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1. lisa aubin

   

   10 posts
   Registered:
   27 Dec 2019
   22 Aug 2020

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   My original quit date was January 2, 2020. I actually did ok. I spent a few weeks prior on this website, creating my quit plan, reading the blogs.  What an inspiring group! So my quit day came and  I had gone from 20 per day done to just 2 in the evening. It was frustrating that I couldn’t ditch those 2 darn sticks but I was completely bat sh*t crazy by 7PM. Was it perfect? No. Was it better than I where I was pre 01/02/20? Absolutely.  I even managed to sustain this while on vacation in Mexico, whether drinking at the pool bar or sipping tequila in the jungle, I was very proud of myself for continuing my commitment, not bragging, just proud :) I found that the smell was even starting to bug me rather than entice me.  For just over 2 months I continued this pattern, all the while in the back of my mind, wondering when I would let them go. Then COVID came into our lives, being stuck at home with my smoking husband and 2 girls, (21 and sent home from university and 13 going on 20). I know that I am not alone here lol.  I love them all but needless to say We were all going a bit stir crazy, I mean really, how many TikTok videos can you really do in a day? I started smoking again. I think for the first couple of weeks I actually smoked more per day than I had ever.  So fast forward to today. I turned 52 this month, and of course with each year passing I review, I analyze, I Recognize the amount of times that I put everything first before me and that I should have been smarter about my promises to myself (and that I so wish I looked younger lol). This leads me to today, reconnecting with myself, my Promise to make my life better through what I feed my body and mind. Clean living, Exercise, journaling...these are huge goals and I won’t nail it, not 100% but lofty goals for me have mostly resulted in solid, healthy patterns, always leaving me in a place better than where I started, with still a bit more to strive for.  I guess that’s life and the lessons that go with it.  Thank you to this group, I love reading through the Struggles and the success stories. Your words and stories inspire me to recommit to my journey to be a better, smoke free version of me. L. Xo
2. treepeo1

   

   255 posts
   Registered:
   06 Feb 2020
   22 Aug 2020

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   Hi lisa,
   
   Thank you for sharing your story with us.  I think it is amazing that you were able to cut down so much even though your husband continues to smoke.  That is a sign of true commitment.  Kudos to you!
   
   Covid has created so many challenges for all of us, but if you smoke, it is more important than ever to quit.  No one knows how their body will react.  You could have a mild case, or you could be in a life or death situation.  Hopefully you can completely avoid getting it, but if you do get it, you want your lungs to be in the best shape possible.  And even leaving Covid aside, you know how harmful smoking is to you and to those around you.  You really need to quit.
   
   I smoked for over 43 years and I quit cold turkey 3.5 years ago with the help of this site and the wonderful people in our community.  For me, the biggest struggle was physical.  I'm not gonna lie.  My lungs throbbed like crazy and I thought I would go mad.  But like one of my fellow quitters here said, it was my time to quit, and I was absolutely determined that this time, I would make it stick.  I did, and thank goodness for that. 
   
   Last March I was diagnosed with breast cancer, and as it turns out, I am metastatic.  I only raise this issue because I can't imagine going through all of my treatments as a smoker.  How could I ask doctors, nurses, technicians and dieticians to help me when I wouldn't help myself?  And how could I sit next to other people with cancer reeking of smoke?  It would make me feel really bad about myself.  And trust me, cancer takes so much away from you, that you end up feeling bad about yourself for so many other reasons.
   
   It is never too late to quit smoking.  I love that you want to reconnect with yourself and start the process of self care.  You deserve to live life as a non-smoker.  Give quitting another shot.  Recognize that there will always be challenges in life, and that you have to learn how to deal with them without smoking.  That is a difficult challenge, but it is not insurmountable.  You just have to grit your teeth and tell yourself you are going to do it and that you are worth the effort.  And lisa, you ARE worth the effort.  Truly.
   
   Love yourself enough to give yourself this gift. I am rooting for you.
3. lisa aubin

   

   10 posts
   Registered:
   27 Dec 2019
   23 Aug 2020 in reply to treepeo1

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   Thank you for your Encouragement and kind words. I am So sorry to here about your Cancer, FecK! It seems to be all too common In my little world and that’s part of my reason for quitting.  to stand there thinking of smoking when so many are fighting for their lives should be enough but yet I struggle. I am a closet smoker For the most part, not on many in my community now that I smoke, embarrassment, Shameful I guess. But if all these reasons create that perfect storm than I am on board with that. I will keep in touch. My prayers go out to you and lour loved ones. L. Xo