Kait: I'm so glad you brought this subject up. I, too, have felt that way, and sometimes catch myself smiling for no apparent reason.
I think, "Wow, you never thought you could do this, and look at you".
The problem, I think, is that so many of us are skilled at sabotaging ourselves so that we can beat ourselves up. It's that terrible vicious cycle we've been in for many years.
But to do something this big, this important, without sabotaging ourselves? WOW!!
I know in my past quits I tried and tried to think of myself as a non-smoker, but the little internal voice always said, "Who are you kidding? You're a smoker pretending to be a non-smoker." Eventually, of course, I would listen and say, "Yeah, you're right, I'm just a faker". (Or as the kids would say, a "poser".)
But this time, I really do think of myself in those terms -- as a non-smoker. That's huge! And it definitely can put a smile on your face!
Keep that smile going -- you've earned it!
[B]My Milage:[/B]
[B]My Quit Date: [/B] 10/8/2006
[B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 67
[B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 2,712
[B]Amount Saved:[/B] $536
[B]Life Gained:[/B]
[B]Days:[/B] 8 [B]Hrs:[/B] 18 [B]Mins:[/B] 59 [B]Seconds:[/B] 24