It's been a year since I was in the right frame of mind, to say enough is enough.
It must have been a Sunday.
Boggy had some left over nicotine inhalers, from a failed attempt at giving up. They were up the back of the medicine shelf in the top of the pantry. I got them down, read the instructions and sucked the life out of those babies, like it was oxygen for five days. Then I had to go it alone.
I walked a lot. Summer in the pram and Izzy riding her bike. I started a week after their birthdays. I used to get stressed because I could never finish a cigarette in peace. That stress was gone.
A year on, I notice the rattle in my breathing is gone. I can breathe easier, and I'm not coughing up globs of phlegm. Pretty gross hey? I'm not sucking carbon monoxide and tar into my body, and at a lower risk of developing over a dozen types of cancer, heart attack, stroke or lung disease. Way to go I reckon.
I would have saved about $4000, probably more going by the price of them now. How do some people manage to live on a wage that is already stretched and smoke as well? Has me buggered! I don't have to carry around a packet with those disgusting pictures on them. They look much worse now I have given up, I was in denial at how bad they were as a smoker. Shrugged it off, tried not look at them.
I used to go out in the freezing cold at night, with a blanket around me and light up. I used to love to look at the stars. I miss looking at the stars. I don't miss the cold or the smokes. But I am aware I am a smoker, I just don't smoke right now.
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| A year to the day I had my last fag. On the way to my sons 21st. Giving up was the right thing to see the girls turn 21 too. |
Best decision ever! Well done! I too gave up on New Years Day this year and will never smoke again...ever. We were in denial because we were addicted, but now we are free....and will live a hell of alot longer. Lovely to hear your story Alicia :) Cheers, Tanya
ReplyDeleteWell done to you too!
DeleteCongratulations a year is a long time to give up.
ReplyDeleteGood on you! You need to be vigilant though, it's quite easy to slip back into it. I know smokers who'd given up for years and returned in a moment of stress. But make sure you go out and stare at the stars anyway, it's important for your resolve (and your soul :)
ReplyDeleteI can easily believe that stress would make me slip. I only thought about it the other day, but one moment of stress relief could undo a whole year, plus it would probably taste like crap and make me cough my guts up lol :) I will make a point of sitting out with the stars.
DeleteWhat a fantastic achievement to be a heavy smoker and to give up cold-turkey like that! There are so many benefits to quitting. You're right about being addicted creating stress because you feel like you can never finish a cigarette in peace. Sending massive congratulations from a fellow smoker who doesn't smoke right now :) xx
ReplyDeleteThanks Lizzy.
DeleteWell done, you are doing so well to have made it a year xx
ReplyDeleteI think so too, thanks :)
DeleteA big high five lovely - it's not easy. I kidded myself for years but getting pregnant was the kicker for me. I do miss the quiet time outside, but not the health problems. Love this photo of you here, your hair looks so long!
ReplyDeleteHa! It is getting long, I haven't been to the hair dressers for over a year!
DeleteI love it - you look really young - sorry if that's rude, but you know me, I 'speak' my mind! xxx
DeleteI gave up smoking over 5 years ago (March 25, 2008 at 11am!!!) - I got hypnotised and it worked. I was so addicted, I could tell you the time of day that I had each smoke, there was such a pattern. And I loved one at anytime of the day or night! Anyway, that's over now but like you with your stars, I used to go outside and look at my garden, patrolling up and down, pulling weeds and flicking snails out. It all got a bit neglected when I gave up because I just didn't need to be outside all the time. Funny.
ReplyDeleteYour little girls (and family) need their mum around for a long time so well done on giving up, its a huge thing!
Good on you - impressed with your will power and determination. Keep sticking to it girl!
ReplyDeleteThanks Janet, I plan to :)
ReplyDeleteGreat achievement and congratulations on your milestone. Well done and stick with it. #teamIBOT
ReplyDeleteAwesome achievement!
ReplyDeleteCongrats! Well done Alicia! I remember very well when you put on your blog that you were giving up smoking! Wow, already a year has gone.
ReplyDeleteOh I remember when you said you were giving up. And here we are a year later! Well done!
ReplyDeleteWell done! That's amazing! You must be so proud! :)
ReplyDeleteI work in a bottle shop and it will never cease to amazing me how people survive when they spend so much on booze and smokes. But I guess you don't really consider that at the time do you? It's an addiction like you said and you make it work; we've all got them.
You look years younger in this pic than your profile pic,by the way. Maybe an unexpected bonus? :)