From Sept_fire on 9/22/2005 3:48:56 PM

 Hi everyone:

This is long so let me apologize in advance and thank you to those who take the time to read it.

First before I begin, I want to thank all of you for your warm wishes and all the great posts you did yesterday and today. I also would like to thank whoever nominated me as a Q Angel I just found out about it and am very humbled. Still wiping tears from my eyes.

This ramble is dedicated to Kay Milkey my best friend for 30 years who lost her life to lung, liver, and brain cancer April 2005. Thanks for the memories.

If you have read my profile you know that I am a lung cancer survivor I got lucky we found it very early. Unfortunately I was so addicted to smoking I didn’t quit even after the surgery.

I didn’t dare smoke in front of anyone so I started sneaking them it got to the point that when Jim went to the store I would run outside and smoke 2 or 3 just because I was alone and didn’t know when I could have another one. Most of the time I didn’t even want one then. How sick is that????

Then when Jim’s mom died I started openly smoking and right back up to 2 to 2 ½ packs a day.

Every year I would tell myself I should quit and try to think of a date I could remember to quit on like a holiday or my birthday but of course never did. I always had an excuse. Did I really think I would forget my quit date???

Sept 22nd is not my birthday but it is the day I finally quit smoking. I called it an early birthday present to myself My birthday is Sept 26th . I got up that morning and had a ciggy as usual and I just decided that was enough it was time to stop killing myself and I flushed the rest of my pack and yes I had a lot in it yet. I could have given them to Jim since he still smokes, but I took great pleasure in ripping them to shreds and flushing them. LOL

I called our quitline in Wisconsin and they told me about the Q but they don’t pay for a membership but I came to check it out anyway and have never left.

With the help of the awesome people here I have learned a lot of helpful things to keep my quit. I would like to share some of them with you.

First you have to want to quit smoking more than you want to smoke. You can’t fight the craves if you are not truly committed to quitting.

Get involved in your quit:

Know your enemy as they say. Know your triggers and all your excuses so you are ready for this war. Yes it is a war to save your life.

Take the time to fill out your profile and tell us your first name so that if you need to post for help we can make it more personal for you. Tell us your reasons for quitting we are not above using your own words to help you keep your quit.

Keep a smoking journal keep track of your craves, what you are doing, how you feel and anything else that will help you recognize a trigger for next time. Even if no one else ever reads it, it is very therapeutic.

Stay on the Q as much as you need to you won’t really become addicted it will just feel like it LOL

Read profiles there are many inspirational ones on the Q if you don’t know which ones to read just ask someone will be happy to recommend some to you.

Read posts and help those in need, helping them, helps you by reminding you of your plan.

Remember if there is something in a post you don’t agree with just take what you need and leave the rest.

Take time to congratulate others everyone needs a pat on the back.

Don’t be afraid to post for help when you need it. It is called the 3 post rule post BEFORE you smoke and then wait for at least 3 people to answer you. Let us talk you out of it. I think a lot of quits are lost because people are afraid or just to proud to ask for help. Please don’t be, that is what we are here for.

If drinking is a trigger don’t drink for a few months until your quit is strong.

LOVE yourself enough to quit.

I need to say thank you to some very special groups of people for always being here for me.

The BBBs old and new you guys are great.

I have some very special qmail friends I would like to thank for the hand holding and tissues, and gin (grin) they are always willing to share. Clear Colors (Nancy) emom48 (Mary) xoxsarahxox (Shaz) quitgrandma (Gail) Chskemp (Christie) froglady (Sheila) sweber3737 (Sara) finally_done2 (Marie) marenmick (Mary) donna135 (Donna) you girls qmail me almost everyday to make sure I am doing okay and my CRS is under control. Thank you so much.

There are also some very special guys out there: Peter is in the house, CigBGone (Bob), cclfn(Wes), cofrmr (Kevin), belgarion (Andrew) Poirier (Bob)
offmyrocker2 (Tom) megrimlock (Brian) shamrockmpj (Mike) 142472-096 (Renato) Bubba101GA (Keith) efr (Ernie) Thank you guys your support is awesome and you all rock my world.

Even though you are new Joesdog, Your sense of humor, words of wisdom, and support are priceless. Thank you for all the laughs and smiles.

To all my “kids” and there are so many I couldn’t list them all because you are all so special to me and I would not want to miss one of you. Thanks for your support and hugs. I watch you help others as you fight your own battle so bravely and win (even when you mess up you get right back on the wagon and that makes you WINNERS to me.) I am so proud of you for quitting. Some of you are just starting out and some of you have already become elders and even up to over 200 and a few over 300 days, and I am so glad to have in some small way been a part of that. Don’t give up it can be done. Just take it one day at a time.

My wish for all of you is that you keep your quit no matter what happens. I know you can do it. If I can help please always feel free to qmail me anytime.

If I forgot anyone please forgive me you know I love you all.

I wish all of you the “Want to” to keep your quit. And the “Want to” to try again if you need to.

God bless us all

Hugsssssssssssss
Dr. Connie
1 year today