Going Back to the Quit Smoking Class Tonite... Life in Recovery

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