Well now I know who to Thank! That post is the beginning of my quit diary! I refer to it often and sometimes post excerpts from it from time to time. Thanks for posting Hummy. The old posts that started me on this journey are hard to come by. They were so insightful and informational. [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B]7/13/2007 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 65 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 1,300 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $747.50 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 6 [B]Hrs:[/B] 13 [B]Mins:[/B] 33 [B]Seconds:[/B] 13

Great post wish I had read in the beginning of my quit. [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B]8/8/2007 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 39 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 507 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $195.00 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 5 [B]Hrs:[/B] 3 [B]Mins:[/B] 33 [B]Seconds:[/B] 41

WOW Thanks for this. I thought that so many posts were irrevocably lost! Wonderful. Phillip [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B]2/17/2006 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 576 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 14,400 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $4,896.00 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 93 [B]Hrs:[/B] 22 [B]Mins:[/B] 51 [B]Seconds:[/B] 28

A long time ago I posted a couple of posts to help people who were quitting or trying to get up the nerve to quit. After reading the boards, I thought some of the new quitters might find some assistance in these old posts. I wish all of you great success and long, smoke-free lives. Not cravin', never cavin'. Hummy QUIT, QUIT, QUIT, QUIT, QUIT (posted 1.3.06) Hey New Quitter, if you�re �the one�, then I was just like you. You know, the one who absolutely, positively could not quit smoking. I was the one who really really wanted to quit, but just couldn�t do it. I was the one who freaked out at 2AM because I only had 1 cigarette left. I was the one who always drove myself to functions, because I couldn�t smoke in other people�s cars. I smoked for 30 years, and wanted to quit for about 29 of them. The last few years, I was smoking 2 packs a day, everyday. You�ll notice my join date is 1.22.05, but my quit date is 5.05.05. Why? Because I just couldn�t find the �right� time to quit. Today I had to work, or go to the doc, or pick up kids, or twiddle my thumbs � tomorrow would always be better. The problem? Tomorrow was never better. I changed my quit date over and over and over. Couldn�t take the plunge. So, what happened? How did I FINALLY quit? I just got fed up with the whole mess � the cough, the exhaustion after a flight of stairs, the cost, the worry (you know, those horrible disease worries), and the climbing-the-walls-when-am-I-going-to-be-able-to-have-a-cigarette times. Want to quit? This is what you do. Find yourself a buddy or buddies on the SSC. Live on your computer whenever possible. (I didn�t get much accomplished this summer � BUT, I quit smoking. The house isn�t going to fall down because it�s dirty.) Read and post as much as you need to. Find yourself a mentor. There were several people on site when I quit whose posts were just what I needed. I searched for their earlier posts and read them all. Find a post that really speaks to you and carry it with you always. Whenever you even think about buying cigarettes, take it out and read it � the crave will pass. I also copied photos of my children onto the post I carried, and promised myself that I�d stare at those photos while I smoked that first cigarette. Tips from many members: breathe through straws, suck hard candy, practice yoga, use relaxation tapes, don�t smoke for just this one millisecond � and then, the next, take up a new hobby that takes both hands or can�t be done while smoking, read The Easyway to Stop Smoking, and REWARD yourself (This is important. It trains your brain to believe NOT smoking is rewarding.) Quit already, but having a hard time staying quit? Well, think of it this way. Wouldn�t you rather have craves for a little while now, instead of having them for the rest of your life? Every time you light another cigarette, you�re just starting the cycle all over again. Get through the first few weeks, and you�ll never have to feel that way again. Numerous times on this site, I�ve read, �why didn�t I quit years ago�? We all feel that way. If you could feel exactly like I did in May and then feel exactly like I do right now, you�d say, �WOW! Am I going to feel that good?� Need more help? Read these: (Sorry, the URL�s I plugged in this section no longer work. I�ll try to find some of them later. They�re wonderful posts that helped me immensely during my quit.) Discouraged? Here and Here Want to know when the craves will stop? Go here Need a laugh?Here and Here Angry? Go here Need to know you�re not the only one feeling this way? Here Kicking yourself? Need help to jump back on the wagon? Read ladybugs response to This Think your day is bad? Read this Want to read a GREAT quit diary? Read this and this Need reinforcement? If all else fails, Read this Quit for yourself, your family, your health, your self esteem, your finances, or just to prove that you can. Just quit. You will be so glad you did. The SSC is the place. Now is the time. Not cravin', never cavin'. Hummy THIS WILL HELP YOU (posted on 7.19.05) Over the past 75 days, I�ve spent a considerable amount of time on the SSC site. Our microcosm of society has afforded me a welcome refuge during my journey to quit smoking. It reminds me of a line from the old hymn Amazing Grace: �I once was lost, but now am found.� In my previous attempts to quit smoking, I was lost, didn�t have the knowledge or support that I apparently needed. Now, with the help of the SSC and the encouragement from its members, I�ve found quitting, not easy, but doable. I�ve saved numerous posts. Hopefully, these nuggets of wisdom will help you quit, or stay quit, or decide to quit. What I�ve learned from: Arenshay/Sher - the calm, collected voice of reason: I smoked for such a long time I didn�t even realize how much time I spent just managing my smoking and the required supplies! I also love it now that I don�t think twice before accepting invitations because I don�t need to smoke. I can go anywhere for any amount of time and I will be comfortable. That must be akin to the feeling prisoners have when they first get released from jail. Sweet, sweet freedom. For the rest of my life I get to enjoy the pride and joy of knowing I finally found the strength within me to beat this thing, plus I get to enjoy all of the daily pleasures of living as a nonsmoker. -You have the power within you to beat this addiction and to go on with your life without that horrid, nasty, foul smelling habit. You will be so proud and happy when you reach freedom from addiction - and you already have a super start on that. Please don't throw those nine days away. Believe in yourself and in your power to quit smoking for good. I know you absolutely can do this and you deserve to live a clean, healthy life. Read over your reasons for quitting and remind yourself how important it is to heal your body from the ravages of smoking. You can do this! Bogman/Davog � a true Irish gent with a wicked sense of humor, strange dreams and great recipes: Have any of you noticed how utterly ridiculous it now looks when people go around with a fag in their gob? I mean what did we see cool in that?? God I'm glad I don't smoke!!! -After reading a thread by a few at the 20 day mark I thought I'd throw in my ha'penny's worth! I spent the whole of day 20 bawling my eyes!!!I was so depressed and sad!But I tell ya it felt great the next day!You just need to go through that phase of it.As someone told me at the time (it was Rusty I think)it's like loosing your best friend! So I say to you welcome this phase of your quit(for me personally it was the last really intense period),mourn and be righteous about it. -When I smoked I always had to stop myself (from laughing) or I'd go into a horrible gut retching coughing fit. It was so beautiful to laugh again... Brenna � who seems to have something positive to say in every situation: I, too, have quit probably 100 times during my 34 year smoking career....And I was feeling like crap all the time, my chest hurt, I coughed and wheezed, I smelled awful and I was in an out of the doctors office with bronchitias at least every other month......I tried and tried to quit.....and I kept trying till I got it right....and thats what you are doing now.....You lost the battle but you have NOT lost the WAR!!!!!!!!! You will make it this time. Life is great without those awful cigs!!!! Once you reach a certain point in your quit, you will know there is no turning back...... You will LOVE being a non smoker!!!!!!!!!!! Darkmyer/ Mark � if not a writer, Mark chose the wrong vocation � eloquence and truth: At 79 days: My whole quit has been about perception. Perceiving that smoking is relaxing, keeps you going, is supportive, calms you down, makes you feel better, helps you to think, is impossible to give up, will not affect my health yet. These are lies and to suddenly find out that a large part of your life is a lie is a big shock. Shock enough to make some want to return to those lies and not face up to the truth. These truths have perhaps been the most terrifying part of quitting. -At one year: I am still convinced that I have too much to do, to choose to be part of the too late club. I am still learning how to live without smoking. How to tackle something unpleasant without breaking it down into cigarette interval chunks. How to deal with raging emotions that are not dampened with a cigarette. How to deal with fitness and weight without skipping meals. How to reintegrate that 'non smoking you' that you left behind. For me it is no longer about quitting, it is about staying quit and dealing with what and where I am now. I have chosen to live my life without hiding behind a cloud of smoke, even if sometimes I feel like dropping the veil again. It is not an easy road quitting, take each day, one at a time and enjoy the rewards as the come. Live your life don't waste it. Deck/Declan - 48 yr old Irish male, living in smokers' paradise France. : At 41 days: But the best feeling is one of having regained control over one's life and actions. No matter how one dealt with the smoking problem whilst smoking there was always the nagging feeling of inferiority to others who either had never smoked or had been able to quit, plus the negative feelings associated with not being able to achieve something one had set one's mind to, i.e., give up smoking. Being controlled by that little white stick that one stuck in one's mouth every couple of minutes, is not a good image to have of oneself. The feeling of success is probably the most positive feeling plus the fact that having succeeded at something so difficult as giving up smoking - all other plans or objectives become a lot easier with a renewed feeling of confidence - like I can do what I set out to do. Dee � my great friend, adopted buddy, and a straight shooter: -I have admitted that I am an addict, and I know if I cheat- I'm screwed. (I am sorry- it really is that simple, for me. I have to reduce this to black and white. I either smoke or I do not- there can never be an in-between. I can never be a casual smoker.) -I feel like I have passed over the danger zones. I know that I will have to be ever-vigilant. I will always be an ex-smoker- never a non-smoker. I know that I am a recovering addict, and there is no middle road- no gray zone- no casual or social smoking- not one puff ever. But I do not fear a relapse. I watch my husband smoke- sometimes the junkie sneaks up and says, "take a drag- just to see." He is easy to beat down- I know I don't want one. I still have plenty of craves, but these, too shall pass. Fortune cookie says: Nature, Time, and Patience are the three great healers. Duffis/Bob � the voice of wisdom with a heart of gold: Remember: Every time you reach a hand out to help someone else you automatically receive a hand in return. Isn't it terrific how that works? So make sure you keep shouting those words of encouragement and helping others. "C'mon Judy You Can Do It, C'mon Judy You Can Do It." You'll be helping yourself up that hill as well. The quit is 90% attitude towards your self and life in general. -Attitude is 90 percent of recovery. I am in my final years on this earth and every day I wake up is an added blessing. At this stage I refuse to be consumed by addiction, disease, man or beast. I walk by faith every day. I also realize that no man is an island unto his self. This support group means that I do not have to face addiction by my self and that there is a place I can go to feel warm, secure and know that I am not alone in my quest to be free of smoking. (also see �When Will They Stop� in Common Support Questions, and �PLEASE READ� in Forum for New Users & General Discussion, and �Pay Attention You May Learn Something� in Avoiding Relapse and Slipping) Golferman/Joe � knowledge replaces fear: I believe that the change that we need to make is a change in the perspective of how we view life. Sound confusing? Sound deep? Nah. Can everyone attain this? Of course. Will everyone attain this? One can only hope. So what is the �perspective of how we view life�? I think that it is the process by which we see ourselves interfacing with others. How threatened do we feel when we are in situations where some people will be smoking? How satisfied are we with ourselves for being non-smokers? How do we see ourselves living ths new life? Confidence plays a big part in this. Confidence is something that you develop through small successes. Each time you go into a threatening situation and walk away unscathed, you gain confidence. Soon this confidence becomes a lifestyle. Just as you adapted to your past life as a smoker, you will adapt to your new life as a non-smoker by living life as you always have and winning that battle one day at a time. Just as a war is won by one small victory at a time, so to is the reclamation of our lives by small victories over the nicodemon. By not hiding from him, but by challenging him on his own turf, and winning, you will be the person you were, but this time you will be that person smoke-free. In the end, your perspective on how you view life will have changed. You will realize that your life is quite good smoke-free and you never really needed that cancer stick to help you live your life. -Now that my consumption of nicotine has ended with the ending of using the patch, I�m sure I will have some craves the next few days. I will probably have a mini �hell week�. I know this and I�m prepared for it. I will do what has to be done to protect my quit. My life is changing.. for the better. I will adapt to these changes without trying to change others. That is my personal key to success. My quit is my own. My life is my own. Jo4quitters � 6 � years free!!!!: The process is like learning to walk - it takes some patience and a bit of work to find our way...we do some observing and whatever it takes to get started...this along with the natural instinct to stand up and take those first steps...once we do....it may feel a bit unsteady...we hold on a bit and look to others for support...we do our best to keep going but we take little steps to keep the momentum going and give ourselves the chance to build up endurance and balance...we must be patient and take our time....before we know it....we are walking freely and all on our own....as time goes by it is natural that we take walking for granted....no more worries or work...we walk steady and enjoy our new freedom. BUT...no matter how long we have been walking freely....we must keep our eyes open and watch where we are going....if we happen to find an icy spot..we must call on our strategies that keep us from falling. There is no such thing as ONE PUFF for addicts, we would always end up taking ALL of them. A fall can cost us our lives. Joyfulspirit/Cherie � name says it all: People relapse after yrs of recovery for many reasons,,,but the one I hear most is they thought they were ok enough now, haha NOT. People relapse after 2 3 6 10 25 yrs, b/c they stop going to meetings, thinking they've got it under control and they don't need help anymore. Well this room in this site works just like an AA meeting. Just people with a common interest helping each other to succeed! Seeing people come in here and describing what they're going through before they quit and reading what they're going through during that 1st week, etc can be very helpful in keeping one smoke-free. Kiwikeith � New Zealander who is a singer guitarist in an Irish band, and who actually LOST weight at the beginning of his quit: Looking back at my progress over the past 4 weeks, I have come to the conclusion that "it is as hard as you want it to be". That�s not meant to be a smart ass reply, so please let me explain a little. These nasty cravings happen, we can't stop them so we have two choices. we either act on them or ignore them. Since our aim is to stop smoking we should choose to ignore them. Simple right? Hmmm..we all know its not simple otherwise there would be no SSC. I believe the severity of the craving is in direct relation to the amount of mental attention we give it. The craving is not going to go away if we sit there thinking about it for 5 minutes...10 minutes...30 minutes. So keep your mind busy, not easy at times, but possible. Acknowledge the craving, but don't dwell on it. Don't time how long it lasts..get up and do something else. Get your mind involved in another activity or train of thought. The craving is not there if you don't think about it. Ladybugg � compassionate lady with true grit, a gifted storyteller (see her reply to AlvinTostig�s post called �Today would have been 90 days quit for me� in the Avoiding relapse section): You know what Mister Addiction...you will not get the better of me! I've been fighting this thing for tooooo damn long to give up now! I want my freedom damn it! and you are gonna give it to me! I'm tired of fighting you! So you can just go away! Because I know if I gave in now you would win...and I sure as heck am not about to let that happen! I am free of you and I am gonna stay that way!!! -To all of you that are about to quit, or have relapsed and about to try again. I've been where you are and I know it's really hard. But I'm here to tell you (yet,again!) that you can make it. No matter how many times I tried, I never really believed that I could make it. After my last quit lasted only three weeks, I felt like I was doomed to smoking forever and dying a slow, painful death while dragging those I loved through the agony with me. It hurt me so bad that I was smoking again. And it hurt everyone around me. But...I pulled myself along, made adjustments to my plans and tried again. Now I'm two months smoke-free and just in the last week have I started to feel comfortable in my quit. I finally feel like I am going to make it! I can and I will! And so can you! Believe it!! No matter what...NEVER QUIT TRYING!! Life is too short anyway. Life also gives us enough grief without knowingly adding to it ourselves. If we can make a difference...we should. Plain and simple. Lolly: the support/knowledge backbone of the SSC: This pre-quit period is terrible. It is frightening because, as you said, one half of you wants to quit the other does not. The side that does not is the addiction. It is evil ...it will keep putting those negative ideas into your mind. The way to beat that is to be as positive as you can. Think of why you are quitting...it's for your health. Once you quit, you will begin to notice lots of changes to your body. They begin happening quite quickly after you quit, which shows how our bodies want to heal from all the damage we have done to them over the years we smoked. -At 175 days: I feel the FREEDOM from the addiction, and all the amazing health benefits too! I have my life back...it's a great feeling! There is no 'just one' any more, but a great smoke-free life. You can have this too! You can beat the Nicodemon once and for all!!! -The lack of sleep is a bad part for some people, and it makes us even more exhausted than we already are. I really wondered if I would ever sleep again! You have just done something soooo difficult, no wonder you are tired. Kicking any addiction is draining in the extreme! This tiredness is just the situation the addiction wants....it homes in on you as you are a bit down and a bit weak. It hopes to get a fix at last, having been denied for so long. You will deny it the satisfaction of course!!! Luna/Carole �persistence during adversity - taken from her Ahaa moment: Ann and I were alot alike. Ann would never get cancer, I thought. Her positive attitude and her otherwise clean lifestyle would get her through. If Ann ever did get cancer, she would beat it. If ANYONE could beat cancer, Ann could, because she had the most positive attitude of anyone I have ever known. Ann died a few days after I returned home. (also see Luna�s �2 Month Poem� in Forum for New Users & General Discussion) Major Dude/Dan � always there with a lift and a smile and a GREAT positive attitude: Actually I love the camaraderie in here because it really lifts me up from the life I have. It is stressful and hard most of the time. I don't get out much at all as my parental duties take most all of my time. I guess it's my social hour when I get the chance. I am trying to implement a more positive outlook, plus I know it spreads to some of you out there too! Happiness is contagious, just wish I had it full time. Nostradamvs/Melanie � a guiding light complete with humor: �Inform yourself! Read all you can about nicotine and what smoking does to your body. Find out everything you can about the realities of quitting as honesty is a key factor! Be honest with yourself. You know the �it won't happen to me� is wishful thinking - not reality! It can happen to you and it will happen to you if you don�t quit!� -On being real-That�s why noone is ugly here at SSC, because we all understand...we see past the 'no hair, eyes fallen out loose jointedness' and see the REAL people underneath, the REAL struggle we are all fighting and the REAL benefits of quitting -I believe that quitting showed me the light. The light shines differently for all of us, but believe you will see it, because when you do, it is glorious. I feel like I am finally on the cusp of finding the faith I have been searching for all my life. It is the Faith in myself, the faith that I can make peace with myself, become a grounded, centered individual and then use this to help others, like I already do, here and in my real work as a counsellor (yeh ironic huh?). I hope you all have an enlightening experience too. Penitent � This gentle Englishman is the definition of inspiration: At 8 months: This post is not for me; it is for all the new quitters here, especially those who are finding it hard. I want you all to know that whatever day you are on in the first 3 months of your quit I have seen that day. Whether it is day 6, 45 or 74, I have been there and coped. Whatever difficulties you are having with cravings, triggers and emotions, please always focus on the fact that they are not insurmountable, they can be overcome and I implore you meet them head on day after day until you reach my happy position of beating this terrible addiction because I know now at 8 months that I have won. It is over and finished, I am a slave to the cigarette no more, it is done! It can be beaten and I am testament to that, please join me. -At 406 days: When I quit smoking in May 2004 I was very unfit and believed that I would remain that way for the rest of my smoke-shortened life. After quitting smoking I felt better just for that fact and then began to exercise, gingerly! A year later, I am walking regularly between 3-6 miles 3 times a week, taking in the gym 3 times a week (cycling/rowing/running/free weights/stomach crunches) and swimming at least twice a week. I am fitter now at 48 than I was as a smoking 23-year-old. I have lean muscle tone and not an ounce of fat on my body. I have added 14 lbs and weigh a healthy 190 lbs for my 6' 2" frame. I look so much better. Life is grand. The moral? I never thought I would ever be in this position but after demonstrating the same will and determination that conquered smoking and allowing time to take its course, here I am. You can be here too, join me? Rain � my 555 Quit buddy � kept me sane � taught me some Russian: Rain is a young, strong, brilliant woman who left two fabulous posts to the SSC: �Need to know, what was your wake up moment?� and �Want to know you all better�. They are both under the Forum for new users and general discussion. -Day 26: Kept noticing people in cars smoking (wanted one), smelled smoke in the restaurant (sat close to the smoking section, thought it was disgusting). Oh, also called my sis in Russia and had a long conversation about smoking with her (both she and her boyfriend smoke). Tried not to lecture (did a little probably), talked a lot about this website, told her some of the stories (Penitent and luna, Luna's wake up moment), shared with her about my quit buddy Hummy. She said she wasn't ready yet. I told her to just log on and read the posts - they will make her ready! Now that I know this addiction can (and should) be kicked, I am on a mission to let the world know about it. Rusty � determination at its best: You've got to get your most stubborn face on. You've got to hang onto your quit with all your might. You've got to say "Damn the torpedos...full speed ahead!" That's what you've got to do if you want to quit. It is totally a matter of mindset. Forget what your husband or anybody else says or thinks. The people on this site have quit and will be your best support. -Just make sure that in your quiver you have the arrow of determination. That is the very most important ingredient. The other aids will ease your journey, but you must also have a stubbornness and a grit and a mindset that you are through with this addiction once and for all. And, you must recognize that it is indeed an addiction -- if you smoke one cigarette, you might as well put the whole pack in your mouth. -(in response to how long does it take to feel normal) -First of all, don't even worry about how long. Only think about right now, this minute, this cigarette not smoked. Get through this one, and then get through the next one. Get through this hour and then worry about the next one. It's just too overwhelming to think in terms of days or weeks or even longer. If you do that, you will just say "What's the use? I can't do this." Anyway, what difference does it make? If I told you, in six months you'll feel completely normal, what would you say? Too long, never mind? Or what about one month, is that too long or just right? Just don't worry about when. Just deal with right now and the cigarette you're not going to smoke. Shevie � a kind, brilliant man with the most researched quit ever: At that time I talked to the doctor about quitting. He told me about nicotine stimulating pleasure centers in the brain and that was why people smoked. Over the next two years, I watched my smoking. I looked at every cigarette I smoked as to why I was smoking it, how I felt, did it help, did it make me feel better, etc. Found out I smoked when I was stressed, bored, angry, upset, anything but happy. When I was happy, doing something I truly enjoyed, I could go for hours without a thought of smoking. Also found out the cigs did not make me feel better and did not fix why I was not happy. The only thing they did was make me feel like crap, wasted my time and money, made my lungs wheeze and gurgle with every breath, made my wife cough when I came in from a smoke and that made me feel guilty, made me unable to laugh past the first "Ha" without a hacking frenzy, made my voice raspy, made me have to stand out in the heat or rain several times a day, ad nauseum. 3galeh!/Wendy � dieting/exercising buddy with a great positive attitude: I don�t understand why they don�t encourage us to eat better and exercise more when we quit. Everything you read says, YOU WILL GAIN WEIGHT when you quit smoking. That seems to be everyone�s biggest fear when they try to quit, I know it was mine. I made up my mind that I would NOT gain weight and give myself that excuse to go back to smoking!! I went on a diet before I quit and lost 6lbs, that got me eating better and smaller portions, so when I quit I kept eating smaller portions and ate a lot of salad, fresh veggies, fruits, etc. I gained 3 lbs and have lost it and 3 more besides. I walk in the morn and after supper, and then I go for a bike ride. It does take a lot of work but to me its worth it. I just joined a gym and worked out for an hour today. I feel wonderful, I have the energy to do all this exercise and I�m enjoying doing it. I have turned my life around and am so proud of myself for it, I haven't felt this good about me in a long time. -at 35 days: I can't believe how good I feel and you know what, this quitting gives you self esteem, maybe because it shows you that you can do this when you were always afraid of failing. I feel good and I'm smoke FREE!!!!!!!!! UFO � this gentle woman has a will of steel: The nicotine takes 3days to leave the body for most quitters. After that it is more a physical addiction, which can be challenging. This is where you need to have your plan of a attack in order. Some here attack with hard candies, and others with exercise, or more hard candies. Have a substitute ready at all times, feel in control. Don't give your power to the nicodemon. Don't let him win. You are the winner here. Always remember the reason why you quit in the first place. The first two weeks are hard, is why they call it 'HELL and HECK week'. You can do it! Just keep strong and post and read here as much as you can. Ask for help and remember no question is stupid. - One time or another people just don't understand what we go through. At those times it is best just to stay clear for awhile till you feel your confidence boost up to face them. If they care at all they will always be there when you are ready. Just take it one day at a time Ladybug. You are very strong with your quit, know that. I cried a river and I did not drown. It does get better. Yoda � beyond wise: This thought helps me often - anybody can do anything for an instant - so I do not smoke for this millisecond - and after a while all those milliseconds add up - but it is never any harder than not smoking for a millisecond. -If you are looking for a reward - then what do you call food tasting better than it has for a long time, the sweet smell of the air after a rain, actually smelling the flowers along the path, the ability to actually walk along the path without lots of stops to catch your breath, being able to spend time focused on something (book, show, meal, kids, whatever) without frantically waiting for a chance to go outside to light up - I suspect you have rewards aplenty if you think about it. There have been many others who have boosted me up, shared their knowledge, and helped me quit: Jemma wrote the sweetest reply to me when I was celebrating 6 weeks � well, it just made my day. And Nan � what an inspiration � she quit smoking after 60 years! And, there are so many new quitters with great ideas and positive attitudes. So, thanks to all of you. Every one of you played a part in my 75 days of FREEDOM! With love and thanks, Hummy [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B]5/5/2005 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 864 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 34,560 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $5,616.00 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 114 [B]Hrs:[/B] 9 [B]Mins:[/B] 17 [B]Seconds:[/B] 21