Hmm...very interesting Mercy,
and now that you mention it, I have handled this quit the way I have other major challenges in my life. I made up my mind, after years of not listening to other people's opinions, quietly set my date, prepared for it (by getting and taking chantix, although I wish I'd known about this site ahead of time), and just did it. Since my quit date it has been a matter of will power and determination. No matter what I have felt like, how badly I have wanted to smoke, how strong the emotions have been, how addicted I am to this site, I have not taken one puff. For me, it is a matter of integrity and honesty and being an example to my children. When I say I'm going to do something, I do it. No excuses.
I also value humor when facing challenges, so I guess that is why I love the threads that make me laugh. It never hurts to take life, and quitting, a little less seriously once in a while. I've used some of the same patterns of coping to handle the changes, namely obssessive reading and posting here, whereas before it was obssesive smoking. I also look to you other quitters for support when I am feeling really low, although it is still embarrassing for me to admit I can't handle things myself, just like in the rest of my life. When the going gets really rough, I look to my friends to help me through, but the going has to be really rough. I'm working on that, though. And helping others who are in the same or similar situation is a life strategy I use daily, which is definitely helpful to me in this endeavor, maybe even more helpful to me than it is to those I am trying to help.
So, yes, I have approached this quit with the same personality traits as I do the rest of my life. Determination, integrity, independence, willpower, seeing the occasional absurdity of our chosen ideas and beliefs, resolve, the practice of service to others. And pride. I know that some say pride is a bad thing, but I am proud of myself for doing this, just as I am proud of other accomplishments that have taken a major effort.
Great topic, mercy. Thanks for the opportunity for a little self reflection.
-aloha
[B]My Milage:[/B]
[B]My Quit Date: [/B]3/22/2007
[B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 129
[B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 5,160
[B]Amount Saved:[/B] $877.20
[B]Life Gained:[/B]
[B]Days:[/B] 18 [B]Hrs:[/B] 1 [B]Mins:[/B] 39 [B]Seconds:[/B] 10
