16 years later, I quit

[BigRedDog]

415 - learned two days ago my job is being eliminated. Took about a day, and then I finally got moving again. Now I have had three interviews today, sounding like I am looking at good things happening. Maybe a blessing in disguise after all,

Either way, being dip free makes it so much better facing this knowing I can handle it, and will continue to handle it.

[BigRedDog]

385 and it is funny. Looking back at who I was before the quit and how much you really can change in a year and how much of it was just a mental game that was making me miserable.

Life never fails to throw a curveball, and these past couple weeks were super stressful. Once i was able to get through it and reflect I realized I never once yearned for a can or a drink or to have a way out of it. I instead faced, accepted and dealt with what life was throwing my way and kept moving.

What a difference a shift in mindset creates, what a shift it is to take over your own life and make changes. What a difference actually trying to take my mental and physical health serious has been. I learned more in my 35th year on this earth than i ever did the previous 34. Here's to year 36 and making it the best year so far.

[Keith0617]

365

Dear me from 366 days ago,

You are about to make one of the biggest, best decisions you could. Little did you know it would kick start your mental health improving, and you will feel so much better this time next year. Your health will be under control and improving, you will feel better than you ever remember feeling.

You'll still be learning how to navigate life but the little things won't have you on the edge of a breakdown anymore. You won't panic at everything. You will enjoy life and start looking forward to things again.

Your years of surviving have finally work you down enough you can see it. You need help, and you need to quit nicotine. It sucks, and it's going to suck a lot. But you'll be ok, just stay with it.

Your 35th year on this earth will be the first you have enjoyed in a long time. It gets better.

Just hang on for the ride.

Congrats bro. Stay the course, focus one day at a time, and don’t become complacent. Keep doing the things that got you to this point. We are all one bad decision away from posting another day 1. Proud to quit with you.

[MN_Engineer]

365

Dear me from 366 days ago,

You are about to make one of the biggest, best decisions you could. Little did you know it would kick start your mental health improving, and you will feel so much better this time next year. Your health will be under control and improving, you will feel better than you ever remember feeling.

You'll still be learning how to navigate life but the little things won't have you on the edge of a breakdown anymore. You won't panic at everything. You will enjoy life and start looking forward to things again.

Your years of surviving have finally work you down enough you can see it. You need help, and you need to quit nicotine. It sucks, and it's going to suck a lot. But you'll be ok, just stay with it.

Your 35th year on this earth will be the first you have enjoyed in a long time. It gets better.

Just hang on for the ride.

Congrats on your first completed trip quit around the sun!! That's huge! My best advice would be to continue to focus ODAAT - it's all we can control.

[BigRedDog]

365

Dear me from 366 days ago,

You are about to make one of the biggest, best decisions you could. Little did you know it would kick start your mental health improving, and you will feel so much better this time next year. Your health will be under control and improving, you will feel better than you ever remember feeling.

You'll still be learning how to navigate life but the little things won't have you on the edge of a breakdown anymore. You won't panic at everything. You will enjoy life and start looking forward to things again.

Your years of surviving have finally work you down enough you can see it. You need help, and you need to quit nicotine. It sucks, and it's going to suck a lot. But you'll be ok, just stay with it.

Your 35th year on this earth will be the first you have enjoyed in a long time. It gets better.

Just hang on for the ride.

[BigRedDog]

356

Echo results back, heart is actually in pretty good shape. Nothing found...just need the BP to come down and to get everything else in check

Somehow I didn't completely screw myself by waiting until I'm 35, to care. BP just gotta come down from the 198/110 area.

This is great to hear! I had some heart checks myself after I quit. In terms of the blood pressure, mine was always elevated a bit as well until I quit drinking. For me it was a necessity for other reasons but it certainly brought my BP way down. I'm not suggesting you quit alcohol altogether but maybe re-evaluating it's place in your life may help be a piece in getting that lower.

Damn proud to be quit with you today!

If I was a drinker I would, but I have maybe one or two a month max.

It's bizarre, cholesterol and every thing checks out...just the BP, Anemia, and inflammation are sky high along with my genetic markers that show an insanely high level of risk for heart issues

I got lucky man, I missed out on a heart attack or stroke by having a good heart

[MN_Engineer]

356

Echo results back, heart is actually in pretty good shape. Nothing found...just need the BP to come down and to get everything else in check

Somehow I didn't completely screw myself by waiting until I'm 35, to care. BP just gotta come down from the 198/110 area.

This is great to hear! I had some heart checks myself after I quit. In terms of the blood pressure, mine was always elevated a bit as well until I quit drinking. For me it was a necessity for other reasons but it certainly brought my BP way down. I'm not suggesting you quit alcohol altogether but maybe re-evaluating it's place in your life may help be a piece in getting that lower.

Damn proud to be quit with you today!

[BigRedDog]

356

Echo results back, heart is actually in pretty good shape. Nothing found...just need the BP to come down and to get everything else in check

Somehow I didn't completely screw myself by waiting until I'm 35, to care. BP just gotta come down from the 198/110 area.

[BigRedDog]

336, July 26 just opened and it's wild. We really are coming up on a year....insane

[BigRedDog]

320

There's an artist named Ren, who has a song called "Hi Ren" a song about basically the psychological warfare in his head and the struggle that it is to live with it.

He then gives a monologue at the end speaking of his battle, and he states that at 17 he declared in an empty room he would defeat the forces of evil. That he spent the next 10 years suffering from autoimmune disease, illness and psychosis. Until one day he realized that this is not a battle to be won, but a dance. That the more rigid and hard he made himself and how much he beat himself up self for clumsy footsteps it just grew darker.

Once he realized when he relaxed and forgave himself and realized that there is no battle to be won it's a dance, and as the light gets stronger, the shadow grows darker.

Beautiful song and perfect way to visualize and explain what mental health and the battle vs the darkness is like and the power of your own mindset vs the forces of evil.

That dance in his words, is what separates humans from demons and angels and what imakes is different from Gods.

What a reflection

[Keith0617]

318

Had a nightmare week and came out of it calm, not spiraling and filled with stress.

Had major life issues, and cussed about it for 20 minutes then hunkered down and took care of the issue. Never once wanted a dip or drink, never wanted for anything. Took care of it and am fine.

I avoided the self hate cycle, avoided the spiral where my life always fell apart.

This week was a win.

That is awesome brother. Remember you have a family to help with things get hard at KTC.

[BigRedDog]

318

Had a nightmare week and came out of it calm, not spiraling and filled with stress.

Had major life issues, and cussed about it for 20 minutes then hunkered down and took care of the issue. Never once wanted a dip or drink, never wanted for anything. Took care of it and am fine.

I avoided the self hate cycle, avoided the spiral where my life always fell apart.

This week was a win.

[Keith0617]

300

Huge congrats on 300 @BigRedDog. That is freaking awesome. I love how after focusing only on one day at a time, every now and then, a number smacks you in the face to let you know the ODAAT really do eventually add up.

[BigRedDog]

300

[BigRedDog]

296

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