From Terry Martin,
Your Guide to Smoking Cessation.
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To all my Forum buddies and those I haven't met yet,

Yesterday, I celebrated 2 years since my last puff, and I couldn't be more amazed. I smoked 34 years, and never DREAMED I'd even be able to last one day, let alone 2 years. I believe that education and this Forum are key to my being able to celebrate this milestone.

By education, I am referring to the wealth of articles, advice, news, etc., that are out here for all of us to read. Before I even quit, I poured over articles that told me what to expect physically and mentally, scoured the web for personal success stories, and almost obsessed over finding everything and anything I could about this addiction. While searching the Web for articles, I stumbled over this Forum, and I couldn't have been more excited. I had NEVER read so many letters that could have been written by me - never had I seen so many people who knew exactly the way that I felt.

In thinking about giving up what I thought was my "best friend," the first thing I felt was absolute FEAR(you know that saying where some wise person once said, the only thing we have to fear is fear itself? Well, that is so true with making the decision to quit). The fear of quitting was much worse for me than the actual quit itself. But, once I jumped into the "abstinence pool" with everyone else, I was pleasantly surprised.

The physical part was lessened for me by using Zyban and ice water. No patches or cold turkey for me - I found that Zyban took the edge off. The mental part was helped beyond belief by coming out here and meeting all of you wonderful folks. Day by day, we helped each other along (sometimes minute by minute), until we had celebrated milestones - the first week, 3 straight weeks, the first month, 4 months, etc. We cried together, laughed together, and sometimes some of you had to pull me by my collar down the road to the next milestone - but, we did it! Then came the first year milestone....what a thrill to get there finally.

I found that the first year was just that - a year of "firsts". The first time at work to take a smoke-free break, that first cup of coffee without a cig, that first weekend, that first vacation, holiday, shopping trip - and on and on. Many of us found that we had to go thru an event the first time, see that we could do it without being tied to a cigarette, and the next time it was easier.

The first year of my WIN was spent obsessing about staying smoke-free--and I do mean obsessing. It was amazing how this took over every aspect of my life - I never realized how deep this addiction was embedded into my very being......I think of it has a huge piece of rope, that you have to unravel string by string, as you peel away the hold that smoking has over you.

Many times during the first year I got discouraged, and just as many times my Forum family was there for me. Either someone was going thru the exact thing at the same time, OR someone had already been down that road and helped me along. I was sometimes discouraged because I kept thinking that I should not "be thinking about smoking after all this time", or "I should never be bothered with a craving after all this time....."

Slowly, I learned that is not the nature of addiction. I had urges at 3 months, 4 months, then 6 months.....etc. But, the urges grew further and further apart, and lasted maybe seconds. I learned to be very patient with myself and to not give in. I grew stronger and stronger as I faced each new situation. And, as I saw all the great advantages from not smoking, this encouraged me even more---like the first time I sat thru a whole meeting at work without running out for a smoke break, the first time I sat thru a movie without worrying about if I could last the entire 2 hours, the first time I realized I could still smell my shampoo and not cigarette smoke, the first time my dentist and my other doctors found out how long it had been since my last smoke...the list goes on and on.

That was the first year. This 2nd year was SO MUCH SMOOTHER and a breath of fresh air! Once in a while I'd feel like I wanted to smoke, but it never lasted, and I had gained a new inner strength that was a result of education, this forum, and answered prayer.

To those of you who are wanting to quit smoking, or those who are in the early days of your quit, you can do this. Be very patient with yourself, and don't expect to be rid of all thoughts and urgings 3 weeks, 3 months, or even 6 months. It is a powerful addiction that you truly do have to take one moment at a time. Educate yourself, get involved in this forum, and then, turn around and help pull others along.

I look forward to an even smoother year as I go thru this 3rd year with many of my buddies. Thank you always to 'Shell, Terry, Les, Dee, Gaylene, Tammy, Linda, Irene, Jilly...and on and on I could go. Thanks for your humor, your love, and your unending support in helping me do this! I hope we soon put those horrible tobacco companies right out of business! ~Kathy010803~