First Post - 5? Quit

[Keddy]

I'm a dick. Just a really BIG PRICK. And I don't apologize for it. Not one bit.

Yeah, I take THE QUIT seriously. That's right, I said THE QUIT. See, that means I take YOUR quit just as seriously as I take my own. It means that when your quit is threatened - whether it is threatened by someone else or you, yourself - I start doing whetever I can to protect it.

Why? Because my quit is dependant upon yours, yours is dependant upon 30's, his upon Coach Steve's, his upon Taco's, and on and on....

So, yeah, you come in running off at the mouth, shaking the table and threatening to topple THE QUIT, I'm gonna get pissed and I'm gonna come after you...

No thanks are needed...I do it for the good of all of us.

Embrace the QUIT.

'na na' 'na na' 'na na'

[CoachDoc]

I'm a dick. Just a really BIG PRICK. And I don't apologize for it. Not one bit.

Yeah, I take THE QUIT seriously. That's right, I said THE QUIT. See, that means I take YOUR quit just as seriously as I take my own. It means that when your quit is threatened - whether it is threatened by someone else or you, yourself - I start doing whetever I can to protect it.

Why? Because my quit is dependant upon yours, yours is dependant upon 30's, his upon Coach Steve's, his upon Taco's, and on and on....

So, yeah, you come in running off at the mouth, shaking the table and threatening to topple THE QUIT, I'm gonna get pissed and I'm gonna come after you...

No thanks are needed...I do it for the good of all of us.

Embrace the QUIT.

[CoachDoc]

Honored to be on your call list. When I signed up you were the first to give me the KTC intro /tour and your #. 7 days clean and doing OK. Staying Active. Thanks!!

That's what it's all about...you are just as important in my quit as those that have been there from the beginning (don't tell NOLAQ...he might get all butt-hurt....)

I owe as much to supporting you as I do my June 2010 brothers...

Your 7 days of quit are 7 days that strengthened mine...keep it up, brother!

[CMH17]

Honored to be on your call list. When I signed up you were the first to give me the KTC intro /tour and your #. 7 days clean and doing OK. Staying Active. Thanks!!

[CoachDoc]

Realizing there are two things most fresh quitters really seem to have a problem with:

1. Committing to posting roll every morning - early
2. Actually writing a quit plan

I've seen the arguements against posting roll - I'm not trading one addiction for another, I've given my word once, that should be good enough, I'm too busy, I just get bumped so I come in later and do it, etc. etc. etc.

I've not really seen nearly as many reasons for not writing a plan, though. Actually, I think more people SAY they have a plan, but really never took time to develop it. For what it's worth, the plan is something that should be continuously modified throughout your quit...the same things you might have needed in the beginning, you might not ned as your quit progresses...

So, in order to keep mine an ACTIVE QUIT PLAN, I am posting it here, and will bump it whenever I modify it. Maybe others will find some use in reading it from time to time as well.



MY ACTIVE QUIT PLAN
When the craving starts:

1. Identify what trigger is causing me to crave – ex-wife, money, work, etc. Remind myself how dipping made the situation BETTER in the past

2. Remove myself from the situation, if at all possible. DO NOT head to a c-store, gas station, or other store that sells tobacco products

3. Remind myself of what day I listed on my roll post that morning, remembering that my posting roll is my promise to each and every brother/sister to not use for that day

4. Log on to KTC and engage in chat, posting, reading all of my comments regarding retreads and cavers...understand that I WILL BE AMONG THOSE IF I CAVE

5. Remember all of the cavers that came and went and the way their failure made me feel, especially the oneÂ’s I respected. Their failure let me down and made me sometimes doubt my ability to succeed with my quit. I DO NOT want to do that to my brothers.

6. Remember how it felt when my oldest of four sons used to say, “My dad does drugs.” Even though he meant nicotine, it still made me feel very ashamed.

7. If still craving, use Smokey Mountain fake.

8. If still craving or fake unavailable, call/text:
Clampy
NOLAQ
CoachMorris
BTDogboy
Tabasco
Allec
Greg5280
TruckerRick
Tarpon17
Capt Jack Sparrow
rogjames
DemonBeGone
Trig
David1964
TortillaJesus
amgdenny
Coach Steve
Moondawggy
RWB
CMH17
mcarmo44
my brother
my aunt
my sons
my significant other
and tell them that I am in need of support to not dip. I cannot move on to step 9 until I have reached every one of the people on this list.

9. If this doesnÂ’t work, then pull out the contract to quit, sign it and then have sons and significant other sign it.

10. If all this fails, then I MUST accept that I will die a miserable, lonely, painful death due likely to cancer and all because I valued a 5 minute buzz more than everything listed above. Have mercy upon my twisted, sick soul.

[Keddy]

And this is the guy that says, "Blah...Blah...Blah...You keep TALKIN....I'll keep QUITTIN." That's some good stuff, Doc. It always helps me to think about what I'm doing, especially when it comes to my quit and my addiction.

Thanks, Bro!

PS How's this for some heady philosophy: Know Yourself; And, Therefore, Know Your Quit! ??

[CoachDoc]

Posting this here because I don't want to take up valuable space in the roll areas for this, but still wanted to share this - this is what I base my life off of...whether it be work, coaching or my QUIT. Modified to fit the QUIT. Some of you will recognize it immediately...

14 Leadership Traits (adapted from USMC)
Justice
Giving reward and punishment according to the merits of the case in question. The ability to administer a system of rewards and punishments impartially and consistently.
Judgment
The ability to weigh facts and possible courses of action in order to make sound decisions.
Dependability
The certainty of proper performance of duty – KNOWING, without a doubt that once a Brother gives his word not to use for the day, he won’t.
Initiative
Taking action in the absence of orders – not waiting for someone to ask for help…offering it before they need it
Decisiveness
Ability to make decisions promptly and to announce them in a clear, forceful manner. Knowing what this site is about and how it works and staying with the program.
Tact
The ability to to say and do the right thing at the right time.
Tact allows guidance, and opinions to be expressed in a constructive and beneficial manner. This deference must be extended under all conditions regardless of true feelings.
Integrity
Uprightness of character and soundness of moral principles. The quality of truthfulness and honesty. A Brothers word is his/her bond. Nothing less than complete honesty in all of your dealings with brothers is acceptable.
Enthusiasm
The display of sincere interest and exuberance in the performance of your quit.
Bearing
Creating a favorable impression in carriage, appearance, and personal conduct at all times. The ability to look, talk, and act like a quitter. Not using words like “try,” “hope,” “might,” or “luck
Unselfishness
Avoidance of providing for oneÂ’s own comfort and personal advancement at the expense of others. We are Brothers and are arranged in a ClassÂ…this is not an individual quit site.
Courage
Courage is a mental quality that recognizes fear of danger or criticism, but enables a Brother to proceed in the face of criticism and hostile attacks with calmness and firmness, knowing and standing for what is right, in order to get the job done correctly.
Knowledge
The range of oneÂ’s information, including professional knowledge and understanding of your Brothers and the act of the Quit..
Loyalty
Definition - The quality of faithfulness to The Quit process, your class, vets, new quitters and peers. Semper Fidelis, Always Faithful.
Endurance
The mental and physical stamina measured by the ability to withstand pain, fatigue, stress, and hardship. The quality of withstanding pain during the first few weeks of the Quit is crucial in the development of what is required to fight off the addiction.

11 LEADERSHIP PRINCIPLES – ALSO APPLIES TO BEING A GOOD QUIT BROTHERKnow Yourself and Seek Self Improvement
Be Technically and Tactically Proficient (In your quit)
Know Your People and Look Out For Their Welfare (Your class, and newer quitters)
Keep Your Personnel Informed (Communicate with brothers as to whatÂ’s going on with you)
Set The Example
Ensure That The Task Is Understood, Supervised, and Accomplished (This method of QUIT works )
Develop your class As A Team
Make Sound And Timely Decisions (DonÂ’t wait for someone to hint they are close to caving)
Develop A Sense Of Responsibility Among Your Brothers – vet or new
Employ Your Command Within its Capabilities
Seek Responsibilities and Take Responsibility

[CoachDoc]

I got to looking through my in-box, just to make sure that I had all my brothers' and sisters' numbers in my new phone. What I realized was that I have a lot of names of quitters who I'd exchanged numbers with that are no longer active on this site.

More importantly, I couldn't think of a single one that called or texted me letting me know they were struggling or in need of help to keep from caving.

New quitters, you have to be "All In" and understand that this is a life-long comittment. Get numbers of brothers and USE them. Digits are kinda like condoms in your wallet in Thailand - if you don't use them, you can't complain when you end up with something that will kill you. You know the dangers, you make your choice. When you have something on hand that could potentially save your life, why would you not use it? Because it makes you feel a little better for a few minutes? Despite the fact those few minutes might kill you?

Get digits - and use them - they are the Quitter's Condom.

No reason to be embarrassed about asking for them...we don't keep them behind the counter...just ASK.

[CoachDoc]

In looking back over the events of the past week or so, I am reminded that this site is an amazing melting pot.

Plato wrote in The Republic about his "Myth of Metals," in which everyone was born with a certain essence that defined what they would be - worker, warrior or ruler. It might have been suggested - more than once - that this is the societal structure that has been created within the halls of KTC in which there is an elite level of brothers that are ruling over the lower classes and keeping them in place. I would disagree.

Unlike the world within Plato's, The Republic, none of the classifications we hold here are permanent. Vets were not always Vets. Baby Birds (my affectionate name for new quitters) eventually learn to fly and leave the relative safe confines of the nest. The rate at which we travel from being one to another varies, but it is a given that nobody is considered a Vet until well after their first 100 days. Hell, I've said multiple times I still don't consider myself a Vet...even after being here through 700+ days of quit.

I've seen quitters come and go....and some that have come and gone multiple times. I've watches Vets and new quit brothers alike jump all over someone for their perceived lack of effort, integrity or dedication to the act of quitting. I did say PERCEIVED. This perception of what it means to be quit is the true strength of the site. We all KNOW how precarious this thing called quit is. We all acknowledge the triggers, the fog, the rage, the craving, the stress, the habit, the desire....all of those things that threaten our quit every day. We find strength in numbers and comfort in a shared goal and struggle.

I am willing to be that nearly every one of you has witnessed or has heard of the Fight or Flight mode. When people watch their "close" friends struggling or failing, it is a direct reminder to them as to how dangerously close they themselves can be to the same fate. It can be a grim reminder as to the fragile nature of our quit. It can also be a source for huge feelings of disappointment, betrayal, abandonment, and deciet. Whether people like to admit it or not, they can and often do feel that their quit is placed in danger by such actions. Common reactions are to be angry, to lash out and to want the offending person to be punished.

Stay on here long enough and you will see this pattern repeat itself many times. Guess what? Many of those people who have been on both sides of that coin are still here. Those that are not, hopefully they are still quit while not remaining a member of this society that has been created here. But, the process...the growth of the site, the growth of each individual quitter that makes up the whole of KTC has been made better and stronger throughout the process. Galvanizing, tough love, whatever doesn't kill you only makes you stronger, pain is weakness leaving the body....all sentiments used to try and explain the type of processes that happen here. All good attempts, but I personally don't think there is any one way to sum it up. In the end, the only thing that truly matters is that this site is effective in helping the individual to stay quit.

A long, likely rediculous rant, but my thoughts...and writing and posting is helping ME to stay quit. Who knows, maybe it helps someone else, too.

[redtrain14]

Good stuff doc, early congrats on 700!

[CoachDoc]

Holy shit! At least now I can be pretty confident I don't have epilepsy....but I did feel a little seasick looking at this thread....

[Dr. Bruce Banner]

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This actually looks pretty cool. I wonder if we got 10-12 quotes of this if Remmy would shut it down.

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[DW3]

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This actually looks pretty cool. I wonder if we got 10-12 quotes of this if Remmy would shut it down.

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[Cornholio]

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This actually looks pretty cool. I wonder if we got 10-12 quotes of this if Remmy would shut it down.

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[Scowick65]

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This actually looks pretty cool. I wonder if we got 10-12 quotes of this if Remmy would shut it down.

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