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...

Hello Anthony! 

I think you are like 18 hours ahead of me. How is the day playing out for you? You’ve got several more hours under your belt now. Bet you got some good pics today. 
I love you get to get out more and witness the regrowth. Yours and that of the land. And yes...the smells that unfold with Spring...mmmmm.

Let us know how you’re doing!

Thanks for the home base Marge, I just can't wait to explore if that pic is a sample of the view

Kind regards

Anthony

That's it Lore new beginnings, time for some regrowth, took a pic of our national emblem this morning, see it in my Nope pledge, beautiful yellow blooms, spikes all over the plant, The Wattle. Went swimming this morning if you could call it that 40 min in the water floundering around like a jelly fish, anyway you can't smoke in the water, I've made myself really busy and that's helped with  the distraction side of things. I didn't use a lozenge this morning, the patch was enough, but my wife left her smokes out and I saw them and immediately had this inclination to smoke, I quickly put them in the cupboard and kept walking, i finished the lawn off and went down and bought a new pair of joggers, my reward for keeping on track.

Progress report:One day, 14 hours, 15 minutes and 59 seconds. 49 cigarettes not smoked, saving $61.63. Life saved: 4 hours, 5 minutes.

Kind regards

Anthony

Oh Tiny, I feel for you, without reasonable mental health quitting is so hard, and your not getting any sleep on top of that, with your back, use those painkillers short term if they do the job, I have all the symptoms you mentioned and I can understand what you are going through, Your husband sounds like a very caring human being, you are fortunate to have a partner who empathizes with you. I have heaps of support around me for issues like that, don't be afraid to reach out to the professionals, they have saved my life numerous times. If you don't smoke that's a bonus, smoking wouldn't help things, it never helps, find a good counselor and get things off your chest if that's what you need.

Maybe I'm out of line here, tell me if I am

Kind regards

Anthony