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WHAT IS YOUR GOAL?


17 years ago 0 1056 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
My first reaction was that if I can get through next Christmas then I'll know I'm there! Then I read all these other posts and they have made me think differently with each one. The last by Ki was good because she is absolutely right that there is a good feeling of success on a daily basis with the one day at a time approach. Someone else mentioned an alcoholic and I also have that personal 'battle' going on. This summer will be three years without a drink and I still occasionally find myself in situations when I think 'Now is the time I would have had a drink'. Not really 'I want a drink'. So I hope to achieve the same level of objectivity with smoking and - to some extent - I feel I have. I will feel happier though when maybe a whole day passes without even one stab of expectation of a cigarette and then the thud of disappointmnt when I have to remind myself that it is not an option any more. Good talking point Lainey. Gen [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 3/28/2007 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 28 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 454 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] �196 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 3 [B]Hrs:[/B] 17 [B]Mins:[/B] 9 [B]Seconds:[/B] 25
17 years ago 0 49 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
Such interesting posts and provocative perspectives! I think I must agree with Mike and Jean here. The goal was to not smoke, and for each of the past 19 days I have achieved that goal. I'm on a streak and plan to continue this day by day approach. If I set a goal of not smoking for 2 years or for 6 months, isn't that contradictory to the one-day-at-a-time philosophy? How frustrating it would then be to get halfway to the goal and then slip! The goal might never be achieved! I like the psychological edge and feeling of success that accompanies this day-at-a-time approach, and as long as i can say I am a non-smoker, I am meeting my goal. Of course, one can't just set a one day goal and stop there--effective goal setting requires that one review and edit and revise the goals as time progresses. In this case, it is a goal that is set each morning immediately upon waking. Obviously everyone here is doing that anyway, so why not bask in the warming rays of success by congratulating yourself every day for meeting a very important goal instead of looking down that long tunnel toward a long-term goal? I guess it all comes down to our individual attitudes and motivators--some of us are long-tem planners and others are short-term planners. While I normally plan for long-term, this smoking thing is a unique situation that I feel I handle best in the short term. However you set your goals, best wishes for success to all of you! Karen [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 4/6/2007 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 19 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 775 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $114 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 2 [B]Hrs:[/B] 12 [B]Mins:[/B] 39 [B]Seconds:[/B] 54
17 years ago 0 3875 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
Are some of us are thinking of our quits more as the longer process? We have stopped smoking, but have not gone thru the four seasons, and have so much more to learn about how to avoid going back. Mr. Ed, I enjoyed yout response, you learn to trust yourself more as you moce on in the quit! Really interesting answers guys! Keep em coming! :) [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 3/5/2007 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 51 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 1,283 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $538.05 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 6 [B]Hrs:[/B] 4 [B]Mins:[/B] 48 [B]Seconds:[/B] 2
17 years ago 0 232 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
Absolutely thought-provoking. I like Jean's answer -- I reached my goal the day I quit. Maybe I should look at maintaining it not so much as a struggle as an interesting challenge, one that I know I can win because I've already won so many times. Legend [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 2/25/2007 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 59 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 355 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $73.75 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 9 [B]Hrs:[/B] 21 [B]Mins:[/B] 3 [B]Seconds:[/B] 25
17 years ago 0 5009 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
Good post Lainey. My goal was determined by older quitters, some who talked about quitting through all 4 seasons and others who believed that somewhere between 1-2 years you can be free. As I think that quitting is a slow, gradual process, it's hard to know whether you've actually reached the top of the hill. I do know that I am now much more comfortable in my quit than I was 6 months ago. I also don't believe that I am capable of lapsing in a one-off situation any more. I still have smoking dreams, but they now usually involve me declining cigs rather than smoking them! Mr Ed :) [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 2/13/2006 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 436 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 13,085 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] �3270 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 71 [B]Hrs:[/B] 1 [B]Mins:[/B] 54 [B]Seconds:[/B] 43
17 years ago 0 2670 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
Lainey, I feel as if i have almost made it, as i only occasionally have smoking thoughts now. haven't had any bad craves really lynnexx [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 10/24/2006 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 183 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 2,747 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] �732 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 20 [B]Hrs:[/B] 14 [B]Mins:[/B] 31 [B]Seconds:[/B] 47
  • Quit Meter

    $113,530.00

    Amount Saved

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    Days: 6491 Hours: 7

    Minutes: 27 Seconds: 4

    Life Gained

  • Quit Meter

    45412

    Smoke Free Days

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    227,060

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17 years ago 0 106 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
Oh, I totally agree with you , Phil, and with everyone here. I believe I'll always have to be mindful about being a non-smoker and never let my guard down, always be diligent. But Jean's perspective is a psychological reward and is really the truth. What is my goal? To not smoke. What have I done for the last 14 days. Not smoked! My goal is not one to reach the minute I'm dead, although I understand you, Butterfly Swimmer. My goal is every day I'm alive! I understand for most of us part of the goal is not to have those triggers and thoughts of smoking. But it's sadly obvious to me I can't control that and it might be a long time before my mind completely loses those involuntary responses. So, as long as I'm not smoking, I'm acheiving what I can. It's just a slight twist of perspective that lifts the "heaviness" of the whole process a bit for me. And there's enough heaviness inherently built in, believe me! Don't know if that makes any sense to you, but it does to me. :) Mike [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 4/11/2007 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 14 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 283 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $49 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 2 [B]Hrs:[/B] 7 [B]Mins:[/B] 42 [B]Seconds:[/B] 34
17 years ago 0 3908 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
Lainey I have quite a lot of stopping days behind me but have nowhere near 'made it' I think we have to be adult about this and accept that having smoked the danger will ALWAYS be there and not allow ourselves a moments weakness. I posted recently about a friend who stopped for over 4 years and had just one at a New Years Day party and is now chain smoking again. 'never goes away, i did 4.5 years before being a muppet and starting again' remember that post? So it is becoming less difficult but we have to be on constant guard I feel! Anyone agree? me x [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 8/8/2006 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 260 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 5,722 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] �1365 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 52 [B]Hrs:[/B] 0 [B]Mins:[/B] 30 [B]Seconds:[/B] 27
17 years ago 0 292 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
The other two times that I quit (once about 20 years ago, and then again 4 years ago) were both for six months, so I'm really looking forward to getting past that six-month mark. I totally get the concept of meeting up with four seasons' worth of triggers, so I'm really looking forward to getting that first year under my belt, too. Like others, I too know that I can never ever be complacent. When I started back up 4 years ago, it was because I thought that surely I could "social smoke." I found out that no, I cannot. Not One Puff Ever, Ever, Ever. [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 1/1/2007 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 114 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 3,421 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $342 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 11 [B]Hrs:[/B] 17 [B]Mins:[/B] 32 [B]Seconds:[/B] 20
17 years ago 0 3875 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
Hey, Some answers that surprised me! Jean, I never even thought to consider that I am already "There". I am a non smoker, yes, but when will I take that sigh of relief and think "OK I am comfortable enough to know that I can trust myself and will never go back." There must come time when we will feel that way. I am thinking maybe depends on how many times you have quit and how successful you were before...that all would come into play into how comfortable you feel. Any more thoughts? [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 3/5/2007 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 50 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 1,273 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $527.5 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 6 [B]Hrs:[/B] 3 [B]Mins:[/B] 36 [B]Seconds:[/B] 14

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