Hello! I'm Quittin' Last Tuesday

[Keddy]

DAY • 283 •

Quitting is not what we do; It is who we are!

So we never stop . . . .
Just Sayin'.

[teamgreen]

Keddy, these are golden! Look like Words of Wisdom to me...what say you, Mods?

[Bean]

That is good stuff. Maybe I should have read your post before posting mine? Thanks for sharing your link!

[Keddy]

DAY • 270 •

Dealing with Cravings:

1. Expect them and even anticipate them.
Cravings lose quite a bit of their power when you remove the element of surprise. Think about it . . . during your unsuccessful quits wasnÂ’t it the whim or crave of the moment that made you pull into the convenience store? Especially expect cravings to come during activities that you have never performed while being quit, during stressful times and during times of lull or boredom.

2. Recognize them as lies.
Again, cravings lose quite a bit of their power when we uncover the boldface lies they present to us. Nicotine never helped us solve a problem, ease emotional pain or release stress. It only made us think it did. One of the best lessons we addicts can learn is that cravings present to us a false reality; they are the lies of the enemy.

3. Develop a plan to change your focus.
Cravings are most powerful when they capture our attention and hold it. The more we focus on the craving, the more vulnerable we will be to the false scenarios they present. Thus, it is critical for us to have alternatives to present when we are faced with a crave. Call some quit brothers/sisters; Drink a tall glass of water; Eat a Tootsie Roll . . . . Do whatever it takes to shift you mind and thoughts elsewhere.

4. Avoid places and circumstances that present huge temptations.
Sometimes it is simply best to run and not to fight. These areas of vulnerability will be different for each of us, but we are strongest when we are aware of our weaknesses. There will come a time when you will be strong enough to face your big temptations, but only fools rush in where even the most veteran quitters fear to trod. Know your soft spots and protect them!

5. Some hate and derision goes a long way.
One of the responses that has helped me the most is to maintain a healthy, anger toward cravings. HereÂ’s the way it works: when a craving comes I laugh at it in the face and give it the finger (literally). Hate what the crave is trying to do to you. Give it the boot. Spit at it. Nicotine has no honor or dignity that deserves any better response.

6. Call a quit brother or sister.
Each of us goes through phases of strength and weakness, especially early on during our quits. Be humble and vulnerable enough to call out for help when you need it. It is the only way you will succeed.

[LLCope]

Keddy,

Thanks for posting this!

Recently in my quit I have been have problems with this. However, it has improved over the last week or so. I am finding it is important to excercise, run and workout which helps. Also, I have found that a routine is very helpful and good eating habits.


Thanks!

[jbags5]

Day 256 - Sleep Returns . . . .

I just realized something this morning: for the past two weeks I've been sleeping like a baby.

That's cause to celebrate!! During the first several months of my quit, I had a horrible time sleeping. In fact, the insomnia nearly pushed me over the edge.

Nic plays havoc with our physiology in many ways and, incredibly, we don't even know what's going on . . . until we quit. This post is for my quit brothers and sisters who are struggling with lack of sleep or any of the other quit symptoms. It takes time for our bodies to recover, to normalize, but they will. And I gotta' tell you, it feels great to be me again.

Be patient. Be quit. Sleep returns . . . .

This is good to know.

I had really bad sleep problems days 1-3. Then it got a bit better day by day, and then suddenly I haven't been able to sleep normally again the last two nights (9 and 10). I just need to be prepared to be fucked up for a few months.

All part of the Quit

[Keddy]

Day 256 - Sleep Returns . . . .

I just realized something this morning: for the past two weeks I've been sleeping like a baby.

That's cause to celebrate!! During the first several months of my quit, I had a horrible time sleeping. In fact, the insomnia nearly pushed me over the edge.

Nic plays havoc with our physiology in many ways and, incredibly, we don't even know what's going on . . . until we quit. This post is for my quit brothers and sisters who are struggling with lack of sleep or any of the other quit symptoms. It takes time for our bodies to recover, to normalize, but they will. And I gotta' tell you, it feels great to be me again.

Be patient. Be quit. Sleep returns . . . .

[nicofiend]

Day 229

A recent discussion with Romandog focused my thinking on these ideas.

Over ten years ago I, along with several friends, rode my bicycle across the U.S. It was a long, delightful, and exhausting journey. To prepare for the trip we did a weekend “trial run.” We were warned ahead of time that the route for the trial run involved a rather significant hill about midway through the trip. After climbing the hill, all of us agreed that it was a bit of a challenge.

When the real ride across the country occurred, it took us about six weeks to get to this same hill that we had climbed earlier. However, now we approached the hill having ridden around one hundred miles per day for six weeks in a row. We were much stronger riders. As we approached the hill, we all sort of hunkered or geared down for the challenging climb ahead. But when we arrived at the top all of us stopped and actually laughed. Where was the hill? We had ridden up the hill with hardly a notice.

The same sort of thing happens in our quits. When a difficult day comes and we plow through it, we are strengthening our quit muscles. Through repeated exercise and determination we get stronger as we overcome each hill or obstacle. Finally, we know that we have reached a milestone when a crave comes (and threatens to make the day miserable), but instead of struggling, we laugh at it derisively. The crave has lost its power because we have become stronger quitters.

(Note: this doesnÂ’t mean that we take craves lightly or that we are impervious to failure. No, it simply means that the longer we quit, the stronger we grow, and what once was an extreme difficulty becomes a tiny obstacle in a lifetime of quit.)

Words of wisdom!! Well put!

[Keddy]

Day 229

A recent discussion with Romandog focused my thinking on these ideas.

Over ten years ago I, along with several friends, rode my bicycle across the U.S. It was a long, delightful, and exhausting journey. To prepare for the trip we did a weekend “trial run.” We were warned ahead of time that the route for the trial run involved a rather significant hill about midway through the trip. After climbing the hill, all of us agreed that it was a bit of a challenge.

When the real ride across the country occurred, it took us about six weeks to get to this same hill that we had climbed earlier. However, now we approached the hill having ridden around one hundred miles per day for six weeks in a row. We were much stronger riders. As we approached the hill, we all sort of hunkered or geared down for the challenging climb ahead. But when we arrived at the top all of us stopped and actually laughed. Where was the hill? We had ridden up the hill with hardly a notice.

The same sort of thing happens in our quits. When a difficult day comes and we plow through it, we are strengthening our quit muscles. Through repeated exercise and determination we get stronger as we overcome each hill or obstacle. Finally, we know that we have reached a milestone when a crave comes (and threatens to make the day miserable), but instead of struggling, we laugh at it derisively. The crave has lost its power because we have become stronger quitters.

(Note: this doesnÂ’t mean that we take craves lightly or that we are impervious to failure. No, it simply means that the longer we quit, the stronger we grow, and what once was an extreme difficulty becomes a tiny obstacle in a lifetime of quit.)

[LLCope]

Good reading

[Parputt]

Day 228

Quitting is a choice. Every day we choose either to quit or to cave, to walk away from Nic or to embrace it. No one makes the decision for us; no one chooses for us. We alone determine the course of our quit. This is at once both an encouragement and a challenge because the power to quit is in our hands and so is the potential to fail. The choice to quit is something we deliberately and purposefully do and when we lose that intentionality we set ourselves up to make the wrong choice. No cave is thrust upon us; it is something we slide into when our choice to quit becomes a low priority.

Thus, we come to the tremendous value of posting roll. Posting roll reinforces our decision. When we make that promise to our group, we give and receive help to keep our choice clear and fortified. It keeps our choice to quit predominant.

I want to say so much in response to this, but all I can come up with is DAMN. Amazingly profound!

[Keddy]

Day 228

Quitting is a choice. Every day we choose either to quit or to cave, to walk away from Nic or to embrace it. No one makes the decision for us; no one chooses for us. We alone determine the course of our quit. This is at once both an encouragement and a challenge because while the power to quit is in our hand so is the potential to fail. The choice to quit is something we deliberately and purposefully do and when we lose that intentionality we set ourselves up to make the wrong choice. No cave is thrust upon us; it is something we slide into when our choice to quit becomes a low priority.

Thus, we come to the tremendous value of posting roll. Posting roll reinforces our decision. When we make that promise to our group, we give and receive help to keep our choice clear and fortified. It keeps our choice to quit predominant.

[Keddy]

Day 219 . . . .

The Meaning of Real Love

IÂ’ve been wanting to post these ideas for a while; so here goes.

One of the reasons why KTC works so well is that most of its members accomplish something that is rather unusual or rare in our world:  they manage to love each other in one of deepest ways without ever having met each other.  Eventually, some of us do meet each other, but that’s another story.

As soon as I mention the word, “love,” immediately people think of sexuality or romance.  Even though such intimacy is on the periphery of real love, we’ve been conditioned by our culture to think of it as the essential or primary definition.  However, real love goes deeper and farther.  Real love is a willingness to do what is best for another person regardless of how that person reacts or receives that love or ever gives anything in return.
 
This goes beyond camaraderie.  While all of us who are quitting nicotine have common ground and common experiences, the fellowship of quitting is probably not enough to keep KTC successful.  Even though friendship is important, true love is more basic than camaraderie.  Yes, we often develop friendships here, but the support and help we receive at KTC is separate from any such common ground.  Friendships are based on mutual feelings and interests; Real love doesn’t need those things.

The power of this quit site rests in the unselfish support of its members for each other.  For some of us, especially the “old timers”, this support has involved years of helping people, most of whom they have never met or seen.  These successful quitters don’t need to hang around any longer; their quits are established and solid.  Yet, they do hang around.  They hang around primarily because they care about the new folks who are quitting.  They give encouragement, offer advice, explain and comfort those who are struggling to get free from the addiction.  They give swift kicks in the backside when necessary.  They are sounding boards for all the bitching and groaning that goes on.  And they are willing to take mud in the face to help the newbie succeed. 

The success of KTC depends on people coming alongside others and walking with them on the darkest and most miserable of roads.  It’s often not pleasant, but it is indeed love in the deepest sense.  At the end of that road is the light of freedom and a new life for the quitter.  But it is important to remember that each successful quit is dependent on the aid and sacrifice of others. 

And it is equally important to remember that, as we succeed, we are responsible to walk with others who need our help.  It doesn’t need to feel good; it’s just something we must do.

Keddy - From one humble soul that has been on the receiving end of your love and support - what you say is truth and I hope I can be as diligent and intentional helping others as you have been to me - Thanks, Corn

I'm trying really hard not to throw down the gratuitous ghey joke here...

But I will resist only because of the truth that my friend Keddy speaks of, and demonstrates every day he shows up here.

Well said brother.

I love you.

HOMO!!!!

'na na'

(I couldn't resist)

Wait a minute!!! Didn't you just say some rather mushy stuff about love over in June 2010? 'archer'

You were my inspiration, NOLAQ!!! :wub:

One gratuitous comment deserves another . . . .

[Keddy]

Day 219 . . . .

The Meaning of Real Love

IÂ’ve been wanting to post these ideas for a while; so here goes.

One of the reasons why KTC works so well is that most of its members accomplish something that is rather unusual or rare in our world:  they manage to love each other in one of deepest ways without ever having met each other.  Eventually, some of us do meet each other, but that’s another story.

As soon as I mention the word, “love,” immediately people think of sexuality or romance.  Even though such intimacy is on the periphery of real love, we’ve been conditioned by our culture to think of it as the essential or primary definition.  However, real love goes deeper and farther.  Real love is a willingness to do what is best for another person regardless of how that person reacts or receives that love or ever gives anything in return.
 
This goes beyond camaraderie.  While all of us who are quitting nicotine have common ground and common experiences, the fellowship of quitting is probably not enough to keep KTC successful.  Even though friendship is important, true love is more basic than camaraderie.  Yes, we often develop friendships here, but the support and help we receive at KTC is separate from any such common ground.  Friendships are based on mutual feelings and interests; Real love doesn’t need those things.

The power of this quit site rests in the unselfish support of its members for each other.  For some of us, especially the “old timers”, this support has involved years of helping people, most of whom they have never met or seen.  These successful quitters don’t need to hang around any longer; their quits are established and solid.  Yet, they do hang around.  They hang around primarily because they care about the new folks who are quitting.  They give encouragement, offer advice, explain and comfort those who are struggling to get free from the addiction.  They give swift kicks in the backside when necessary.  They are sounding boards for all the bitching and groaning that goes on.  And they are willing to take mud in the face to help the newbie succeed. 

The success of KTC depends on people coming alongside others and walking with them on the darkest and most miserable of roads.  It’s often not pleasant, but it is indeed love in the deepest sense.  At the end of that road is the light of freedom and a new life for the quitter.  But it is important to remember that each successful quit is dependent on the aid and sacrifice of others. 

And it is equally important to remember that, as we succeed, we are responsible to walk with others who need our help.  It doesn’t need to feel good; it’s just something we must do.

Keddy - From one humble soul that has been on the receiving end of your love and support - what you say is truth and I hope I can be as diligent and intentional helping others as you have been to me - Thanks, Corn

It's been an honor to support you, Corn. Keep moving forward . . . .

[Nolaq]

Day 219 . . . .

The Meaning of Real Love

IÂ’ve been wanting to post these ideas for a while; so here goes.

One of the reasons why KTC works so well is that most of its members accomplish something that is rather unusual or rare in our world:  they manage to love each other in one of deepest ways without ever having met each other.  Eventually, some of us do meet each other, but that’s another story.

As soon as I mention the word, “love,” immediately people think of sexuality or romance.  Even though such intimacy is on the periphery of real love, we’ve been conditioned by our culture to think of it as the essential or primary definition.  However, real love goes deeper and farther.  Real love is a willingness to do what is best for another person regardless of how that person reacts or receives that love or ever gives anything in return.
 
This goes beyond camaraderie.  While all of us who are quitting nicotine have common ground and common experiences, the fellowship of quitting is probably not enough to keep KTC successful.  Even though friendship is important, true love is more basic than camaraderie.  Yes, we often develop friendships here, but the support and help we receive at KTC is separate from any such common ground.  Friendships are based on mutual feelings and interests; Real love doesn’t need those things.

The power of this quit site rests in the unselfish support of its members for each other.  For some of us, especially the “old timers”, this support has involved years of helping people, most of whom they have never met or seen.  These successful quitters don’t need to hang around any longer; their quits are established and solid.  Yet, they do hang around.  They hang around primarily because they care about the new folks who are quitting.  They give encouragement, offer advice, explain and comfort those who are struggling to get free from the addiction.  They give swift kicks in the backside when necessary.  They are sounding boards for all the bitching and groaning that goes on.  And they are willing to take mud in the face to help the newbie succeed. 

The success of KTC depends on people coming alongside others and walking with them on the darkest and most miserable of roads.  It’s often not pleasant, but it is indeed love in the deepest sense.  At the end of that road is the light of freedom and a new life for the quitter.  But it is important to remember that each successful quit is dependent on the aid and sacrifice of others. 

And it is equally important to remember that, as we succeed, we are responsible to walk with others who need our help.  It doesn’t need to feel good; it’s just something we must do.

Keddy - From one humble soul that has been on the receiving end of your love and support - what you say is truth and I hope I can be as diligent and intentional helping others as you have been to me - Thanks, Corn

I'm trying really hard not to throw down the gratuitous ghey joke here...

But I will resist only because of the truth that my friend Keddy speaks of, and demonstrates every day he shows up here.

Well said brother.

I love you.

HOMO!!!!

'na na'

(I couldn't resist)