To answer the question I feel most alive when I am physically active and in nature. This has now become my substitute for smoking. And in the process of doing this I have found another connection to my spiritual nature besides smoking.
Read2 Quit-Thanks for you write up on the towns you grew up in Canada. Being from the US I have had little education on our neighbor and your post made me want to visit and learn about your country.
Debby, I think you have the right mindset to make your quit successful. Your attitude is going to make you go far.
I'm from St. John's, Newfoundland - but I live in Winnipeg, Manitoba. The people of both cities are equally friendly and engaging but there are very big differences.
St. John's is strung across seaside cliffs, right on the ocean. Winnipeg is in the middle of the prairies, completely flat. St. John's has very colourful buildings. Most buildings in Winnipeg are beige. St. John's is a small city, less than 300,000 people including the suburbs. Winnipeg's population is north of 700,000. St. John's is very densely populated - the houses touch each other, lawns are rare. Winnipeg is very spread out - even the densely-populated neighborhoods have lots of trees. St. John's has very little visible poverty. Winnipeg has empty lots right downtown, boarded up buildings in many areas, and a few very tough neighbourhoods. So I love both - but they're very different.
To give you an idea. This is downtown St. John's:
So I always feel best my first day home or my first day back in Winnipeg. It's just so different and I feel very excited to reunite with my friends in either city, settle back into my room in either city, etc.
I actually have a picture of him on my phone...I do see it when my phone rings...maybe I do have one and didn't know it was there for that reason. I just know that thinking of him helps...but also I am stubborn HAHA and I do NOT want to be a loser. I am a WINNER and that is what I see here with the death of NICOTINE. Ha Ha. I Love my Grandson so much....and I Love myself....I want LIFE not DEATH...and I have a very important surgery coming up that I have to have a blood test to show I am Nicotine Free...that gave me the first nudge...but I set a date and started then on MY CHOICE...a CHOICE FOR LIFE...and a BETTER LIFE with my Grandson.
There I go rambling on and on again. I am just so GLAD TO BE NICOTINE FREE......and know that I CAN DO THIS...and I will prove ANYONE WRONG THAT THINGS I CAN'T! Ha Ha...I am a fighter for Life...have done many times...and will not stop now... I THANK SSC FOR ALL THE SUPPORT!!! I DO NEED IT!
What I was trying to get at is sometimes having a little token, image or reminder of your motivation (your grandson) on hand when a craving does hit sometimes acts as little life line during a crave. Do youthink having something like that could help?
Ashley...The cravings does not seem to care about who is around or what is going on when they come...but I have to let myself know where I started. Even if it was 1 day prior...that was 1 day I could never get back if I did smoke. Yes my grandson is a BIG HELP in the no smoking plan....his disabilities are many...and here I am damaging my OWN BODY...I would think I would have learned. I have had SO MUCH CANCER...but always said it had nothing to do with smoking...wheather it did or not....I am DONE WITH NICOTINE...and want to grow up with my grandson...nicotine free. He has 3 years on me...but I will take that and stay nicotine free from now on.
I loved reading what you wrote. It is beautiful to hear how much you love your grandson and how much fulfilment you get from teaching him. He is lucky to have such a wonderful and strong grandma!
It sounds like you are already using this love for your grandson as a motivator in your quit. How can you hold on to this feeling when cravings get really bad?
1.) When do you feel most alive? Where are you? What are you doing? And what is it like?
I would love to answer this one....of coarse this is my here and now answer....as one never knows what the next day might bring with this addiction.
I feel most alive when I am with my grandson. We can be anywhere. When he asks me questions on what something is that he can not see very well and I tell him and he wants to touch it or smell it that is the best things to be doing. It feels like God brought me this Beautiful Grandson to help teach him to see things not only through eyes but through all the senses of your body. He is visually impaired and goes to a Blind School. He is 3 and HE shows me everyday that I do not need to smoke and damage my body...he did not smoke and he still was born with disablities...I want to he clear and free like he is. I LOVE HIM SO MUCH....ok sorry for rambling on...but wanted to share....
Most of our discussion on the support group focus on smoking cessation. This is a good thing as this is what the support group is here for, but it is also nice to talk about what makes each and everyone of us tick. After all, you are not your addiction! You are a unique and incredible individual who has a lot to share and we want to get to know you! We want to know what makes you want to get well. We want to know what you are like if addiction is not an issue. So every once in awhile I will be posting getting to know you questions in order so we can get to know the wonderful members of our group; new and old!
For our first question...
When do you feel most alive? Where are you? What are you doing? And What is it like?
