Thanks Brenda and Lolly for the responses.  Brenda you are so succinct in your answer that the Nicodeon does get discouraged over time.  That is exactly what happened.  The events that happened to me where just little nags to smoke and nothing else.  Yes they bugged me and such but they just never could convince me to think I could have that one.  I just knew I was not about to hand over my quit after more than 3 years.  That is what is great about all of this is the longer you are quit the easier it really gets. Lolly thanks for showing us what it's like after almost 7 years quit.  It's really does gets easier with time doesn't it. I'll take a nanosecond crave any day over lighting up every 30 minutes.  

 

Awesome replies.

Ron 

Hi Ron,

 

It's true that those niggles from the Nicodemon can arrive unexpectedly.  Why?  Well I reckon it's an individual thing.

 

I was in Barcelona, Spain last weekend.  Outside one night I passed someone who had just lit a cigarette...there was that smoking thought... for about a nano second.  Next was the time I had to walk through a crowd of smokers (again outside) and I choked on the smoke......

 

I put it down to a distant memory, just as a certain song can trigger either a pleasant memory or a painful one.  We brush those memories off.

 

I'm quit 7 years next month, and have had loads of those smoking memories arrive unwelcome to my thoughts.  I beat the thought with the thought that I am celebrating my new freedom, and at no time have I been at risk of smoking again!

 

"A person who never picked up a cigarette will never really understand that.  And I'm ok with that.  I still can be a non smoker going forward but realize that my past habit has indeed changed me for life."

 

Never look Back!  The Future is ahead!

Thanks Laney and Deb for the responses. Deb it did feel like I was on the edge of my seat traveling. I never knew the outcome and that's what I loved about it.  It really is magical..

Lainey, you are so right that we will always be addicted and have ups and downs.  I thought to myself why do I come back here to these boards even though I'm no longer addicted to nicotine.  The reason why many of us come back and help others is because we still do think about our smoking past, many times on a daily basis.  I think that it lives with us for a long time, maybe forever, which is really not so bad.  I'm glad to reflect on my past and have the wisdom to help others.  A person who never picked up a cigarette will never really understand that.  And I'm ok with that.  I still can be a non smoker going forward but realize that my past habit has indeed changed me for life.

Ron 

Nicodemon never goes away. Great topic, and appropriate for me lately. I have been having some cravings. I know I can't smoke one cigarette, that would do me in, I would be back to square one. But it is surprising that the addiction can ring your bell every once in awhile to remind you, that you are indeed still addicted and always will be.

I guess in a way that's a good thing, we need to be reminded that it is an addiction, and how easy it would be to be back in it's  deathly grips.

So breathe deeply, and be proud of yourself for conquering the demon, and when he knocks again, remind him again of NOPE! We won't be going back there!

Okay-- I admit it...... I was sitting here reading your post with my mouth hanging open waiting for the next bit.  I've always wanted to go to Thailand, and don't know if I'll ever get to go in my lifetime.  So I was hanging on your every word.

 

If you had written for three days about your experience, I'd still be here reading!  It sounds like it was incredible.  I especially loved the boat back story.  I don't even think we needed to be there to appreciate that one.  Thanks so much for telling us about it!  You made my night.

 

Welcome home.

Deb

Thanks all and I will say I'm back to normal now that I'm home.  Absolutely no craves and I'm back on schedule.  I just needed to vent my experience since people think after so much time you never think of smoking again.  It is much much easier now than 3 years ago but that little guy still hangs out on your shoulder and he came out of the Thai woodwork. Lesson is keep the guard up at all times folks.  Anyway Thanks Eyja, Dave and Josie for the positive comments. Deb I'm super glad you are back on the quit, I know you are going to be super glad you did this looking back. Positive energy your way...

 

Anyway let me tell you that traveling is all worth having those craves.  I had a wonderful experience and learned so many things.  I'll give you a little of what I saw just for those that asked.

 

Flew to Bangkok  for some days.  Tried all the street food which is so good if you like spicy and you can taste.. Must have eaten Pad Thai and Papaya Salad 30 times over 3 weeks. It's that good. Ok I tried all the exotic fruits like mangosteen and durian.  Durian does smell like a gas leak and it's illegal to take it with you in the train or public places etc it's that smelly but it's a delicacy.  Next I took a train to  Ayutthaya which the old capital and rented a bike and went to all the temples. The most amazing is a buddha old stone carving that trees envelop and it's amazing (see images in Google). Next went by bus to Sukhothai which again houses all the old buddhist shrines.  I had my own guide for like $15.  Next I stopped in phitsanulok which I arrived at 1 am in the morning. Checked into my hotel to find all these vendors opening up with fresh meats veggies, and produce. People running around with carts everywhere..  I thought I was going crazy how this could be so I asked the guy in the 7 eleven "They are closing up soon right". He replies "no they open from 1am to 6am", they just started. Only in Thailand.. Sure enough I wake up at 7 am and they were all gone. Next to Chiang Mai which is an amazing town of hiking, temples, and a wonderful restaurants. Here I took a cooking class and learned a Thai 6 course meal followed by eating it afterwards with the other students (ouch).  Flew to Phuket which is way south near the beached. Stayed at Patong beach which is the major party town/beach resort area. When to James Bond Island and the next day took a boat from Phuket to Ko Phi Phi  which is absolutely beautiful. From there took another boat for $10 to Krabi via Railay beach which is again amazingly beautiful but hard to find a boat to go back and forth. You need 8 people total and at 5pm all 5 at the time of us where screaming to find another 3 so we could get back:). It was really funny if you would have watched. Finally got a boat to Koh Samui where I went diving and enjoyed the tropical warm weather. Met my friend there and had a blast.  Took an overnight bus back to Bangkok after and flew out 2 days later. Had to go to the snake museum on my last day just because they demo them getting the venom and showing to us as well as telling you all you want to know about snakes. Yes I'm a little nuts thinking this was cool. And the fact that they housed 1000 snakes from all over the word was pretty incredible. Back home and diverted from Tokyo to Osaka due to a hurricane that enveloped us. I thought I was going to die but didn't.  Since I survived I enjoyed spending a fortune on my last day eating sushi and shopping in Osaka before being rerouted to Seattle and then SF to finally get back home sweet home.  Oh how fun it was...Ron

Good Job Ron.

 

I got triggered yesterday because I had a 3 hour drive up to Oakland, Ca.  It was my first long drive in horrible bumper to bumper traffic without smoking.  I saw two accidents, got stuck for an hour because a truck tipped over and spilled his load on the road (it was hauling gravel)...... And I had to be up there for a hugely important meeting so it was super stressful.

 

I didn't have the temptations you did becuase I was alone.  But while I was sitting in the traffic, I certainly saw opportunities to exit and find a cigarette. 

 

I admire you!  I also admire me.  I admire everyone here that has a story to tell about how hard it is and how they got through.

 

We got through.  Especially, you got through.  That was a tough situation but you did it!  I'm fairly new, but I appreciate you telling your story because every case of someone getting through inspires me to keep going.  So thanks for posting.  And congrats on your long-term quit.

 

Deb