cbird65 to cbird to bird ... either way here's the back story

[cbird65]

DAY 253 -

The new class Dec 2012 is coming out of their fog- and the ongoing topic is having a quit plan and exchanging numbers.

Quit plans are critical- if you have no goal or game plan - you have no direction

Here's my .02 on digits - if all you are doing is exchanging numbers and not calling those brothers - you are nothing more than a phone book and a phone book isnÂ’t going to help you when a white knuckle crave comes crashing into your life.
I don’t want acquaintances in my phone – I want QUIT BROTHERS and the only why you develop those is through regular communication – go old school – pick up the phone and talk – it might seem uncomfortable at first but you got nothing to lose and a friend to gain who will help you in your daily fight.

[Grizzly25]

Congrats on hitting the second floor brother!!! 'clap'

Great accomplishment! 'clap' 'clap'

[Wedge]

2nd Floor today for Cbird.

Grats man.

[cmark]

Chalk this up to the ramblings of a 40-something white guy trying to occupy his mind while running 7 miles in the Texas heat this morning.

No, I’m not Bruce Jenner by any stretch of the imagination or Hydro either… So I’m out running this morning in the drudgery of the Texas heat(thanks to my damn schnauzer for waking me and the missus up 4 times last night) needless to say, my normal 5:45AM run didn’t begin until 9:00AM  - It’s Friday and I’m my own boss so I make the hours don’t hate.

Anyway, during my run I saw three things that I am going to link together.  One dead bird, one dead squirrel and one crushed empty can of Smokey Mountain Mint.

Dead bird, - maybe it’s the newbie who tries to fly out of the nest too early only to find itself at the mercy of Mother Nature. New guys, stay away from alcohol or any other substance that would lower your quit resolve.  Have an emergency quit plan (phone numbers, toothpicks, candy, fake herbal chew, exercise, whatever it takes to dodge a crave/cave).

Sadly, one dead squirrel.  They are not cuter or rank higher in the food chain but I applaud their work ethic.  They are always gathering food, storing it away.  Unfortunately,  it wasn’t fast enough to dodge that truck delivery poison to the local convenience store.  Applies to any aged quitter – if you are not paying attention (posting, keeping your quit strong by helping others and keeping yourself and your quit bros/sisters accountable) you will “get dead”

One crushed can of Smokey Mountain Mint:  I remember the littering PSA campaign of the 70s and the crying Indian, I’m not applauding littering but I am glad to see there are other guys in my area using fake to keep the nic bitch off their backs.

OK, I’m done – pick which group you want to be in and OWN IT

Way to get all philosophical Bird ... I like it!!

[cbird65]

Chalk this up to the ramblings of a 40-something white guy trying to occupy his mind while running 7 miles in the Texas heat this morning.

No, IÂ’m not Bruce Jenner by any stretch of the imagination or Hydro eitherÂ… So IÂ’m out running this morning in the drudgery of the Texas heat(thanks to my damn schnauzer for waking me and the missus up 4 times last night) needless to say, my normal 5:45AM run didnÂ’t begin until 9:00AM - ItÂ’s Friday and IÂ’m my own boss so I make the hours donÂ’t hate.

Anyway, during my run I saw three things that I am going to link together. One dead bird, one dead squirrel and one crushed empty can of Smokey Mountain Mint.

Dead bird, - maybe itÂ’s the newbie who tries to fly out of the nest too early only to find itself at the mercy of Mother Nature. New guys, stay away from alcohol or any other substance that would lower your quit resolve. Have an emergency quit plan (phone numbers, toothpicks, candy, fake herbal chew, exercise, whatever it takes to dodge a crave/cave).

Sadly, one dead squirrel. They are not cuter or rank higher in the food chain but I applaud their work ethic. They are always gathering food, storing it away. Unfortunately, it wasn’t fast enough to dodge that truck delivery poison to the local convenience store. Applies to any aged quitter – if you are not paying attention (posting, keeping your quit strong by helping others and keeping yourself and your quit bros/sisters accountable) you will “get dead”

One crushed can of Smokey Mountain Mint: I remember the littering PSA campaign of the 70s and the crying Indian, IÂ’m not applauding littering but I am glad to see there are other guys in my area using fake to keep the nic bitch off their backs.

OK, I’m done – pick which group you want to be in and OWN IT

[cbird65]

Day 192


I guess I'm wired differently - if I caved and broke my promise to myself, God, family and all the support here, I would feel like I betrayed every trust imaginable. 

I don’t expect re-treads to grovel but show some humility and respect of other quitters who day in and day out keep their promise and try to be active role models to the younger quitters. 

I don’t remember who wrote it but the say was: “the tools on this site are ammunition for your quit gun; however, it is completely up to you to load the gun and pull the trigger when being attacked.  You failed to either load the gun or pull the trigger.  It’s time to identify the answer and then further explore why. 

Did life just get so difficult you had to poison your body again with nicotine?   Better question, did nicotine make all your problems disappear?

Post roll
Keep promise
Repeat tomorrow

Everyone has read this but not everyone will commit this as a daily mantra. 

Choose which side of the fence you want to be on because straddling it, isnÂ’t an option in the long run.

You took the words right out of my mouth Brother! Quit like fuck with you today!

Good stuff Cbird!!!

Very well put, its the determination and intensity that keep the quit going strong and the resolve to not fail!

it's an extreme honor and awesome responsibility

ty

[Wt57]

Day 176

Just chillin on a Saturday afternoon. I worked Car Care (free oil  filter change for widows and single moms at our church) this morning 7AM-Noon-
came home and went straight to the yard work task -

After the de-funking shower- updated the spreadsheet and jumped on chat - - got some running advise from the Wick-meister and found out we're going to have about 10 KTC guys show up at the DFW meet on Tues.

I was reading some of the posts in Sept and it dawned on my I didn't put in pinch of Hooch before hitting the yards today. That is the 1st time in 35 yrs to mow a yard without copenstankin or Hooch

Nice work CBird. Good to hear there is a guy there without nicotine.

Eventually you will not even have the Hooch. Freedom is an amazing thing !!

STAY QUIT
Greg

All the positive comments and report are uplifting and boost my quit! Thank You!

[Greg5280]

Day 176

Just chillin on a Saturday afternoon. I worked Car Care (free oil  filter change for widows and single moms at our church) this morning 7AM-Noon-
came home and went straight to the yard work task -

After the de-funking shower- updated the spreadsheet and jumped on chat - - got some running advise from the Wick-meister and found out we're going to have about 10 KTC guys show up at the DFW meet on Tues.

I was reading some of the posts in Sept and it dawned on my I didn't put in pinch of Hooch before hitting the yards today. That is the 1st time in 35 yrs to mow a yard without copenstankin or Hooch

Nice work CBird. Good to hear there is a guy there without nicotine.

Eventually you will not even have the Hooch. Freedom is an amazing thing !!

STAY QUIT
Greg

[Grizzly25]

Day 192


I guess I'm wired differently - if I caved and broke my promise to myself, God, family and all the support here, I would feel like I betrayed every trust imaginable. 

I don’t expect re-treads to grovel but show some humility and respect of other quitters who day in and day out keep their promise and try to be active role models to the younger quitters. 

I don’t remember who wrote it but the say was: “the tools on this site are ammunition for your quit gun; however, it is completely up to you to load the gun and pull the trigger when being attacked.  You failed to either load the gun or pull the trigger.  It’s time to identify the answer and then further explore why. 

Did life just get so difficult you had to poison your body again with nicotine?  Better question, did nicotine make all your problems disappear?

Post roll
Keep promise
Repeat tomorrow

Everyone has read this but not everyone will commit this as a daily mantra. 

Choose which side of the fence you want to be on because straddling it, isnÂ’t an option in the long run.

You took the words right out of my mouth Brother! Quit like fuck with you today!

Good stuff Cbird!!!

Very well put, its the detmination and intensity that keep the quit going strong and the resolve to not fail!

[Coach Steve]

Day 192


I guess I'm wired differently - if I caved and broke my promise to myself, God, family and all the support here, I would feel like I betrayed every trust imaginable.

I donÂ’t expect re-treads to grovel but show some humility and respect of other quitters who day in and day out keep their promise and try to be active role models to the younger quitters.

I don’t remember who wrote it but the say was: “the tools on this site are ammunition for your quit gun; however, it is completely up to you to load the gun and pull the trigger when being attacked. You failed to either load the gun or pull the trigger. It’s time to identify the answer and then further explore why.

Did life just get so difficult you had to poison your body again with nicotine? Better question, did nicotine make all your problems disappear?

Post roll
Keep promise
Repeat tomorrow

Everyone has read this but not everyone will commit this as a daily mantra.

Choose which side of the fence you want to be on because straddling it, isnÂ’t an option in the long run.

You took the words right out of my mouth Brother! Quit like fuck with you today!

[cbird65]

Day 192


I guess I'm wired differently - if I caved and broke my promise to myself, God, family and all the support here, I would feel like I betrayed every trust imaginable.

I donÂ’t expect re-treads to grovel but show some humility and respect of other quitters who day in and day out keep their promise and try to be active role models to the younger quitters.

I don’t remember who wrote it but the say was: “the tools on this site are ammunition for your quit gun; however, it is completely up to you to load the gun and pull the trigger when being attacked. You failed to either load the gun or pull the trigger. It’s time to identify the answer and then further explore why.

Did life just get so difficult you had to poison your body again with nicotine? Better question, did nicotine make all your problems disappear?

Post roll
Keep promise
Repeat tomorrow

Everyone has read this but not everyone will commit this as a daily mantra.

Choose which side of the fence you want to be on because straddling it, isnÂ’t an option in the long run.

[Souliman]

Day 176

Just chillin on a Saturday afternoon. I worked Car Care (free oil  filter change for widows and single moms at our church) this morning 7AM-Noon-
came home and went straight to the yard work task -

After the de-funking shower- updated the spreadsheet and jumped on chat - - got some running advise from the Wick-meister and found out we're going to have about 10 KTC guys show up at the DFW meet on Tues.

I was reading some of the posts in Sept and it dawned on my I didn't put in pinch of Hooch before hitting the yards today. That is the 1st time in 35 yrs to mow a yard without copenstankin or Hooch

Nice work CBird. Good to hear there is a guy there without nicotine.

[cbird65]

Day 176

Just chillin on a Saturday afternoon. I worked Car Care (free oil  filter change for widows and single moms at our church) this morning 7AM-Noon-
came home and went straight to the yard work task -

After the de-funking shower- updated the spreadsheet and jumped on chat - - got some running advise from the Wick-meister and found out we're going to have about 10 KTC guys show up at the DFW meet on Tues.

I was reading some of the posts in Sept and it dawned on my I didn't put in pinch of Hooch before hitting the yards today. That is the 1st time in 35 yrs to mow a yard without copenstankin or Hooch

[cbird65]

Here we go again – another handful of cavers limping into the new Pre- HOF class and low and behold we have a few with some serious days quit – supposedly 600 and another recent HOF is now deemed as a re-tread.

Anger and shock are just a couple of my immediate reactions.

Angered and shocked that they would be so careless with something they fought so long to protect. But one thing I am not and that is doubtful. I will not let the negative actions of a handful of people shake my resolve

How do I prevent a cave from happening to me?

The first one is second nature to me now on day 174 Post daily.

Secondly, renew you quit on a regular basis. Make it a habit of retracing your steps by going back and reading through the suck period, you guys remember thatÂ….Day 1 through whatever before you felt like you could walk in public without ripping into someone. How many of our spouses would let us get away with the argument, I told you I loved you on our wedding day and not repeat it again?? If you donÂ’t love yourself enough to recommit to your quit then why did you make the decision in the first place?

Pay if forward. The more invest in others here they become and it also strengthens the Brotherhood of KTC. ItÂ’s kind of a catch 22 also, if youÂ’re helping a newbie, they are looking to you for guidance and now you are or should be an example for them to follow.

So the question is, does your quit merit following?

[cbird65]

What can help you to not get separated from your quit?

How strong is the anchor line connecting you to your quit?

So you decided you have had enough of being a slave to nicotine and joined this accountability quit site to help you. OK, thatÂ’s one degree or connection point of your quit.

You post roll every morning in your quit group. Now youÂ’re up to two.

You enlist friends and family to keep you on the straight and narrow. Watch out, itÂ’s level three.

You get bold and swap an email address or phone number. Moving on upÂ… to the fourth rung.

You actually use that connect info and speak or email your new found quit ally. Scary now youÂ’re at level five.

You get involved in a noobies quit and ask them to post in your group and you post in theirs. Getting tightly wound and bound to your quit at level six.

You create a group inside you class that will hold each other accountable to posting every day without argument.
Nice, youÂ’ve reached the seventh level of separation.

This is not an exhaust list but try it and then add on to it.

Each one of these connection points will help minimize your separation. Try breaking a rope made of seven different chords woven tightly together.

If you are having difficulties in your quit, give this a try. I donÂ’t have a white paper study on the strength of quit relative to the amount of effort and involvement on this site. I can tell you with certainty, if you do nothing to strengthen your quit, the probability of you returning one day to post Day 1 is dramatically higher.