To quit smoking was certainly one of the most difficult and amazing things I have done in my live…with the biggest continuous reward.......
I have been in a war as a youngster, which was tough but not that bad because I survived…After that I worked in a gold mine underground… 2 km deep.. It was difficult but enjoyed the daily challenges…
and I could pay for my studies....
38 years later I decided to live the life I was granted as a youngster and quit smoking….. and “ BOOM “ back to earth….knocked down to my knees and suddenly know what Zig Zagler meant by saying: “There is no elevator to success , you need to take the stairs”….
Yes, I crawled the first few floors up that steps.. Just making sure that I never slide back one step..Because I knew on step back will be the end and I will never have the energy or guts to reach the top !!!
But I attacked and not only defended...!!
As the saying goes.. “Change is hard in the beginning.. messy in the middle and gorgeous at the end” … In the beginning you crave, your body aches, you morn, you cough black phlegm, lose your mojo…you are moody , kick the dog..get road rage…snap at family…!!
When al that is fairly overcome you get all that messy rediscoveries… like smelling your morning visit to the bathroom …alleys with that overwhelming ammoniac smell….My kayak bait box….the old oil of Kentucky Fried Chicken..I never thought things can smell that bad…!!
And then comes the new life… Tasting food.. breathing without the weezing.....Smelling the soil after rain…. the wild flowers, the sea…My wife…
Not gasping for breath.. not sounding like an erupting Mount Edna when I cough…getting back my energy, sparkle and mojo…….Gorgeous !!!!!
No, I am not on top floor yet.. but strongly on my way…I can almost do double steps taking care not to slip and fall back..but the more steps I take the more balanced I get.
I am climbing daily… whether there is an end I don’t mind…. it is so nice and hope it continues
I am not a quitter but to quit smoking was certainly the best thing I did in my life …I am now the CEO of my own life !!!!
Written by
Hercu
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Congratulations Hercu. I'll add another Zig "People often say that motivation doesn’t last. Well, neither does bathing – that’s why we recommend it daily."
U should write a book, an inspirational and highly motivating post. . I'm twelve weeks free now and never going back. Looking forward to my two year post 😉
You truly are inspirational Hercu, what a lovely read and also such deep and meaningful words, you should be so proud of yourself and rightly so, keep up the good work and inspiring posts xx
Great motivational and inspirational post as always Hercu - going to pin it for our new members to read....thanks for sharing such a perfectly summary of your remarkable 2 year journey!
PS I too hate the smell of KFC since I quit, would never eat from there before I quit but definitely wouldn't ever eat there now, can't understand how they haven't been shut down
Thank you Roisin ..for all your excellent loving support on my journey..I will always believe that this community and all the quitters made this 2 years possible and bearable because I could see I am not the only one suffering..!!
KFC ..Strange, but yes I did not ate Kentucky since June 2015...!! I can tell there is a KFC closeby ..driving in a foreign neighborhood when in the city...!!
RoisinO1Administrator3 Years Smoke Free in reply to Hercu
Right back at ya Hercu! When I was pulling my hair out at Day 8, your invaluable words of wisdom and advice got me here today almost at my 2 year milestone. I remember like only yesterday printing off your quote below in big orange writing and stuck one up on my partition at work and at home on my laptop - it so helped me when struggling!
'Weeks 3 and 4 was the discovery of my weaknesses. The terrible idea to cope with life and the curve balls on my own. Now I realized that life is a reality and not a false euphoria of happiness where I can light a cigarette and every thing is OK......'
Hercu What a fantabulous post(as always) many of us would have failed without you spurring us on with your wonderful posts!!😊😊 congratulations on two years quit!! X 😊
I'm a 55 year old woman in the U.S. that quit smoking on March 13, 2017. I smoked for 37 years and quit cold turkey because I couldn't stand the taste of the lozenges and didn't want to use the patch (used them another time and had skin rashes). It's been one of the toughest things I've ever done, but I've been reading the posts here and it's made it much much easier! Apps on my phone have helped to keep me motivated and on track too. The bad: I've gained weight, I can be a bit ornery, I am depressed. The good: I don't wake up coughing, I don't sound like I'm dying when I laugh and I can sing along with the radio again without running out of air so quickly. I'm convincing myself with self talk that the good REALLY outweighs the bad because I DO NOT want to go back to smoking so I read as much as I can about it, I read others' stories because for me it really does help. I'm actually looking forward to winter...when I am NOT standing outside in the snow & cold smoking! Thanks for prompting me to post.
Great to have you here with us JulReal and congratulations on over 100 days quit. I too quit cold turkey and will be 2 years quit in September, I too found knowledge was key, being strong, focused and this community, would have been lost without it!
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Day 24, new poster
