My Milestone
A phone call from an old work colleague today reminded me that it has been two years since we'd quit smoking (together). I'd missed my anniversary by four days!
History and summary of my quit:
I smoked 15-25 cigarettes for nearly 30 years and tried to quit tens of times. As I reflect on those quits, I don't think there was a real commitment as I still wanted to smoke.
How I've Gotten This Far
Within four weeks of starting my quit I lost my job. This happened three months before Christmas, with a new house being built and an extravagant holiday booked for January. I started drinking heavily, but somehow I was never tempted to smoke.
I found another job within a month and the new house was built (we had tenants in there from day 5, and still have!), Christmas was great and we had a wonderful holiday.
As time went by, I found that I was thinking about smoking less and less; within six months I thought about cigarettes maybe once every three to four weeks. By about a year, it was nearly every 6 weeks. Now, never.
Life is great. I joined a gym on my first anniversary and go 6 times a week (5 cycle classes). I'm still going to the gym to this day and love my new found energy. I now go for runs with my 9 year old - he on his bike, me on foot - that's a very special time for me.
At 9 months I got a phone call - mum was in the UK (I'm in Australia) and had just been diagnosed with leukemia. We kept in contact via Skype and after three months the chemo wasn't working well, so I went to the UK and spent two wonderful weeks with her, considering the circumstances.
Mum was 70 years old and still smoking. I didn't have the heart to chastise her. Not sure if the smoking had anything to do with the leukemia, but it was another possible reason why I should stay quit. Not that I had any doubts.
Leaving was the hardest thing I've ever had to do, as we both knew it was probably the last time.
Mum passed away just before Christmas.
I write this not to tell you all how great I am, more to say that throughout all the trials and tribulations life throws at you, staying quit is still possible. In fact, in some ways it makes you even stronger, knowing that you survived the tough times.
If your quit is relatively new or your are still smoking, I'm here to tell that you are no different than those of us who have quit successfully. We are not different types of people than you - we have just quit smoking.
Quitting smoking is not easy for any of us - cigarettes are made that way on purpose.
Use the support forum here at About.com Smoking Cessation - I did and I can't thank the wonderful people there enough.
Break your quit into small parts - one minute, one hour, etc. Doing this worked for me.
I used water as my substitute - I peed gallons those first few weeks!
I love:
- being smoke free
- running non stop for 20km - try that smoking 20 a day!
- staying inside on cold/rainy winter nights
- smelling of me and not cigs - I still smell bad, just different!
- being in control or rather not being controlled
Lessons Learned
- It's never too late to quit.
- As I crossed the finishing line in my first 10km (6.2mile) race, I thought of this well known saying:
"The miracle isn't that I finished. The miracle is that I had the courage to start."
Isn't that the truth in everything we try to do that is difficult? None more so than quitting smoking.
Please summon up the courage and stay quit. You'll find a small miracle within you that will forever keep you strong.
~Sid
