yes, LL, i think so.
As we go along in this journey of quitting we become aware of the "dangerous places", physically, emotionally, and mentally. Then we have to decide, do we challenge ourselves to face those dangers with our weapons ready, do we stay away from them until we think they are not so dangerous, do we float between those approaches, sometimes confronting, sometimes sticking just our eyes, but not our necks out, stay cloistered, invite a select few in, widen our circles as we gain more confidence?
As you mentioned in your initial post, there are so many factors that can potentially affect a person's ability to protect their quit; their overall mental stability, their use of other substances and how those substances affect their decisionmaking, and as others have alluded to; who are the people surrounding the person, are they smoking, are they supportive of the quit, will they be the one to say No! if the quitter weakens?
This life, and therefore, this process of changing while we give up the addicition to nicotine, is not simple, it is complex. I don't think there is one answer, and I don't think you implied there was one. We all need to try to be as honest as we can with our own selves. To identify and use what strengths we have to accomplish this goal, to acknowledge our personal areas of weakness and put in place supports to compensate for them, to know our own "dangerous places" and make the right decisions when to parry, when to thrust.
But, all of this is what makes this challenge so satisfying...can I do it? Am I able to put all the pieces together? Can I handle the hard stuff? Am i willing to change? Do I believe the reward is worth it? and...How do I do it???
Thanks again for making me think...going deeper
-aloha
[B]My Milage:[/B]
[B]My Quit Date: [/B]3/22/2007
[B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 152
[B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 6,080
[B]Amount Saved:[/B] $1,033.60
[B]Life Gained:[/B]
[B]Days:[/B] 21 [B]Hrs:[/B] 4 [B]Mins:[/B] 27 [B]Seconds:[/B] 54
