Cher, 

Congrats..... I’ve read the 1st year will be the hardest, because we associated smoking with everything! Grief, joy, boredom, meals etc. Each time we get through a situation WITHOUT relapsing we have achieved a milestone! So you have done fantastic! You have achieved MANY milestones and prevailed, keep it up!

Thank you Eve. I think the next 6 months will be much more peaceful. I feel great for the most part. I just keep my guard up, because every now and then the nasty addiction rears it’s ugly head. I just kick it aside and keep moving! 
Quit 12/6/19

Hello my friend,

Sending you a virtual hug for 6 months/half a year of being not smoking! That is HUGE!  You has been such an inspiration to have on this journey. Not only have you had to give up cigarettes, but you chose to change what you eat.  2019 threw you a curve ball and 2020 has certainly been bumpier than a country road, however, you are overcoming!  You are a warrior!  Congratulations!

Thank you so much. Susan!  I was not even aware that I was at 6 months.  I am rather enjoying my life as a non-smoker, and rarely think about smoking anymore, surprisingly.  The kayak self-reward has now been purchased, and travel arrangements have been booked to spend the month of August using them in SE Alaska.  Now I need Covid to cooperate!!

We normally spend a week a month there in the summer.  Covid has prevented that so far in 2020.  The month of August is intended to make up for that.

I have not checked in here in quite some time.  I am glad to see you are still doing well.

Thanks dearest Susan, time flies... Hope you are well 

It’s time to celebrate, Cherbear!  You have been smoke free for 7 months, which is fabulous!  I hope you take time to look into that mirror and say “I am a non smoker!”  

Thank you Susan! Haven’t been on the computer much lately but it feels great to be a non-smoker for 7 months! I hope all is well with you!

Hiya,

Congratulations on earning another star!  I hope your new you is doing fantastic.  

I had a bit of a rough patch emotionally this last month, however, I am doing better.  I went back to work, so I credit the distraction of work helping my psyche.  Have had a couple of smoking thoughts when leaving work, but they are easily pushed aside.  
 

Don’t forget to reward yourself for being quit for 7 months!  Take care.

Thank you, Susan.  I am sorry you went through a rough patch, but isn't it nice that you did not revert to the old standby ciggie?  The ciggie never did help us, we just convinced ourselves that it did.  Now we know better.

Hard to believe 7 months have passed.  With the pandemic, it certainly has been an interesting 7 months.  Unfortunately, I fear it is far from over.  It is definitely messing with my vacation plans.  Somehow, I have to get tested and have results back all within a 72 hour window of boarding the ship.  Still working on that one.  I can pull some strings, but will only do it if it means going or not going.  If the pandemic blows up in the next few weeks like it is supposed to, the demand on testing supplies will take away my strings. 

If you don't hear from me in August, know that I was successful and am in remote Alaska without any tobacco accompanying me for the first time.  Nice not to have to pack in enough to get by for the duration like I always have in the past.