fish, this was a most excellent post! Thank you so much for being you. You deserve a wonderful reward, I hope you are still doing them? Happy who's angry this morning, I am sending you a hug, because you deserve it: [IMG]http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p300/DeeKaySss/Parrothugging2.jpg[/IMG] Denise [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 10/16/2006 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 68 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 2,059 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $510 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 8 [B]Hrs:[/B] 0 [B]Mins:[/B] 14 [B]Seconds:[/B] 10

What a wonderful post Fish - Thank you very much. Every day I learn new skills and discover new experiences. (i.e. I had forgotten that wrapping Christmas presents with a kitten in the room can be EXTREMELY stressful!) I have to admit that a part of me wanted to believe that if I quit smoking all of my problems would go away. (I think that people who lose alot of weight sometimes think the same way too). Not surprisingly, the stressors in life did not go away. However, I did begin to gain more confidence in my ability to deal with them. Sometimes it is a little depressing when we can't "smoke" our problems away....but then we realize how many new doors we are opening and how many new opportunities are coming our way. You have done sooooooooo well and have been such a great member of SCC. Congratulations on one year and Merry Christmas! Windy [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 9/11/2006 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 102 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 2,055 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $510 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 9 [B]Hrs:[/B] 18 [B]Mins:[/B] 6 [B]Seconds:[/B] 38

Fish, Hear hear. This is vital reading for all new quitters. This is what makes it worth it. Congrats on the 11k of cigs not smoked. Hopefully, unlike me, you haven't 'lost' all that 'money saved' along the way :blush: all the best Mr Ed :) [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 2/13/2006 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 313 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 9,399 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] �2347.5 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 52 [B]Hrs:[/B] 5 [B]Mins:[/B] 37 [B]Seconds:[/B] 10

Cheers to you Fish! Enjoy your holiday my pal. Your posts make us all feel like long lost pals. Can we come over for Christmas dinner? :p Sending you warm congrats again and know that your fan base is growing! CobenFan [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 3/25/2006 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 274 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 5,487 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $959 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 25 [B]Hrs:[/B] 9 [B]Mins:[/B] 18 [B]Seconds:[/B] 20

Fish, Thank you for this post. You sure do have a way with words! It was so inspiring and uplifting........ yet calming and serene at the same time. Congratulations on 1 year smoke free!! That is a wonderful achievement!! Happy holidays to you too! Take care, 4my2girls [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 3/5/2006 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 293 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 8,818 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $958.11 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 23 [B]Hrs:[/B] 15 [B]Mins:[/B] 39 [B]Seconds:[/B] 43

Hey Fish, Wow, what a message!! It warms my heart to read your message. I can tell that you are so proud of your awesome quit, and you should be. You have overcome so much along the way, but you have come out a winner. Remember when we were just trying to survive to make it to the beach, and then the 6 - 12 club. Well you have come full circle, and none of our quits are the same. What ever you did, was right for you. And I know that you had lots of emotional feelings with your friend. I pray that he is improving each day. Just keep reaching for the stars, and looking forward to the future. As you said you are much wiser now, and you probably know all the tricks that ole nicodemon has. But always be on guard. Congratulation again, and a Merry Christmas to you!! :) Blessings, Sunshine [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 1/7/2006 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 350 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 5,951 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $1225 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 50 [B]Hrs:[/B] 8 [B]Mins:[/B] 26 [B]Seconds:[/B] 52

Just a shameless bump to say thanks again, Casey, Windy, MissyFit, Shevie, Sunshine, Mr Ed, Penitent, Lady, happy, ParrotLady, 4my2girls, Rachel, CobenFan and N2k, especially I thank you for your responses - my cockles are warmed yet again. It has been my personal pleasure to be surrounded by such a group, sincerely. I wish I could give each of you hug. also a bump to give a bit of insight for those making a leap this New Year. You are making the best investment in yourself that you can by giving yourself this gift of Life. It ain't easy (for some, it is), but it's worth it. Fight for it and never let your guard down. I know it's cliche', but if I can do it... I mean, I'm just a fish, all slimey and stuff with hardly a pea for a brain... then, YOU CAN TOO! Happy New Year and new Life! All my best and ... keep fightin' the good fight - fish :) [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 12/21/2005 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 377 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 11,328 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $1885 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 50 [B]Hrs:[/B] 1 [B]Mins:[/B] 7 [B]Seconds:[/B] 49

I've hit a year - not a deer. It's gonna be okay. Now what? Well, I made it one lap around the sun and I've learned or relearned or revisited... many lessons. Many that will help me cope with life as it comes. As I continue along this path. I've had great accomplishments this year. I've had some setbacks too. I've learned or relearned or was reminded... that I am not entitled to things like health, happiness, love, friendship, success, etc. No, I have to work for them. I can't cheat the process. There are no shortcuts. I must go the distance. What is that distance. Well, that distance, I think, is life. I must not cheat myself of experiencing the richness of all the gamut of emotions and I must continually choose good over bad, fearlessly. Easier said then done. Much easier to just light a smoke and forget about it but that 'out' is NOWHERE near as enriching. I am reflecting on this past year as I have crossed this boundary that a year ago seemed so terribly far away. But, in reality, it's just another day. Some days I feel depressed still. It's not from withdrawal from smoking - I hardly even think about smoking except when I have to move away from someone in a restaurant because I can't stand the smell or when I have to immediately change clothes when I get home from spending any amount of time in a bar. There is a rare thought of what one might taste like or remembrance of how that one after libidinous interludes was occasionally enjoyable. But I've fallen for all of those tricks before and I can finally say I am truly wiser now. But not foolish enough to think I could never go back. No, I get depressed for normal, human reasons... loneliness or impatience with myself as far as my station in life is concerned, blah-blah. But I've learned/am still learning that my thoughts do indeed control my feelings. I can look now at how far I've come and I am returned to the present where I've stood addiction in the face and overcome, where I've given my self the gift of love, where I've made the leap of faith and survived - not only survived but am a better man for it. I know I am but a man of flesh and I, God willing, will continue this road which I began symbolically at the onset of winter a year ago. I've weathered each of the

This is the most wonderful inspiring post I have read. Gosh, just when I needed it. What an example you have set for each and everyone of us. I cried when I read this knowing what an addiction this is. The laws are so concerned about the illegal drugs but what about this one. I guess they are trying to tell us something because they have finally made it so hard for us to smoke anywhere. Why don't they make cig. smoking illegal. It's called money. We have slamed our bodies with this filth and the gover. didn't care years ago. LETS ALL QUIT IT NOW AND FORGET WE EVER TOOK THAT FIRST PUFF. i AM SO ANGRY THIS MORNING. [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 11/28/2006 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 25 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 510 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $60 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 3 [B]Hrs:[/B] 10 [B]Mins:[/B] 44 [B]Seconds:[/B] 25

Primo Post! I laughed and smiled and grinned and then wanted to hug U ~LOL [b]CONGRATULATIONS FISH![/B] [IMG]http://img211.imageshack.us/img211/8594/fishoutofwaterxn0.jpg[/IMG] [color=blue][font=Tahoma]All the best~[/color] [img]http://img291.imageshack.us/img291/6922/n3us.gif[/img][size=3][color=blue]2[/color][/size][img]http://img133.imageshack.us/img133/2344/k6ob.gif[/img][/color] [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 8/20/2005 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 493 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 10,864 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $2465 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 46 [B]Hrs:[/B] 20 [B]Mins:[/B] 54 [B]Seconds:[/B] 3