4 months and one day

[nsd_user663_58050]

Very quickly. Still going but wobbly.

[nsd_user663_58050]

Just on the back of this, as I've posted here before, my father died unexpectedly at Christmas and my partner's father four months later. I liked both very much, and had love for my Dad. Although my mother, my siblings and I are adapting to this, it has all started again in relation to my father in law. His wife is not doing well, two months in, nor are the children, including my partner. Selfishly, this is certainly sending my stress levels up. I know I'm not the first on here, and there are certainly some recent posts of losing parents made by people. It all adds up to an incredibly challenging time as it also leads us to questioning our own lives, what we do, how we are feeling about all of this (including in one positive way: stopping smoking) as part of the grieving, and trying to support others.

However, early on I posted about a role model of mine, a friend who went through losing her mother, finding out she had an illness that needed addressing, and that was being masked by her smoking, separation and divorce and a resulting move of home to somewhere she didn't want to be. But she stopped smoking before all of this and remains a non-smoker. Still my role model. Still staying strong and I know she will continue. There's one of my moans :eek: . Over and on to another day. during this low period I have stopped my running, the worst decision (second) I could make. I can actually feel I will start my runs again this week. So maybe something is changing. I hate this smoking malarkey.

If Karri reads this and melli, I'm still working my way through that article you posted the link to......................endeavouring to assimilate. I have a challenged brain at times!

[AnnMarie74]

Hi walkabout,

In my experience 4 months is strange time in our journey. We don't think about smoking now every second of the day. We mostly feel ok but in times of stress or whatever our strongest psychological triggers are it's still hard. AND we find it harder at these points I think now more than before if we have stopped celebrating achievements or putting effort into lifestyle changes and we are in a room here on the forum for ages so the crutch of moving rooms is slowed down too. Do not give in and take a puff unless you want to start all over again or return to smoking. Please do run and go get a treat. You're doing so great. I remember your early posts, would you believe you'd be here? I wish it was better for us all but we're on a journey and it takes time. Youre doing great though and I don't think you want to go back. I'm glad you hate this smoking malarkey. I do too let's keep putting the distance between where we're going and that past ****.

[nsd_user663_60880]

So sorry to hear about your losses walkabout.

Congratulations on 4 months. Stay strong.

[nsd_user663_64126]

Hi walkabout,

I think now more than before if we have stopped celebrating achievements or putting effort into lifestyle changes **.

couldnt agree with you more AnnMarie....Walkabout, its crucial i think for you to squeeze in some selfish time and get that running going again...It will help you in so many ways and you must somehow find a little way to reward yourself, as i have mentioned before, your brain needs it for you to remain more easily strong minded...i have only joined this site recently but i can see and feel that you are a similar role model and inspiration to the folks here, ( as to you is you friend you mentioned), and so for that as well you should praise yourself too....

[Incy_Wincy]

I don't feel I can add anything to what our friend AnnMarie and the others have said.

I hate to think of you going through such tough times (this goes for any of you, actually. Weird how attached we can become via random typings on a forum eh?! I digress. Easily distracted, me!).

You've been such a positive influence here, so Walkabout all I can do is send you back tons of positive thoughts. And say, get running again! You can't run away from your troubles, but you can run the stress off a little bit, I've found. xxx