As many of you know, I have been feeling kind of funky to say the least! I am taking a day off from decluttering to take care of stuff I need to do before I leave for Boston. Today to celebrate my AA/NA birthday, I am going back to visit my quitters group and get my nails done! The people who went through the "Stop Smoking" program that I attended have the option to go back if you fall off the wagon or just need to check in. The first class of a new series starts today so I will pop back in to say hi to the instructor and hopefully let the people who are thinking seriously about quitting that it is possible!
When I first showed up to the quit smoking class class, I was EXTREMELY skeptical about the whole thing. I really only showed up to get the medications for the insurance co-pay cost. I mean, I had done the Nicotine patch, the gum, hypnotherapy, acupuncture, you name it, I did it! Lets just say I did not have very successful results either! Kicking cigarettes made kicking heroin seem like a walk in the park! I knew smoking cigarettes was deadly but I figured I was gonna die from SOMETHING so why not it be from something that I was able to derive some sort of pleasure from? The thought of smoking one little cigarette still seems so harmless in comparison to living the life of a street drug addict/alcoholic. I have been super tempted to smoke lately so I just will cop to it and do something proactive to avoid smoking! I have taken 1/2 a Chantix the last couple of days and go reach out to someone who is struggling.
People reaching out to other people really works! The last time I showed up to the class wanting to quit smoking about nine months ago, I met this guy Ed who was a Holocaust concentration camp survivor and he was having huge success on Chantix. Seeing someone quit when they were over 60 and was a hardcore, lifelong smoker made me feel like it could be done! I then started researching Chantix and ended up on Maggie's Blog and the rest is history! I found on-line support, a new hobby, something productive to do with my hands and met tons of cool people. Reaching out to others who want help is probably more helpful to me than it is them. It worked for me when I quit drugs and alcohol so I know it will work now. My sobriety birthday is this Saturday, June 28th and because I got clean, I have a really good life today! Lets see, I got clean in 1987 so I think that makes me 21 years sober.
After I get my nails done I will drop by the class! Call me a salon girl if ya want but I got my hair done yesterday and it looks amazing! I love the whole salon thing and always have! I am definelty a girls girl in that respect. Manicures and pedicures are an amazing thing... I can think of no better way to celebrate my birthday besides a French manicure and pedicure and a massage!
Peace,
Diva
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7 comments:
Diva, is it your birthday?
Taking the half Chantix helped me too. I thought about continuing to take them for awhile until this phase eases back some.
Glad you're taking care of yourself in addition to all the decluttering of your place.
It is my sober birthday which is the birthday I actually celebrate.
Diva
Hey, re. your question about drug/alcohol programs here in London, I could write FOR EVER about!
I never actually did meetings, I've been alcohol free for 17 years now. I went to a day programme here, for a year or so. Plus evening aftercare support for a long time after. But because I work in drugs field, I am SURROUNDED by people who go to meetings, there's also CA meetings held in our premises and FA meetings - I have a lot of time for Fellowships, IF IT WORKS FOR YOU. I'm a great believer in whatever works is fantastic and keep trying till you find something that does.
I must say that I don't particularly feel the same about smoking and its harms as I do about drug and alcohol harms (that's me though). Always felt that I can smoke and stay in control of what I'm doing, so for me that's the most important thing.
But I chose to stop smoking for other reasons than health - more about money and vanity (teeth whitening for one) than anything else. Although it may be irrational - I am not always known for my rationality ... LOL
See - like I said I could go on and on and on ....
Addiction and addicts are a major part of my life. Sometimes drives me crazy, but mostly I love it.
Chris x
Congrats on your sober b-day! Tell us how the class went.
I know that the support circle I aligned myself with (starting with Maggie's blog) helped me so much. It makes such a difference.
Good luck on all the clutter, but you'll feel worlds better afterwords.
you deserve to pamper yourself a little bit. i'm proud of you!
it's not easy, but you are doing it.
sometimes i think quitting smoking might be the hardest thing i will ever have to do
Many congrats on your AA/NA birthday, and I'm glad to hear you are celebrating in style. Giving it away to keep it applies in those rooms and apparently with the quitting smoking journey, too. I know it has made a difference for me. Yay, you!
Addiction is a term that is more often than not meant in the negative sense. Getting addicted to anything, even if it is something that is ideally good is not advisable. The word addiction usually makes us remember of all the unhealthy things like smoking, drinking, drugs etc. Among them smoking is undoubtedly the most widespread addiction. Interestingly for most of the smokers who are keen on quitting, a staunch will power is what they actually need as opposed to the modern concepts like chantix. For all those who are unaware of the term, chantix is a drug that assists in quit smoking. However, if you do not have the will power and the mental strength, no quit smoking drug can help you.
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