Days, Days lead to Weeks, Weeks lead to Months, and Months lead to Years.

8. Don’t be a slave to the corporations who are relying on your unconsciousness. Common sense tells you not to eat or drink poison. Think deeply about what you are doing and the mind f*ck that’s being played on you, for you to keep doing it.

9. You are a strong woman. Your mind is strong. Once Waughndaye makes up her mind, she sticks with it. You are not weak. Your Mind controls your Body. Your mind is in control, not the cravings.

10. It’s going to hurt. Don’t fear the hurt, it’s a part of the healing. Embrace the pain, take it like a Trooper, and know that it will not last. Every time you feel the withdrawal, know that it is the nicotine and chemicals screaming because they are dying - SO LET THEM DIE!

11. You’ve done this before. Remember the anguish you went through before? The mind f*ck that you went through? The subliminal bullsh*t?

12. Don’t look back, with regret or doubt that you're doing the right thing.


It may sound corny, but what Yoda is teaching Luke Skywalker, is critical to what we must learn, as individuals who are kicking nicotine.

Take a moment to really listen to what Yoda is saying, and contemplate what it really means.

I'm sleepy now. I am going to lay down.

Peace, Love, & Freedom
Waughndaye

Update: Two Weeks Quit.....

Wow!!! In a few hours, 

I will be two weeks QUIT!

How do I feel? Honestly, at times, I have moments where I feel lost. Especially after I finish doing something or when I get in my car. The feeling is like there is something that I am forgetting to do.
Then, all of a sudden I will say to myself, "You don't smoke anymore, and this is where you would usually smoke a cigg." Then I go, "Oh, that's right." lol.

One of the things that I have definitely noticed is that my smoking is definitely tied to my emotions. I've noticed that when something big happens, and I get excited, or upset, I want to smoke.

I think I've been dealing quite well with my quit. I think it's because I'm not feeling the physical withdrawal, at this point, it's totally mental. The fact that I am aware of what is going on with me at this point, helps me to reject smoking.

What I mean is, I know that I really don't want to smoke, and that it's just the people, places, and situations that are acting as triggers.

I'm not going to sugar coat this. Yes. I still have hard moments, but check this out, I wouldn't even call them moments. The are more like sparks, that come and go really quickly.

I'm still excited about being SmokeFree. I do know that I feel different about myself and about my life in general.  After I get a month or two under my belt, I want to try to slowly incorporate some new things into my life, and remove other things.

I don't know if this makes sense, but I feel spiritually grounded. Yes, I am still doing my odaimoku (NAM MYOHO RENGE KYO). I do believe that this has played a major part in my recovery  from nicotine. I also pray the Lords Prayer and I sit and pray for people in general, especially folks I've seen during the day. I pray for all children and all elderly people. The rest of you all can fend for yourselves--just kidding. lol. I just love children and the elders and I believe they should have respected places in the life cycle.

My prayer for everyone reading My Quit Journal, is that if there is something in your life that you want to change, that each of you have the courage, the will, the peace, the grounding, the patience, the support, or whatever it may be that you need, to make it happen.

Thank you, Lord.  For the last two weeks, and on this day, I have not smoked. I have not given into weakness or given into temptation.

I would really like to hear from folks who have quit. Let me know how you're doing.

Till next time.

Peace, Love, & SmokeFreedom,
Waughndaye

Six Days....

Six days. Imagine that. Am I in disbelief? No. Just grateful. I think with this post, I will try to be more specific about my Smoke Hx, what I do in crisis mode, and what I have been doing overall to stay quit.

Okay, I have been smoking off and on since I was about hmm..nineteen? It started when I was in college. I stopped for about 3 years, and started up again. If I remember strait, mostly all of the men I dated smoked. Yeah. They did. When I dated men who didn't smoke, I didn't smoke around them, even if it meant I didn't smoke for days.

I averaged about eight cigs a day. I rarely smoked a whole cig in a sitting. It was too much for me. I would put it out and light it again, maybe three times. I just wanted a hit to knock off the pang, until the next pang came.

Some folks might say, I wasn't a real smoker because I didn't smoke a pack a day. That's cool. To each, his/her own. All I know is, I had to stop because it was getting on my nerves.

Here is something interesting. I can't stand the smell of other folks cigs. I don't like full, messy ashtrays.

Last night I had a close call, but I reacted quickly to the stressful moment. Like I shared, nobody in my family knows I am Quit. I don't want them to modify their behavior, to accommodate me. That to me, wouldn't be living My Quit, in a true environment.

There was a slight fall out/argument within the family last night. My roles in the family, are "interpreter", "mediator", and "peacemaker".  At the height of the disagreement, voices escalated. I slowly reared back in my chair, closed my eyes, and took a deep breath from my tummy and took about 5 fire breaths through my nostrils, and then one deep breath again. I was fine. I sipped on some apple juice, and ignored the rest of the fall out, which didn't last long. When it was time to leave, I gave out hugs and I departed.

I've increased my vitamin C. Rite Aid sells this cool Fast Dissolving Vitamin C. [pregnant pause]
Okay, okay, okay!! The real reason I am liking the vitamin C is that it tastes like orange flavored candy. SHEESH! (LMAO!!).

I'm also meditating and praying to keep myself centered in the evening. In the morning, I'm actually pausing and thinking about what I want for myself for the day.

Am I still getting urges? Yes. The ones on auto-pilot. They mainly come when I am in the middle of doing something or in response to me finishing something. Are they lasting as long as they did six days ago? Nope, which is cool. I've had two since typing this. I would usually smoke while doing paperwork/typing.

I'm still a wee bit itchy. It's my arms. Not much though. I'm starting to wonder now if it's my eczema. I'm just being honest, it has crossed my mind to smoke again. What's stopped me? Knowing what it will feel like, to start all over again, from day one. That burning-sinking feeling of nicotine surging through my body again. I don't want to fail and I want to be a non-smoker.

I noticed yesterday that after I came up the steps, my recovery time for heavy breathing, dropped dramatically. There was no perspiration involved. I just took two deep breaths and then my normal breathing pattern returned.

Here's another reason why I haven't told anyone in family or my friends that I am Quit. I feel, that if I tell somebody, actually put the words into the air, that I will jinx myself and all my hard work, discipline, prayer, etc., will just fall down around my knees. I realize that sounds illogical, unreasonable, and just plain stupid, but hey-that's how I feel.

I'm gonna go check out some news. I'm thinkin' about moving this to Facebook. Not sure if anyone is even reading these posts.

Peace and SmokeFreedom
Won

Strange Territory - Actual Application of Quit Plan Strategies

11:53 PM: I am approaching the end of my fourth day Quit.

My challenge today was wanting to smoke while I was driving and after I had accomplished some tasks during the day. How I dealt with the driving urge was, I smiled to myself, realized what it was, began my deep breathing from my tummy and started chanting the Odiamoku (Nam Myoho Renge Kyo) and I felt much better. In fact, the urge just vanished in less time than it has been.

The other chant that I do is, Om Mani Pedme Hum. This really, really brings me to center. One of the most beautiful versions of this chant is done by Ani Choying Dolma. Check her out on YouTube, if you like. Ani Choying teaching the OM MANI PADME HUM mantra

One of the things I also practiced early on, when I thought about quitting, was EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique). Initially, I didn't use it with the intent to quit smoking. I just enjoyed the tapping. I tried this out for myself, during a very shaky moment. It worked for me. Maybe it will work for you too.  Quit Smoking with Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT)

Remember, one of my goals here in addition to blogging about My Quit, is to share information; FREE INFORMATION without pressure. For those of you wondering, I am not a Buddhist. I am finding however that practicing meditation, chanting, centering and prayer is going  a long way. Your way may be different, and that's cool. It just has to be something that YOU can use that gives you strength and balance from within.

I said before that I don't judge folks who use medications and what not, because quitting is hard. What I do judge is the industry that wants to keep folks addicted by one way or another.

Yes, My Quit is Cold Turkey. The operative phrase here is, "MY QUIT".  I am taking myself out of the game - one second, one minute, one hour, one day, one week, one month at a time.

Something funny I noticed today too. My sense of smell has heightened. I thought I was going to hurl at the smell of someone eating Reese's Peanut Butter Cups. Imagine that?!? And I loved those things as a kid.

Ah Well, The Journey Continues.....
Peace and Smokefreedom :o)
Won

Update: Sunday, my Funday... :o)

Woke up this morning on my own. No alarm clock. I just opened my eyes. Felt great. No urge when I woke up.

While my chest doesn't hurt per se, I feel a loosening of mucus in my chest. It's like, I'm clearing my throat a lot.

There is so much air going up my nose. It's making me light headed at times.

My nasal passages are congested and I have a slight headache. I feel like blowing my nose all the time, even though there is nothing up there. I hear my nostrils popping on the inside. I sound nasally when I talk.

The sun is so bright. It's wonderful. Especially after yesterday. Snow, rain, snow, and then rain again. And it's not even December?!?  See, we do it to ourselves. We are the ones pushing time faster. Who the hell shops for the Christmas Tree with the Jack-O-Lantern? Ugh!

Please people, let's allow our seasons to have their own time! I remember having Indian Summer, enjoying the fall, even though fall and winter are not my favorite months. I even remember enjoying going out into the snow.

I don't enjoy any of it now because I don't get a chance to enjoy it. It's here and gone before you know it. Sheesh!

Anyhoo-back to me and the withdrawal. I am going to go through a tough time when I start  visiting certain groups of friends. They still smoke. In fact, I will be the only person who doesn't smoke. My plan is, when they all start to light up, I will go outside. If it gets really bad, I will just leave. Not in a huff, mind you. I will extend parting salutations and just exit - stage right.

This is My Quit-not theirs. I think it's rude for a Non or Ex-Smoker to expect a Smoker to make adjustments for them, when the Non-Ex Smoker is in the home of the Smoker.

I was thinking about what to tell people, when it dawns on them that I am not smoking. I will simply tell them the truth. "I am not smoking today." And that is my truth. I can't control tomorrow. However I do have control over my addiction in this moment, so let me speak from this point in time. "I have not smoked today, I am not smoking right now."

Let's be clear. There are some people who want to see us slip once we quit, if for no other reason than they enjoy our company.  In the back of their minds, they're going, "He/She is gonna slip - they won't Stay Quit." And if we do slip, that person will be right there with open arms, saying, "I knew you couldn't last - I knew you couldn't hold out."

By saying, "I have not smoked today, I am not smoking now," takes the pressure off of tomorrow.
Truthfully, I am afraid that I will smoke again. I know right now that I don't want to. One of the reasons I don't want to smoke is that I don't want to go back to square one with My Quit. I don't want to feel the sting of the nicotine coursing through my veins, filling my head and bringing me down.

I want to feel like I feel now. Less controlled by nicotine. Maybe it's still controlling me by my very need to write about it. Maybe I'm trying to write, my addiction out of my life. That's not so bad. Because every story has an ending. <------ Ya'll remember who said that first, okay?  -- I feel like I just had a moment of clarity..lololol.

Anyhoooooo -- TTYL
Yours in Smokelessness
Won

OKAY!! This is why I shouldn't blog at 3:00ish in the morning. I was under the impression that I sent the post. As we now see, I did not.


3:11 AM: I am passed the 72 hour mark. According to a few articles, it's the 72 hour mark that is the hardest. We'll see. I've been relatively stress free this weekend. It's been quiet for the most part.  I do notice though that I am still on auto-pilot when I am doing some lengthy reading. Or in the middle of a project.

I am yawning a lot. (Could it be that it's ermmm 3:19  in the morning, genius?) Hmm..lololol...could be.

I wanted to share some thoughts on this addiction piece and the mind f%$^ that accompanies it. I don't appreciate the marketing twist to get folks to buy a program for smoking cessation by making claims that they can make quitting easy.

If it were that easy to quit, more folks would have done it by now.

Such a vicious cycle it is. In order to quit, some folks use a patch or gum. I'm not saying anything is wrong with the folks who use those tools. I'm saying that it's a funky trap that keeps folks stuck in a cycle of quitting and relapsing.

Perfect example of the Hegelian dialectic. They create the problem, which in this case, is the addiction. Then they come along with the solution, or easier way to quit (which just happens to contain nicotine). What sense does it make to treat the addiction with the very thing that's harming the individual. Please don't misunderstand, I get that folks want to wean off, however, to me, that is just prolonging the inevitable, thus making it much harder to quit.

That's all I have to say right now because, my eyelids are dropping. And I do not want to start typing a bunch of gibberish..lol.

Till Next Time...
Waughndaye Wonstep Attatyme