Day 1... I quit

[Minny]

I was all set to post this brilliant update that made everyone think, "Wow!", that was AWESOME! Yeah... not so much  :P 
I've been reading through intros the last few days... newbies and not-so-newbies and I've seen a subtle, yet common, thread. It basically boils down to this... "Life has dealt me 'THIS' piece of crap but I'm dealing with it and I'm still QUIT!".

I have found this VERY interesting/sad/confusing/frustrating/perplexing.
What I set out to post was just a gripe about life in general... I have an old friend who has a stomach mass that we're hoping isn't cancer, my wife's gramma died, my recent plumbing re-pipe cost me $11,000, my job keeps having bits and pieces cut... blah, blah, blah. Through this all I'm still QUIT too! With effort but... I'm rock solid. What I've found interesting is that, by and large, we are all having to learn to cope with life without a filter or securilty blanket of a drug (nicotine). I have REALLY wanted to dip this last few weeks! I took a real hard look at myself this weekend and really contemplated what going to the store, buying a can, and filling my face would do for me. Aside from the obvious that it would do NOTHING to solve anything going on in my life I really, truly understood, my addiction to be a thing of avoidance. I want something else to fix everything.

Duh.

Ain't gonna happen. 

It may hurt a little (or alot) but being fully present without a drug is kind of a rush. Every situation I overcome without nicotine, makes me the person I was made to be. Life sucks sometimes... that's normal! I'm stoked to be dealing with it as a "whole" person. No filters, no security blanket, no crutch. 160 days free. That's pretty damn cool.

See you at 161 my friend. ;)

"being fully present without a drug is kind of a rush."

Mission accomplished. That was awesome.

I've been thinking similar thoughts for a couple months now. I think my nicotine use was partly about numbing the experience of life. Well, why the hell did I want to do that? Bring on the highs and lows, and bring on the next day of freedom to experience them without a (counterproductive) crutch.

Damn right!

Excellent post, AJ, and spot on. I don't understand the whole stress + nicotine = less stress... poisoning yourself doesn't fix your leaky roof, make your job come back, your bills go away, or cure cancer. What made me want to chew (aside from being addicted) more than usual was hunting, fishing, driving, watching movies, etc. Maybe it's just me, but I've always thought that rationalizing nicotine use with stress was a bunch of bullshit.

[AppleJack]

Well put AJ I have had similar experiences and I keep quit. No numbing no filters no security blankets....I keep going cause I got guys like you in my corner...quit on bro

Right back atcha m'man...

[AppleJack]

I was all set to post this brilliant update that made everyone think, "Wow!", that was AWESOME! Yeah... not so much  :P 
I've been reading through intros the last few days... newbies and not-so-newbies and I've seen a subtle, yet common, thread. It basically boils down to this... "Life has dealt me 'THIS' piece of crap but I'm dealing with it and I'm still QUIT!".

I have found this VERY interesting/sad/confusing/frustrating/perplexing.
What I set out to post was just a gripe about life in general... I have an old friend who has a stomach mass that we're hoping isn't cancer, my wife's gramma died, my recent plumbing re-pipe cost me $11,000, my job keeps having bits and pieces cut... blah, blah, blah. Through this all I'm still QUIT too! With effort but... I'm rock solid. What I've found interesting is that, by and large, we are all having to learn to cope with life without a filter or securilty blanket of a drug (nicotine). I have REALLY wanted to dip this last few weeks! I took a real hard look at myself this weekend and really contemplated what going to the store, buying a can, and filling my face would do for me. Aside from the obvious that it would do NOTHING to solve anything going on in my life I really, truly understood, my addiction to be a thing of avoidance. I want something else to fix everything.

Duh.

Ain't gonna happen. 

It may hurt a little (or alot) but being fully present without a drug is kind of a rush. Every situation I overcome without nicotine, makes me the person I was made to be. Life sucks sometimes... that's normal! I'm stoked to be dealing with it as a "whole" person. No filters, no security blanket, no crutch. 160 days free. That's pretty damn cool.

See you at 161 my friend. ;)

"being fully present without a drug is kind of a rush."

Mission accomplished. That was awesome.

I've been thinking similar thoughts for a couple months now. I think my nicotine use was partly about numbing the experience of life. Well, why the hell did I want to do that? Bring on the highs and lows, and bring on the next day of freedom to experience them without a (counterproductive) crutch.

Damn right!

[traumagnet]

Well put AJ I have had similar experiences and I keep quit. No numbing no filters no security blankets....I keep going cause I got guys like you in my corner...quit on bro

[Mike from AB]

I was all set to post this brilliant update that made everyone think, "Wow!", that was AWESOME! Yeah... not so much :P
I've been reading through intros the last few days... newbies and not-so-newbies and I've seen a subtle, yet common, thread. It basically boils down to this... "Life has dealt me 'THIS' piece of crap but I'm dealing with it and I'm still QUIT!".

I have found this VERY interesting/sad/confusing/frustrating/perplexing.
What I set out to post was just a gripe about life in general... I have an old friend who has a stomach mass that we're hoping isn't cancer, my wife's gramma died, my recent plumbing re-pipe cost me $11,000, my job keeps having bits and pieces cut... blah, blah, blah. Through this all I'm still QUIT too! With effort but... I'm rock solid. What I've found interesting is that, by and large, we are all having to learn to cope with life without a filter or securilty blanket of a drug (nicotine). I have REALLY wanted to dip this last few weeks! I took a real hard look at myself this weekend and really contemplated what going to the store, buying a can, and filling my face would do for me. Aside from the obvious that it would do NOTHING to solve anything going on in my life I really, truly understood, my addiction to be a thing of avoidance. I want something else to fix everything.

Duh.

Ain't gonna happen.

It may hurt a little (or alot) but being fully present without a drug is kind of a rush. Every situation I overcome without nicotine, makes me the person I was made to be. Life sucks sometimes... that's normal! I'm stoked to be dealing with it as a "whole" person. No filters, no security blanket, no crutch. 160 days free. That's pretty damn cool.

Proud to be quit with you today my friend!

[OneImpressiveBall]

I was all set to post this brilliant update that made everyone think, "Wow!", that was AWESOME! Yeah... not so much  :P 
I've been reading through intros the last few days... newbies and not-so-newbies and I've seen a subtle, yet common, thread. It basically boils down to this... "Life has dealt me 'THIS' piece of crap but I'm dealing with it and I'm still QUIT!".

I have found this VERY interesting/sad/confusing/frustrating/perplexing.
What I set out to post was just a gripe about life in general... I have an old friend who has a stomach mass that we're hoping isn't cancer, my wife's gramma died, my recent plumbing re-pipe cost me $11,000, my job keeps having bits and pieces cut... blah, blah, blah. Through this all I'm still QUIT too! With effort but... I'm rock solid. What I've found interesting is that, by and large, we are all having to learn to cope with life without a filter or securilty blanket of a drug (nicotine). I have REALLY wanted to dip this last few weeks! I took a real hard look at myself this weekend and really contemplated what going to the store, buying a can, and filling my face would do for me. Aside from the obvious that it would do NOTHING to solve anything going on in my life I really, truly understood, my addiction to be a thing of avoidance. I want something else to fix everything.

Duh.

Ain't gonna happen. 

It may hurt a little (or alot) but being fully present without a drug is kind of a rush. Every situation I overcome without nicotine, makes me the person I was made to be. Life sucks sometimes... that's normal! I'm stoked to be dealing with it as a "whole" person. No filters, no security blanket, no crutch. 160 days free. That's pretty damn cool.

See you at 161 my friend. ;)

"being fully present without a drug is kind of a rush."

Mission accomplished. That was awesome.

I've been thinking similar thoughts for a couple months now. I think my nicotine use was partly about numbing the experience of life. Well, why the hell did I want to do that? Bring on the highs and lows, and bring on the next day of freedom to experience them without a (counterproductive) crutch.

[srans]

I was all set to post this brilliant update that made everyone think, "Wow!", that was AWESOME! Yeah... not so much :P
I've been reading through intros the last few days... newbies and not-so-newbies and I've seen a subtle, yet common, thread. It basically boils down to this... "Life has dealt me 'THIS' piece of crap but I'm dealing with it and I'm still QUIT!".

I have found this VERY interesting/sad/confusing/frustrating/perplexing.
What I set out to post was just a gripe about life in general... I have an old friend who has a stomach mass that we're hoping isn't cancer, my wife's gramma died, my recent plumbing re-pipe cost me $11,000, my job keeps having bits and pieces cut... blah, blah, blah. Through this all I'm still QUIT too! With effort but... I'm rock solid. What I've found interesting is that, by and large, we are all having to learn to cope with life without a filter or securilty blanket of a drug (nicotine). I have REALLY wanted to dip this last few weeks! I took a real hard look at myself this weekend and really contemplated what going to the store, buying a can, and filling my face would do for me. Aside from the obvious that it would do NOTHING to solve anything going on in my life I really, truly understood, my addiction to be a thing of avoidance. I want something else to fix everything.

Duh.

Ain't gonna happen.

It may hurt a little (or alot) but being fully present without a drug is kind of a rush. Every situation I overcome without nicotine, makes me the person I was made to be. Life sucks sometimes... that's normal! I'm stoked to be dealing with it as a "whole" person. No filters, no security blanket, no crutch. 160 days free. That's pretty damn cool.

See you at 161 my friend. ;)

[AppleJack]

I was all set to post this brilliant update that made everyone think, "Wow!", that was AWESOME! Yeah... not so much :P
I've been reading through intros the last few days... newbies and not-so-newbies and I've seen a subtle, yet common, thread. It basically boils down to this... "Life has dealt me 'THIS' piece of crap but I'm dealing with it and I'm still QUIT!".

I have found this VERY interesting/sad/confusing/frustrating/perplexing.
What I set out to post was just a gripe about life in general... I have an old friend who has a stomach mass that we're hoping isn't cancer, my wife's gramma died, my recent plumbing re-pipe cost me $11,000, my job keeps having bits and pieces cut... blah, blah, blah. Through this all I'm still QUIT too! With effort but... I'm rock solid. What I've found interesting is that, by and large, we are all having to learn to cope with life without a filter or securilty blanket of a drug (nicotine). I have REALLY wanted to dip this last few weeks! I took a real hard look at myself this weekend and really contemplated what going to the store, buying a can, and filling my face would do for me. Aside from the obvious that it would do NOTHING to solve anything going on in my life I really, truly understood, my addiction to be a thing of avoidance. I want something else to fix everything.

Duh.

Ain't gonna happen.

It may hurt a little (or alot) but being fully present without a drug is kind of a rush. Every situation I overcome without nicotine, makes me the person I was made to be. Life sucks sometimes... that's normal! I'm stoked to be dealing with it as a "whole" person. No filters, no security blanket, no crutch. 160 days free. That's pretty damn cool.

[traumagnet]

Wow... day 137.

Been feeling a little guilty lately. Not sharing much - not posting onto many intros -  HOF speech not written yet ( I know, dammit!). I've pulled my intro up a few times and just sat staring at the screen. Um... I got nothin'? Really!? I hit HOF and all this energy just left me. Not a funk either. Feelin' good... great in fact. So I've been pondering the last few days. Pondering is good for the soul. I felt kinda like Pooh in the ol' cartoons... "think, think, think"... it came to me, finally ~

You ever expend an absolute limitless amount of energy into a project? A weekend of gnarly yardwork - a home remodel/renovation - a work project - whatever. There comes that moment when you've finished where it's time to sit back, have a beer, and enjoy the hell out of what you just did. Tired as hell but satisfied. I just spent 99 days gearing up for a huge milestone in my life ~ my HOF day. I worked my ASS off building this first floor. Blood, sweat, and tears man. Some days it took everything I had and some days were a breeze. Lazy as it may sound, I've been sitting on the front porch for the last 37 days just enjoying the hell out of that. No funk, no let down, no apathy... just a breather to enjoy this Quit I've built. You know what?... my first floor kicks ass! I love it. It's roomy and it's so solid that I'm gonna keep adding floors. The 2nd floor is shaping up to be something even more badass. This is the Quit that Jack built... Ima enjoy all of it.

Congrats on 137 days! It's not lazy at all to sit back  enjoy the fruits of your labor because you're still moving forward. For yourself and for others, I know you're laboring to help others now. So don't feel a bit guilty for enjoying your hard work my friend!

Very good read apple. I know your feeling. The way it sounds you were a lot like me the first 100. Keep on keepen on.

I have been coasting for a few days and kinda wondering why. Nice time for me to read this AJ as it makes sense to me.

Good stuff AJ! However, I disagree that you have mailed it in the past 37 days. You are not just relaxing on your front porch with your focus on yourself... reveling in your HOF accomplishment. You can not sell me on that one! You have reached out to me countless times via text during this period  I am sure you've done it to others, you wrote a guest spot for the August train, you post roll on your July thread  countless others each and every day. You are spreading your quit around bro! You are engaged in the brotherhood  I am damn glad to be QLF with you today! Keep on bro!

its like a quit buns of steel video. You will write the speech when you are ready. I have a feeling that you are putting too much pressure on yourself to write it. Just relax let the trip speak for itself. The speech doesnt have to be a work or art to be reviewed by literary scholars its just a bunch of addicts wantin to hear from their friend and new power house of quit. Don't worry I got your back with witnesses.... paa ting shovel back of the head....(inside joke) so enjoy your quit and keep doing what you are doing. quit w you today AJ

[Derk40]

Wow... day 137.

Been feeling a little guilty lately. Not sharing much - not posting onto many intros -  HOF speech not written yet ( I know, dammit!). I've pulled my intro up a few times and just sat staring at the screen. Um... I got nothin'? Really!? I hit HOF and all this energy just left me. Not a funk either. Feelin' good... great in fact. So I've been pondering the last few days. Pondering is good for the soul. I felt kinda like Pooh in the ol' cartoons... "think, think, think"... it came to me, finally ~

You ever expend an absolute limitless amount of energy into a project? A weekend of gnarly yardwork - a home remodel/renovation - a work project - whatever. There comes that moment when you've finished where it's time to sit back, have a beer, and enjoy the hell out of what you just did. Tired as hell but satisfied. I just spent 99 days gearing up for a huge milestone in my life ~ my HOF day. I worked my ASS off building this first floor. Blood, sweat, and tears man. Some days it took everything I had and some days were a breeze. Lazy as it may sound, I've been sitting on the front porch for the last 37 days just enjoying the hell out of that. No funk, no let down, no apathy... just a breather to enjoy this Quit I've built. You know what?... my first floor kicks ass! I love it. It's roomy and it's so solid that I'm gonna keep adding floors. The 2nd floor is shaping up to be something even more badass. This is the Quit that Jack built... Ima enjoy all of it.

Congrats on 137 days! It's not lazy at all to sit back  enjoy the fruits of your labor because you're still moving forward. For yourself and for others, I know you're laboring to help others now. So don't feel a bit guilty for enjoying your hard work my friend!

Very good read apple. I know your feeling. The way it sounds you were a lot like me the first 100. Keep on keepen on.

I have been coasting for a few days and kinda wondering why. Nice time for me to read this AJ as it makes sense to me.

Good stuff AJ! However, I disagree that you have mailed it in the past 37 days. You are not just relaxing on your front porch with your focus on yourself... reveling in your HOF accomplishment. You can not sell me on that one! You have reached out to me countless times via text during this period  I am sure you've done it to others, you wrote a guest spot for the August train, you post roll on your July thread  countless others each and every day. You are spreading your quit around bro! You are engaged in the brotherhood  I am damn glad to be QLF with you today! Keep on bro!

[B-loMatt]

Wow... day 137.

Been feeling a little guilty lately. Not sharing much - not posting onto many intros -  HOF speech not written yet ( I know, dammit!). I've pulled my intro up a few times and just sat staring at the screen. Um... I got nothin'? Really!? I hit HOF and all this energy just left me. Not a funk either. Feelin' good... great in fact. So I've been pondering the last few days. Pondering is good for the soul. I felt kinda like Pooh in the ol' cartoons... "think, think, think"... it came to me, finally ~

You ever expend an absolute limitless amount of energy into a project? A weekend of gnarly yardwork - a home remodel/renovation - a work project - whatever. There comes that moment when you've finished where it's time to sit back, have a beer, and enjoy the hell out of what you just did. Tired as hell but satisfied. I just spent 99 days gearing up for a huge milestone in my life ~ my HOF day. I worked my ASS off building this first floor. Blood, sweat, and tears man. Some days it took everything I had and some days were a breeze. Lazy as it may sound, I've been sitting on the front porch for the last 37 days just enjoying the hell out of that. No funk, no let down, no apathy... just a breather to enjoy this Quit I've built. You know what?... my first floor kicks ass! I love it. It's roomy and it's so solid that I'm gonna keep adding floors. The 2nd floor is shaping up to be something even more badass. This is the Quit that Jack built... Ima enjoy all of it.

Congrats on 137 days! It's not lazy at all to sit back  enjoy the fruits of your labor because you're still moving forward. For yourself and for others, I know you're laboring to help others now. So don't feel a bit guilty for enjoying your hard work my friend!

Very good read apple. I know your feeling. The way it sounds you were a lot like me the first 100. Keep on keepen on.

I have been coasting for a few days and kinda wondering why. Nice time for me to read this AJ as it makes sense to me.

[srans]

Wow... day 137.

Been feeling a little guilty lately. Not sharing much - not posting onto many intros -  HOF speech not written yet ( I know, dammit!). I've pulled my intro up a few times and just sat staring at the screen. Um... I got nothin'? Really!? I hit HOF and all this energy just left me. Not a funk either. Feelin' good... great in fact. So I've been pondering the last few days. Pondering is good for the soul. I felt kinda like Pooh in the ol' cartoons... "think, think, think"... it came to me, finally ~

You ever expend an absolute limitless amount of energy into a project? A weekend of gnarly yardwork - a home remodel/renovation - a work project - whatever. There comes that moment when you've finished where it's time to sit back, have a beer, and enjoy the hell out of what you just did. Tired as hell but satisfied. I just spent 99 days gearing up for a huge milestone in my life ~ my HOF day. I worked my ASS off building this first floor. Blood, sweat, and tears man. Some days it took everything I had and some days were a breeze. Lazy as it may sound, I've been sitting on the front porch for the last 37 days just enjoying the hell out of that. No funk, no let down, no apathy... just a breather to enjoy this Quit I've built. You know what?... my first floor kicks ass! I love it. It's roomy and it's so solid that I'm gonna keep adding floors. The 2nd floor is shaping up to be something even more badass. This is the Quit that Jack built... Ima enjoy all of it.

Congrats on 137 days! It's not lazy at all to sit back  enjoy the fruits of your labor because you're still moving forward. For yourself and for others, I know you're laboring to help others now. So don't feel a bit guilty for enjoying your hard work my friend!

Very good read apple. I know your feeling. The way it sounds you were a lot like me the first 100. Keep on keepen on.

[Mike from AB]

Wow... day 137.

Been feeling a little guilty lately. Not sharing much - not posting onto many intros - HOF speech not written yet ( I know, dammit!). I've pulled my intro up a few times and just sat staring at the screen. Um... I got nothin'? Really!? I hit HOF and all this energy just left me. Not a funk either. Feelin' good... great in fact. So I've been pondering the last few days. Pondering is good for the soul. I felt kinda like Pooh in the ol' cartoons... "think, think, think"... it came to me, finally ~

You ever expend an absolute limitless amount of energy into a project? A weekend of gnarly yardwork - a home remodel/renovation - a work project - whatever. There comes that moment when you've finished where it's time to sit back, have a beer, and enjoy the hell out of what you just did. Tired as hell but satisfied. I just spent 99 days gearing up for a huge milestone in my life ~ my HOF day. I worked my ASS off building this first floor. Blood, sweat, and tears man. Some days it took everything I had and some days were a breeze. Lazy as it may sound, I've been sitting on the front porch for the last 37 days just enjoying the hell out of that. No funk, no let down, no apathy... just a breather to enjoy this Quit I've built. You know what?... my first floor kicks ass! I love it. It's roomy and it's so solid that I'm gonna keep adding floors. The 2nd floor is shaping up to be something even more badass. This is the Quit that Jack built... Ima enjoy all of it.

Congrats on 137 days! It's not lazy at all to sit back  enjoy the fruits of your labor because you're still moving forward. For yourself and for others, I know you're laboring to help others now. So don't feel a bit guilty for enjoying your hard work my friend!

[jaynellie]

Wow... day 137.

Been feeling a little guilty lately. Not sharing much - not posting onto many intros - HOF speech not written yet ( I know, dammit!). I've pulled my intro up a few times and just sat staring at the screen. Um... I got nothin'? Really!? I hit HOF and all this energy just left me. Not a funk either. Feelin' good... great in fact. So I've been pondering the last few days. Pondering is good for the soul. I felt kinda like Pooh in the ol' cartoons... "think, think, think"... it came to me, finally ~

You ever expend an absolute limitless amount of enerygy into a project? A weekend of gnarly yardwork - a home remodel/renovation - a work project - whatever. There comes that moment when you've finished where it's time to sit back, have a beer, and enjoy the hell out of what you just did. Tired as hell but satisfied. I just spent 99 days gearing up for a huge milestone in my life ~ my HOF day. I worked my ASS off building this first floor. Blood, sweat, and tears man. Some days it took everything I had and some days were a breeze. Lazy as it may sound, I've been sitting on the front porch for the last 37 days just enjoying the hell out of that. No funk, no let down, no apathy... just a breather to enjoy this Quit I've built. You know what?... my first floor kicks ass! I love it. It's roomy and it's so solid that I'm gonna keep adding floors. The 2nd floor is shaping up to be something even more badass. This is the Quit that Jack built... Ima enjoy all of it.

Quit on AJ.....There is no Handbook or YouTube video to watch on the "perfect" Quit.Work your quit, don't let it work you.Quit is all that is asked of each of us everyday,not did you hit your 17.4 posts again?Proud to be quit with you again today 137 or 437.QLFEDD!!!!!

[AppleJack]

Wow... day 137.

Been feeling a little guilty lately. Not sharing much - not posting onto many intros - HOF speech not written yet ( I know, dammit!). I've pulled my intro up a few times and just sat staring at the screen. Um... I got nothin'? Really!? I hit HOF and all this energy just left me. Not a funk either. Feelin' good... great in fact. So I've been pondering the last few days. Pondering is good for the soul. I felt kinda like Pooh in the ol' cartoons... "think, think, think"... it came to me, finally ~

You ever expend an absolute limitless amount of energy into a project? A weekend of gnarly yardwork - a home remodel/renovation - a work project - whatever. There comes that moment when you've finished where it's time to sit back, have a beer, and enjoy the hell out of what you just did. Tired as hell but satisfied. I just spent 99 days gearing up for a huge milestone in my life ~ my HOF day. I worked my ASS off building this first floor. Blood, sweat, and tears man. Some days it took everything I had and some days were a breeze. Lazy as it may sound, I've been sitting on the front porch for the last 37 days just enjoying the hell out of that. No funk, no let down, no apathy... just a breather to enjoy this Quit I've built. You know what?... my first floor kicks ass! I love it. It's roomy and it's so solid that I'm gonna keep adding floors. The 2nd floor is shaping up to be something even more badass. This is the Quit that Jack built... Ima enjoy all of it.