Thanks Mary.  I almost pulled it out of the garage today but going to wait until the salt is over in 3 months.  Its just too shiny to take out before spring ;D

Rich

To Rick

Great news you are a survivor.

Wishing you and family a lovely x mass  and new yearand lots more to come.

Mary 7-12-2019

That is the best news I have read on the forum lately.

Hugs

Viv

Thanks, it really is. Next to get LInda sorted. We're changing her doctors and hospitals this year. Hoping the change isn't too rough on her.

Happy New Year Forum! (Thanks for the support when I quit smoking and along the way with C)

Rich

NINE years today my friends, NINE! Thanks to all my fellow supporters. Looking forward to 10 years next ;D

Rich

Huge Congratulations to you Rich!!!

Thank you for stopping by for a visit “from the other side”!

It is always helpful for us less than a year folks in particular I think when folks stop in and show us where they are and tell about the freedom they’ve obtained. 
Let us know if you can some details. What it’s like now, any thoughts ever? When did that all stop for you? Did you notice big difference at some point in first year like some did here? Some say 4 months was like magic, some say 6, etc. 
 

Thank you for leading the way and coming back to encourage and reassure!! It is one of the things that I really look forward to from my Forum Family (you would be one of the Elders) and it really helps!

Celebrate the day today for your tremendous accomplishment!!

Thanks Eve!  When I get a shot in the hip next week I'll go out riding to celebrate. I'm mindful that if I was still smoking I'd never been able to pay cash for a new bike. Cheers to you..

Rich

Thank you. I had so many milestones it would be hard to outline in one message. There were defo up/downs over the months, even years for me, but I was a very heavy aggressive smoker, 2+ pks a day.  I have saved thousands from my quit though, but the best part is I'm FREE in any situation like visiting someone, or being stuck in the hospital for weeks, etc, you name it. I've made it through funerals without huddling outside in the rain with other family members. So far, I have been able to do NOPE, not one puff since 5th, 2011.  It is liberating and I just couldn't of made it 9 years without coming back here regularly to chat to new and old friends.

There is indeed 'clicks' that most of us felt. For me, it was 4 months. I had just gotten a cottage in WV and was driving 200miles a day to repair and remodel and prep it for rentals.  I always had to have a cig to stand outside and admire my work.  I had just installed a dozen custom windows and stood in the yard sucking on a candy sucker and realized I was free of that selfish reward a cig used to give me.  Others in my group were good at 3 months, so your mileage will vary. There are various other certain times of the first two year that applied as well. Its a long journey on a narrow path that winds up and down, and narrow and wide, muddy and dry.

Despair not, our Angels leave a fresh pair of sneakers at the back door of the clubhouse to help you get to year two, compliments of my elders and a cute lady called Pancake ;D

I posted from one year to year 8 milestones if you want to go deeper in my mindset all those years.  Others like Frank's diaries outlined many hardships won and lost.  We created the 'tricky 8-11 months' thread to help many that would lose a quit in that time period.  I was never shy about giving someone the business for taking a puff, but quick to support and hold a hand on the next attempt by anyone.

If there is one thing you take away from me, is this forum works, the mods are wise and very patient, lol, ask Dee, Vicki and T about my temperament in the first few months coming down from nicotine ;D  I still call them my fairy God Mothers, especially Dee, my very favorite Diva ;)

Any particular questions, ask away.  I can remember every step along the way, even the ones with cancer after years of not smoking. This thread was meant just to scare newbies into quitting cause we never will know who has the genes to become ill from this or make it to 90 without a cough.

Hang in there, and I'll be looking forward to your own milestone postings :D

Take care Lore... Thanks for your kind words.

Rich

Oh thank you so much Rich! 
I really appreciate the detailed reply. I’m so very happy for you!! Celebrate today your milestone as I’m sure you celebrate every day. 
It does sound as though you were a pretty heavy smoker. What an example for all of us! Please don’t take this in a negative way, but it does show that this is doable when there is an “Elder” among is who is 9 years out and previously smoked heavily. I mean Elder in your quit, not in age!! 
You are a cancer survivor too???

Wow. I will be thinking about you a lot today and just knowing how possible this is makes it a wonderful journey. I’m in middle of my 3rd month. I really want this now for sure. Can’t say I was ever going to be ready as I think that is the nature of nicotine. Desire can bring one through a lot though, yes?

Thank you again, and thanks so much for coming back!!