It IS my time

I love your title "It IS my time". It is perfect.

Former smoker here ready to listen and help.

Great job on taking the step towards quitting.

Keep us posted on the progress. Set your goals and keep 'em going!!!

Thanks Abner for your kind words!

Day 5. I am happy. Over the last few weeks I sensed I was ready to take-on this journey. I was not enjoying myself when I’d have a cigarette. I was smoking more, trying to regain the ‘good’ taste I remember cigarettes used to taste when I first started smoking.

Since I was hiding my smoking from family, friends and coworkers, mainly I just smoked in the car on the way to work or grocery shopping. I was getting annoyed having ash-streaks down the side of my dark-colored car. I kept a small brush in the car so I could sweep lose ashes out of the car. Every time I’d wipe the dashboard or the windshield, the rag was black. My underlining thought was ‘what do my lungs look like?”

Yesterday on the way to work, I took a different route so I didn’t have to pass my favorite mini-mart where I’d always buy my cigarettes. I am not working today. I do not have any cigarettes with me and I don’t plan on going anywhere.

We all know when quitting smoking, we need to break our routines. I did that yesterday when I took a different road to work. Now this is going to sound funny, but I need to break the dog’s routine. The dog is used to me going outside with my morning coffee and cigarette right after hubby goes to work. She is used to me going outside for a smoke when taking the garbage out. She knew if I went in the kitchen, put my sneakers on then filled my coffee cup, it was time to ‘check the weather’.

I have a sense of relief. I don’t feel as if I’m a teenager, sneaking a smoke behind the garage! The pressure I have put on myself to quit is being lifted. I wish I could share this relief, this joy with my family. Knowing there are others here taking time to read my words makes me happy.

Day 6. Another good day.

I peeled and cut-up carrot sticks this morning for my ride to work. I'm glad I did! Traffic was a bit crazy. No, I did NOT stop at my favorite mini-mart! :)

I'll need to cut-up more carrot sticks for tomorrow. I'll be on the road for a few hours traveling. This will be a real test for me. I think I'll be ok. Maybe I'll tape a Post-it to my dashboard displaying the dollars I have saved the few days. I've calculated that I've saved about $ 30 already. I'm not ready to go out and use that $ 30 to celebrate. Not yet. I need to give myself a few weeks before I have a party for myself.

Day 7
Wow, a full week. I'm really proud of myself! :)

Today will be a challenge. A challenge I am ready for. I need to drive for 2 hours this afternoon. I don't want to take a handful of lollipops with me. I think I'll stop at the store for a bag of baby carrots for my trip. Even if I make it to my destination without a problem, I do need to drive 2 hours home.

I can do this. I know I can. I've saved too many dollars to go back now. I own this day. I deserve hobbies for habits.

Day 8

Tomorrow, Saturday begins another challenge. Normal Saturday routine is grocery shopping and errands. Saturdays allow me to spend time, driving and smoking as much as I want. Tomorrow will be different. I know I can do it.

Yesterday's travel went well. I've got to say I didn't even miss liting up. I've got to believe I really was ready to quit at this time.

I know I shouldn't start thinking about years from now, but it does creep into my brain: I've quit before for long periods of time. How can I be sure this will be the last time? In the past something triggered me to go back to smoking. Whenever I'd lite-up after many years without smoking, I'd think, 'one can't hurt me.' The next thing I knew I was stopping to buy myself a pack.

I have to believe this time is different. I need to keep repeating that to myself.

Day 11

Well...in all honesty, I did NOT think I would make it through the weekend. I've thought in the past that hubby was my trigger. I'm convinced, he IS my trigger!

It doesn't matter who or what has bothered me so much in the past to make me go back to smoking. It is different now. I made it through a weekend alone with hubby, I can do it again.

I AM stronger than the nicotine that is calling my name.

Congratulations on your decision to stop smoking and making it through the weekend. I hope you have been able to continue. Quitting smoking can be difficult. It is always best to have a plan of action for when those cravings/urges hit of what you are going to do so as not to smoke. I have heard thinking of yourself as a nonsmoker helps.

Hi toughlikeox
That is awsome congrats. I so wish you success.
Just keep thinking posative thoughts, maybe buy or get a good comedy to watch. Keep thinking about how you will spend all the $$ your saving. :)

Day 18

I have saved over $ 80 over the last 18 days! Yippee! There have been a number of "challenges" over the last few days but I have gotten through them without needing a smoking. I'm really proud of myself.

I was READY to stop smoking. In the past when I stopped smoking, I was 'ready' then too. The trick now is to handle life's challenges without smoking. I will need to continuously tell myself that I can NOT have just one cigarette. One cigarette will lead to falling right back into the habit again.

I don't miss smoking. Because of past sinus infections, a majority of my sense of smell left 4-5 years ago. I can smell things, but not as well as I used to. I notice the other day that cigarette smell is starting to bother me.

Saturday, while entering the grocery store, I saw two people standing off to the side, both smoking. I realized that used to be me. I used to be one of those people that others looked at before entering the store. It put emphasis on the factor that I am happy that I am not smoking now.

The stress, the pressure off my shoulder's is huge! No more sneaking a smoking. No more counting quarters, pennies, etc. No more complaining about the price of things in the store when I was spending so much each week on an aweful habit.

I did this for myself, by myself!

Congratulations today on day 19 and the money saved! Now if you haven't yet, think of yourself as a nonsmoker. Have you joined any other support groups for nonsmokers? That may be of help. I used quitnet.com.