Hi Tiny,

Latest update: 18 hours, 59 minutes and 36 seconds. 24 cigarettes not smoked, saving $30.59. Life saved: 2 hours, 0 minutes.

Spent this morning out in the garden after taking my sunrise shot and Arthritis exercises, a sudden deluge from the heavens inhibited me from completing the task but there's always tomorrow. After a hot shower I was drenched from the rain, I put on my Google mini hub and fell asleep to rainforest sounds, woke up at 5:30 pm and have been poking around on the computer and reading a photography book since, ready for bed again.

Signing out, tomorrow is the first day of spring for us down under...

Kind regards

Anthony

You're doing great! I bet those rainforest sounds really help. In the class I took they gave you a CD of guided meditations. The guy's voice was super annoying but it turned me on to relaxing sounds to get through urges. First day of spring, eh? You are definitely a lucky fellow. We're starting September up here and it's my favorite time of the year. The days get cooler and it's when all the leaves start to turn. You're really on this quit and I'm very proud of your progress! Keep going, don't you give in to this addiction. I know the mornings are hard, but pop in a lozenge and get that patch on and let's do this thing!

Your new digs---enjoy.

Good morning Anthony, and Happy Spring to you Down Under!

A new season, a fresh start...You’ve got this Anthony. We are all here for you. I agree with Tiny that it is hard to get through the morning. It still is my hardest time too. Pop your lozenge and take your stroll and find us a pretty picture. We are all here waiting for you to walk along with us on this journey. You’re not alone friend. Chin up and forward March, just one foot in front of the other. Slow and steady wins the race. Nice slow breath of fresh Spring air for you! Stay close today. I’ll carry you along in my travel thoughts and when the urge strikes you can know you are not alone. We’ll get through it. Trust the process. You know the crave waves...just watch them wash over. They always leave little bits of treasure in the flotsam....always little bits of treasure there....

Hi Tiny,

Got four hours sleep, I have taken to taking my seep in two shifts, one at night and one in the afternoon, I can't seem to string them together, but what the heck, I didn't smoke and have one full day to my credit with the support of you guys. thanks heaps for the support, you really gave me confidence and determination to succeed something I couldn't muster on my own at such short notice.

The rainforest sounds were substituted by slow rhythmic piano music which if you used your imagination mimic rainfall, that soothing sound of rain falling on a iron roof. Ah!

Yes, spring has sprung the native wildflowers are blooming especially the wattle and the rich scents greet me on my walks around the burbs, it is indeed a blessed time of year, regrowth especially after our bushfires. we've had good rains over winter in our region so expecting some rapid growth. What a great time to start a quit, looking forward to spending increased time outdoors walking, photographing and gardening and deep breathe in that scented air.

Progress report: One day, 2 hours, 8 minutes and 49 seconds. 33 cigarettes not smoked, saving $42.11. Life saved: 2 hours, 45 minutes.

Take care Tiny and good management of your quit

Kind regards

Anthony

Good morning Lore,

Yes spring has sprung, glorious time, it is a new season and time for a fresh start, looking forward to the challenge, no cravings this morning, I have my patch on, from yesterday and when I take this one off at 8 am and pop on a new one I will take a lozenge till the nicotine conc'n builds up. I don't like cravings they drive me loopy I prefer at this stage of my quit to damp them out, as I build up strength and get more confidence maybe then I can endure a craving and look forward to the treasures washed up by the waves.

I am over time, so I will go and have a shower and head out to catch the sunrise, thanks for your post and support, treasures you are, champions.

Kind regards

Anthony

I'm sorry about your sleep. If it's any consolation, I have barely slept the last few days. My back is killing me and I'm not sure why. Im no athlete but I am active. I've got a salonpas on and I'm pumping the ibuprofen. Sheesh. It is a great time to start a quit. I notice this summer that I could actually smell the flowers blooming. I haven't smelled them in years. I have beautiful lilies and had no idea how potent they were until this year. I have stargazers, my favorite. When I first started feeling with my mental health diagnosis my doctor told me to find a hobby. I refused, but my husband went to the greenhouse and bought tons of them. Every day he would pull me out of bed, crying, and drag me to the back yard where he would water and weed. I would just stand there and cry, but eventually, I held the water. I pulled a weed or two. So now, to remember his tender love for me and that I am strong and can fight my mental illness symptoms, I have a huge stargazer Lily tattooed on my calf. It's from a picture I took of one of them. I am not alone in my fight. Not the cigarettes or the mental health. You aren't alone, either. I refuse to lose this. I am going to fight this addiction with every ounce of courage I have and I am going to succeed. I am going to overcome and be s victor. I simply will not to back to smoking while holding a garden hose and crying. I deserve more and I'm going to reach for it. You will too. I get it. 

I hear you Anthony...

Yes, dampen the craves. And who cares for how long you use a patch really? No contest here and we all who beat the day without smoking win! Yay! 
Reminds me of that show, that old show “Kung Fu” I think it was called...”when you can snatch the pebble from my hand, Grasshopper, it is time for you to leave...” Have absolutely no clue why I am making that connection. There isn’t one maybe except we always keep trying to snatch that pebble. Yes...what seems to be so elusive yet is within our grasp just waiting for us to snatch it. Well, even the small waves that pass leave the treasure, even it is only them being gone and us still breathing, yes? You have such great strength and perseverance and beauty within. 
Ramble through the craves....works for me! Haha!

Did you read Allen Carr? Did it do anything for you? I found some of it very eye opening even if I did not like every part of it. 

There is always that 90 year old guy who smoked all his life but that is rare. Most smokers suffer the deadly effects..

I love your tattoo Tiny without even seeing it. The symbolism is fantastic and how you wrote here your awareness of where you were, where you are, and where you’re going...just beautiful. 
No...you’re not alone. Yes you are worth this fight. And you are helping so many others here on this journey too. What comfort is there greater than taking care of yourself and being able to help others at the same time? And what a dear friend your Hubby is to walk this path with you and plant those lilies. 
I’d say you have what you reached for and now is the nurturing and tending to it. What beauty you’ve sown...