ItÂ’s been a while since I made a post on my thread that was for me and now that IÂ’m 11 months in, coming up on my first trip around the sun in 18 years - nicotine free, IÂ’ve done some reflecting. I donÂ’t consider myself a veteran because IÂ’m still learning about my quit and being quit every day, but IÂ’ve seen a lot in these past 11 months. Of these experiences IÂ’ve witnessed, I feel like IÂ’ve learned the most about my quit from those who have caved. IÂ’ve seen people cave and come back with a vengeance, becoming all-star quitters. Conversely there have been cavers who come back and cave again. IÂ’ve seen serial caversÂ…cave, and those who have been complete cancers to KTC. My biggest take away from their experiences and inadvertent teachingsÂ…the importance of posting roll. ItÂ’s the one constant on both sides of the coin. Those who have caved and ultimately succeeded have been roll posters. Those who have never caved, Â…roll posters. Long time vets who cavedÂ…stopped posting roll.
On the flip side IÂ’ve also been inspired by some remarkable addicts. IÂ’ve been inspired by stories of perseverance and resolve; and these come in a variety of flavors. Some involve incredible stress and life events while others come from subtle persistence like the 100% roll poster who prefers to be active with their quit group. Daily victories no matter how simple or complex continue to inspire me.
Yet truly the biggest lesson IÂ’ve learned in this short time is that IÂ’m not cured. IÂ’m still an addict, and IÂ’ll always be an addict because she never stops whispering. But, IÂ’m ok with that. I am an addict, but that is not who I am. I am a man of my word and I am a quitter. And IÂ’m damn proud of that. That is who I am today.
Lastly, and equally as important to me as my quit, are my quit brothers. Many of them are faceless friends to me, but they are so different than any other group of friends I have in my life. No group of friends has helped me to save my own life and hold me accountable to that. I am continually in awe of the magnitude of my quit and the impact these folks have had on my life. I have no other friends like that in my life and I would go to great lengths for them because they are so important to me on so many levels. Friendship is built on trust, and we built that trust by posting roll. So, to my friends at KTC and to all the quitters here at KTC, thank you.
