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Browse through 411.755 posts in 47.056 threads.

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Are We Different?


17 years ago 0 481 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
Lady, Yes, I am changing very much. So much so that it hurts (growing pains). I was like you said, a loner when I smoked. I didn't think I needed anybody, I have my kids and that's all the socialization I needed. Now that I am not smoking, I am feeling lonely. I am starting to make some efforts to meet new people. Good friendships don't happen overnight, so I have to be patient and let people get to know me. That has hurt a lot to realize that yes, I really am very alone. I think the changing is the hardest part of my quit. I am in the cacoon right now turning into a butterfly. I know it's going to be great in the end, but it's hard to wait. Love, Mama Melba [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 6/18/2006 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 24 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 975 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $136.8 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 2 [B]Hrs:[/B] 14 [B]Mins:[/B] 1 [B]Seconds:[/B] 30
  • Quit Meter

    $74,959.50

    Amount Saved

  • Quit Meter

    Days: 6525 Hours: 23

    Minutes: 18 Seconds: 6

    Life Gained

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    45430

    Smoke Free Days

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    272,580

    Cigarettes Not Smoked

17 years ago 0 3368 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
I was learning and changing before I even quit; it is part of my personality. Changing and evolving is what lead me to my decision to quit. Quitting has brought about more change. I have faced the fact that I numbed myself with nicotine when I felt this way or that way. I used the drug to avoid confronting certain issues with certain people. It has not been easy dealing with this aspect of my quit, but I am doing it. Eventually, I will have past this test and I'll be on to a new one. Here is to constantly growing in life ... and not just due to 'quitting'. Cheers! [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 5/12/2006 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 63 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 1,910 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $252 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 5 [B]Hrs:[/B] 8 [B]Mins:[/B] 36 [B]Seconds:[/B] 34
  • Quit Meter

    $54,516.00

    Amount Saved

  • Quit Meter

    Days: 5957 Hours: 16

    Minutes: 17 Seconds: 32

    Life Gained

  • Quit Meter

    45430

    Smoke Free Days

  • Quit Meter

    136,290

    Cigarettes Not Smoked

17 years ago 0 261 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
Thanks Lady, I definitely feel that I have changed. I am now able to express who I really am much more easily and confidently. I feel more self confident and stronger and I have more self esteem about who I am. When I was a smoker I felt a low grade, constant shame, denial, apathy. The core of me hasn't changed perhaps. I'm not about to take up skydiving! lol But the way I live my life and reach out to the world has definitely changed. I no longer sit on the verandah, smoking my life away and thinking coulda shoulda woulda. I now DO things as opposed to just thinking about them. x alison :) Kick the Herb to the Kerb [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 5/16/2006 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 57 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 1,710 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $712.5 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 8 [B]Hrs:[/B] 1 [B]Mins:[/B] 57 [B]Seconds:[/B] 49
  • Quit Meter

    $90,860.00

    Amount Saved

  • Quit Meter

    Days: 8667 Hours: 20

    Minutes: 16 Seconds: 10

    Life Gained

  • Quit Meter

    45430

    Smoke Free Days

  • Quit Meter

    908,600

    Cigarettes Not Smoked

17 years ago 0 5009 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
Well... let me think Before - 2 Legs Now - 4 legs Before - Hair Now - Mane Before - Round face Now - Long face :p ... but seriously ... I've changed because I've realised that life isn't something you fit in between smoking breaks. I also never believed I was a particularly strong person. I'm changing my mind on this one, which has given me a lot of confidence! take care all Mr Ed :) [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 2/13/2006 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 149 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 4,483 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] �1117.5 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 24 [B]Hrs:[/B] 21 [B]Mins:[/B] 56 [B]Seconds:[/B] 49
17 years ago 0 296 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
Hi Lady, I think I am different. I also think I have growen. I have to admit the thing about me that has changed the most is my strength to speak out and show people that I am strong, stronger than I have ever been before. Alley [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 3/30/2006 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 103 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 1,351 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $406.85 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 8 [B]Hrs:[/B] 8 [B]Mins:[/B] 43 [B]Seconds:[/B] 49
17 years ago 0 506 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
Am I different? No- deep down,not at all. [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 2/18/2006 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 143 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 5,755 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $1287 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 23 [B]Hrs:[/B] 15 [B]Mins:[/B] 25 [B]Seconds:[/B] 24
17 years ago 0 2614 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
Yes I think that there is a difference beginning to emerge in me. I think that if I can get through to the other side I will finally be a stronger and more healthy person. I believe that is a huge difference from what I was before Feb 17th. [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 2/17/2006 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 144 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 2,898 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $1080 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 23 [B]Hrs:[/B] 14 [B]Mins:[/B] 52 [B]Seconds:[/B] 14
17 years ago 0 663 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
I certainly hope so - I sure was a piece of work before I quit. I couldn't even stand being around me. It's like watching yourself grow physically, though. I think it's harder for us to see the changes than for those around us to notice. Know what I mean? I definitely feel better in many ways. And I still feel like I'm growing emotionally, spiritually, maybe a bit physically (outward), my self-esteem is better, my confidence is stronger. Maybe this is what Mom meant when she said smoking will stunt your growth - there are more ways to grow than tall, eh. Keep fightin' the good fight - fish [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 12/21/2005 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 202 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 6,085 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $1010 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 26 [B]Hrs:[/B] 5 [B]Mins:[/B] 32 [B]Seconds:[/B] 55
17 years ago 0 672 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
yes, i feel very different but my wife says i'm still the same. i've said this before...i started smoking when i was 20, i feel like before i smoked.. feels good. what freaks me out is that i feel like i've spent the past 15 years smoking in a 'smoke haze' and something else,... i worked out i spent approx. $25,000 bucks on smokes over the last 15 years.........damn it !!!! i might as well have thrown my hard earned cash down the bog. [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 1/1/2005 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 560 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 14,016 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $3640 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 80 [B]Hrs:[/B] 7 [B]Mins:[/B] 50 [B]Seconds:[/B] 28
  • Quit Meter

    $12,561.12

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    Days: 628 Hours: 12

    Minutes: 49 Seconds: 37

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    3432

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    51,480

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17 years ago 0 1450 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
lol@ladybugg~ he's a smart man! -- [b]Differences of a different kind[/b] Quitting smoking is different for everyone. No doubt about that. Some fear quitting. Some find it easy to quit but difficult to stay quit. Some plan their quits and others feel forced into quitting for health reasons. Many use NRTs to quit. Some go cold turkey. Some learn new coping skills that carry over into every aspect of their lives. Some simply just don�t smoke. Some struggle for a long time. Some don�t. It�s the last two differences I would like to highlight tonight in an effort to demonstrate that being different doesn�t have to be a debate. Being different doesn�t mean some have better attitudes than others. Being different doesn�t mean some are doing it right and some are doing it wrong. For example, Lady and I have had very different quits. She has had to struggle and fight to keep her quit. I have had it relatively easy compared to her. But, therein lies the problem. COMPARING. Quitting at the SSC is not a competition. It�s not a popularity contest either. It�s a support group. We are not here to judge others. Lady has never gotten aggravated with me for being an obnoxiously joyful smartass :eg: and I have always sympathized with her everytime she has needed to vent. When she responds to a newbie she might say,[i] �quitting is the one of the hardest things I�ve ever done, but it�s doable.�[/i] Whereas I might say,[i] �It�s not as hard as you imagine it to be, just go for it�[/i][u] We are both right![/u] It doesn�t bother me for her to say that because she is telling the truth! Some new quitters are going to be like her and that�s what they need to see and some are going to be like me (probably fewer �cause I�m a freak ;)) but they�ll relate to me anyway. [b]Being different is a good thing.[/b] :) That�s why Lady and I appreciate each other even though we are very different. It is my hope that we all can begin to cherish the differences among our members. It�s like I have said before � REMEMBER, you are unique~ just like everybody else. :p [quote]If a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer. Let him step to the music which he hears, however measured or far away. �Henry

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