Risja's One Year Smoke Free Milestone

"Set yourself free. You can."

A year has gone by, (and very quickly!) since I last smoked a cigarette.

I look back and remember how my mind tricked me into thinking the oddest things; for instance, I got depressed at thinking I'd never ever again have another smoke. I also wondered what on earth I would do now, now that I couldn't smoke. What else fun was there to do? I thought that I would have trouble getting out of bed in the morning, since there would be no more poison for me to suck into my lungs. How could I possibly enjoy sitting outside with a cup of coffee, if I didn't have a cigarette to go with it? How could I even have the coffee?! How could I enjoy a meal? I also thought that I would always feel that way.

Well, time has passed...and was I ever wrong! Now I can't even imagine WHAT I was thinking! I can't believe I actually thought those things. It wasn't fun, as you all know, but with each passing day, with each passing hour - I got away, bit by bit, from that cruel and harsh master, the nicodemon.

Newbies, time flies, it really does. Please have faith, you will be free. I promise. You can't imagine it now, just as I couldn't imagine it then, but it will happen. All you have to do, is let it. Just let it happen. Set yourself free. You can. You'll feel uncomfortable, sure. Mentally and physically. You'll have doubts, and your mind will try to make you think that it's hopeless, that you must have that cigarette. Maybe even just one more.

Right then, it's up to you. And at first, you might think you like to smoke. You want to smoke. Well...that's just a lie.

You're scared, but that will pass, if you let it. This is just a very small time in your life, and will be in the past before you know it. And then, freedom. Freedom like most of you haven't felt for years.

Use this forum. Email the members, make friends, post, read, and force yourself to see what is true. What is real. And that is, no matter how uncomfortable you might feel during withdrawals and in that period of wrenching yourself away from that addiction, what IS that, really, when compared to what you are doing to yourself, your children, and those around you. So what if you are going to feel uncomfortable for a while?

I can't say enough good things about this forum. Would I have lost my quit if I hadn't somehow stumbled into this place one year ago? I can't say. I do know that this whole process, this whole journey, was made so much easier by the support and knowledge that I found here. The friends I have made, the stories I have heard, those who have listened and commented and given their time, friendships, and wisdom to me. Tee and Dar and Anna...Holly and Ben, Krissy, the Mikes and Rob...Mic, Kelly, Cindy, Kerri, Nancy, David, Ginny, and Bruce, who made me a star giver, and so many more! My goodness, so many of you have just been the most special people and have all touched me in some way. I'm so lucky to have you guys as friends. You are so special to me and have helped make this journey fun.