Many thanks to all who have taken the time and trouble to read my blog from this morning and many thanks to those who wrote comments. Hopefully dawn you will have been so busy singing the song you won't have had time for a cig! One thing I would point out though is that if you had some strange looks whilst you were walking outside today, it may be an idea to sing to yourself in your mind and not out loud! I think this technique is called 'distraction therapy' and I find, that 99% of the time, it works for me so hope it works for others.
I don't know about anyone else but I will definitely give anything a try if it helps to overcome the wanting and/or needing of a cigarette.
This blogging is extremely new to me - I have never, every done it before. I'm not a member (if that's the right word) of Facebook or any same or similar site so if I bore you all to tears then all I can do is apologise.
I have tried in the past to give up smoking but openly admit they were half-hearted attempts and my feeling was well at least I gave it a go but I knew from the outset that I wouldn't give up - in truth because I didn't want to. This time though, for whatever reason, it is different. Whether this is because you all seem to be there not just for me but for each other, everyone is just so nice, there are no angry words or recriminations if some one has a slip just encouragement to try again. I have been extremely lucky in that so far, I have not had a slip up, and I put this down to all of you - it seems that your strength gives me strength and for this and your support and faith in me, the words THANK YOU just do not seem enough but they are nonetheless the best I can think of at this moment in time.
Has everyone had a good day? Mine got off to quite a good start but then on arriving at work I tried to walk in to the office without opening the door first which is never a good idea. I wouldn't mind but I'd been up 3 hours so it's not as if I was half asleep. Lucky for me, the day did get better - choccy biccy with our mid-morning cuppa - then lunch, then afternoon tea with a banana - I hope what was put on here a couple of days ago (about bananas) is true as I am now eating a banana a day and until I start to look like one, I will carry on regardless.
Great news about Sue - she'll be back before we know it - fighting fit and raring to go! Thinking of you Sue and hope the food tomorrow tastes as good as your imagination is making it taste today. Thinking of you - love, hugs, kisses and cuddles. NB. Put that dishy doctor down before you eat please!
Very conscious that long blogs can get boring so will leave you with the Ten Commandments (below) that supposedly reduce stress!
Thou shalt not be perfect, nor even try to be.
Thou shalt not try to be all things to all people.
Thou shalt leave things undone that ought to be done.
Thou shalt not spread thyself too thin.
Thou shalt learn to say NO.
Thou shalt schedule time for thyself and thy supportive network.
Thou shalt switch off and do nothing regularly.
Thou shalt be boring, untidy, inelegant and unattractive at times.
Thou shalt not even feel guilty.
Especially,thou shalt not be thine own worst enemy, but be thy best friend.
I don't know about anyone else but I spent a good amount of time reading, re-reading and thinking how appropriate these are to us all on this site and maybe we can relate to each one and put each one into practice (as regards Commandment No. 7 I don't need to practice that one as I have got it off to perfection!).
These can also be found online on many web pages as varied as police chat sites to mental health groups.
Will leave you for now, wishing each and every one of you sweet dreams.
Take care,
Buttons52.
Daily Chat Wednesday 17th April
Five Weeks of Freedom! :D
1st day to work, being a non smoker, tomorrow 
