Twas the week before Christmas …
.. and all through the group,
not a quitter was posting
and I’m wondering where is everyone?? Have some of you gone missing
in a mall? Have you been lost in mountains of cards, e and other? Are you
trapped out in pre- Christmas traffic? Where did every one go??
In the past couple of weeks we’ve been joined by about 15 new members.
That means that there must be a least a few of you who have been wondering
what cognitive quitting is about. Have you read through the ‘homework’?
Have you written out your lists? What about an ABC or two? It doesn’t hurt,
really. And it will make quitting so much simpler. Let us help you. This
is traditionally the most stressful time of year and we’re into tho last
couple of weeks of it. Do you have bickering relatives decending on you?
Are you stuck in a steaming kitchen cooking for an army of quests? How are
you being affected by this ‘festive season’? It’d be great to meet some of
our newer members and help them as they get started. How about a roll
call to see who’s here and then we’ll see about sending out the search dogs
for the rest.
Steve
April 26th, 2005 at 11:33 pm
I’m here!! I haven’t posted as I’ve been chatting with Steve and Pam
on AOL, getting primed up on how to do ABC’s, getting my homework
finished…. and setting a quit date - which is to be December 28th.
I’m too new to offer much, but I’d just say either post and share how
things are with your quit, or download an IM and chat to someone like
Steve and Pam who can give so much support. I quitted quietly in the
past and kept failing… this time its so very different. I’m glad I
got fished out of the chatroom on another site, when I was almost
submerged in water…..
Dilly
April 27th, 2005 at 3:22 am
Hello all…
Just a note to let you know I am also here for you. You can email me
privately (patriciaanns@…) if you want or need but this group is
the most effective when we share what is going on with us. For me, being a
manager of a retail store, I sort of lose myself in the middle of all of the
chaos this time of year. But I do make myself available to anyone who needs
another moment of support. Just let me know.
Where I’m at in my quit (4+ yrs), I can only tell you it has been years now
since I’ve let the stress of the season see me grabbing for a smoke. I truly
appreciate this learning for that reason. I was the one who stepped outside
(and it’s snowing here!!!) to grab a smoke while the rest of my family
enjoyed the meal and the after dinner conversation. In fact the whole day
used to be punctuated with my finding a moment to up my nicotine level so I
could enjoy (or try to) what was happening inside my home. I don’t miss the
smell. I don’t miss my grandsons not smooching me when I would lean down
for a hug. If truth be told, I don’t miss any of it. And I have come to
learn a true joy in the ability to enjoy my family completely on this most
blessed day, thanks to Cog Quit.
For those of you who haven’t quit, by this time next year, you could be
enjoying a freedom you can only dream about at the moment. For those of you
who who have already started your journey towards freedom, I congratulate
you and wonder how you are finding this holiday season? Are you enjoying it
more? Have you found your stress levels are a bit less? Hummm… I’m with
Steve, please check in and let us hear how you are doing.
Happy holidays, everyone!
Pat
April 27th, 2005 at 11:28 am
Hi Dilly,
In a sense you’re ‘lucky’ you haven’t quit yet. Most of the group came
to cog quitting either while in detox or while hanging on and casting about
for something that made more sense. Those of you who have the opportunity
to invest time and effort into preparation usualy have an easier time of it
right off the blocks.
The following is a snippet from a chat I had with Jane a week ago (Jane,
forgive me for not clearing this with you first):
<Jane/Nov 26
feel this good. Its not been like this before.
<ddsteve
<Jane/Nov 26
all the time. Living on my nerves, wondering how bad the next crave would
be and what the hell could I do with it. It was like being on some
treadmill somehow.
Dilly, having chatted with you and seen the shift in your thinking already,
I’d bet the farm that you’ll be feeling just like Jane when you’re 2 weeks
into your quit.
I know I’m looking forward to your quit :))
Steve
April 27th, 2005 at 6:43 pm
Hi Jane,
Well done on your 3weeks. The first couple of weeks are indeed quite a
ride. You’ve been preparing ABCs in order to be ready with new thinking for
the situations you experience throughout your day and have been doing
wonderfully well.
I think you’ve been finding that we don’t need lots of different ABCs in
order to comfortably manage most of our day. Which, considering the brain
fog we all get to endure, is probably a good thing.
All you have to do now is continue to do what you’ve been doing,
Steve
April 28th, 2005 at 12:04 pm
I’m here and still reading posts. This is smoke free month 9 for me.
Bobbie
April 28th, 2005 at 4:27 pm
Hi Paula,
And good for you for using ABCs to prepare for the Chrintmas parties. A bit
Steve
Well done on those 2 months
of prep before we step into foreseeable situations, arms Warren with
options that allow us to comfortably walk through tricky situations. If
you get a chance tween parties, maybe you could post a ‘party’ ABC.
April 29th, 2005 at 6:57 am
slipping out to smoke in the garage. No more cigarettes attached to your
choices. And that’s as it should be. That’s how it is with a cog quit.
There is freedom and comfort attached to “life returning to
normal chaos minus the smoking” when our choice not to smoke has become
automatic. Well done Cat. Thanks for posting.
I see you still have an issue with forks
April 29th, 2005 at 2:12 pm
Hi Bobbie,
Steve
It’s hard to believe it’s month 9 already. You’ve really done well.
It’s an easy coast from here to your first yr quit. I’m looking forward to
that party
April 29th, 2005 at 9:39 pm
Merry Christmas Everyone!!!!!!!!!!
Hard to believe that at this time last year I was about a two carton a
(as Dayla said)
week smoker……..and that as New Year’s Eve rolls in, so will my one
year quit.
I have been a slow learner…have struggled with the principles/methods
of cog quit………but they surely do seem to work…..
(at least they do so when supported by the great people on this list)
Special thanks to Steve and Pam………..
and Best Wishes to All in the New Year………
Jean