Hello everyone :)

I’m an old-timer that quit way back in 2006 when the forum was under a different name. Today is my 14th year milestone (Yay!) and I just wanted to share a few thoughts with anyone that may be having a difficult time right now.

Yes.... quitting is hard. Damn hard. There were times when it felt like it was the hardest thing I had ever done. But those tough times DID pass, and they got fewer & further apart. Believe me, you will even get to the point where all “smoking thoughts” are a thing of the past!  But to get there, You have to stay strong & keep your focus on what you really want for yourself :)  Because.... YES!.. it IS WORTH IT!!!

If you’re having a rough go of it right now, just concentrate on getting through the next few minutes. That’s the key to it.... one moment at a time. You can do a minute, right? That’s how you make this happen... minutes add up to hours... hours become days.... days become weeks..... months, and yes, .... years :)
We ALL start by taking that first step....
just keep putting one foot in front of the other, and you will be amazed at what you can accomplish :)

Today, 14 years after I gave up smoking, I still feel immense pride in my quit, and I honour this day every year... it’s one of the ways that I keep my quit “fresh ‘n green” :)

Stay strong. You can do this! :)

Liv2day 

Congratulations on 14 years!  You are doing an awesome job and thank you for coming back to let us see how success works

AWESOME -- YOU HAVE 14 YEARS OF FREEDOM!!!! 

You earned your freedom by taking this One Day At A Time!! You will truly inspire so many new quitters to continue in their own journeys to freedom from this wicked tough drug addiction. 

You definitely are no sissy!

"Quitting isn't for Sissies!" I quit poisoning myself Sept. 27, 2013

Thank you Lubbercat, I appreciate your reply :)

How is your quit going?

Thank you so much for your reply Debbie :)

Hey, you ain’t no sissy either lol... you’ve got a big milestone of 7 years coming up soon! It’s really a great feeling to be free of that addiction, isn’t it? :)

It truly is The Best Feeling! 

My family never ever thought I would quit but once I became a grandma I certainly didn't want to stink of stale icky cigarettes and it just looks so gross when old people smoke. It isn't a pretty thing at all. Our lungs were never meant to inhale poisonous smoke and we made ourselves tolerate it till we got totally hooked like the true drug addict. But, this forum and especially the old About.com smoking forum were the extra inspiration to help us both get free for life. I am forever grateful to this forum. All new quitters need to know that this is a painfully slow journey but they must hang in there like we did. Freedom feels awesome!

"Quitting isn't for Sissies!" I quit poisoning myself Sept. 27, 2013

Hi Liv,

Congratulations and what an inspiring message.  Keeping our quits green is so important.

I hope you celebrated yesterday.   What a milestone!.

Hi Marge & thank you so much for your well-wishes.
Grateful reflection seems to be how I now celebrate these milestones, which for me, deepens my commitment to stay on course.

Have yourself a great weekend :)
 

So good to hear. The light that IS at the end of the tunnel.... Thanks,,,,,

Wow! Congratulations! 14 years that's great, thanks for popping in and sharing, it really does break down to minute by minute and then adding them together especially in the early stages.

Kind regards

Anthony