Happy 4th of July & Happy Quit Anniversary to Me!

I quit smoking 4 years ago today. Since then I've had NOPE (Not One Puff Ever). I used QuitNet for free support and they're still sending me nice emails like this one:


Hello Sherril Johnson!

Your Quit Date is: Sunday, July 04, 2004 at 8:00:00 AM
Test Time Smoke-Free: 1460 days, 21 hours, 13 minutes and 59 seconds
Cigarettes NOT smoked: 7304	Is this still your Quit Date? YesNo
Lifetime Saved: 1 month, 25 days, 19 hours
Money Saved: $1,278.38

Open Gadget

Congratulations

WHO'S BETTER THAN YOU TODAY?You've made it! A whole 48 months without a cigarette! In that time, you've successfully navigated the physical chaos of withdrawal, the emotional highs and lows of early quit, and the pitfalls of relapse!
WHO'S BETTER THAN YOU TODAY?Countless times you've refused the offered cigs. More times than that you've craved nicotine, but opted for health, instead. You've endured teasing, lack of support, and feeling uncomfortable and out of place among smokers. You may have had issues with weight, anger, tension or sadness, but still you stayed SMOKE-FREE!
WHO'S BETTER THAN YOU TODAY?You're adjusting to a whole new lifestyle. You're already thinking different thoughts. You've changed habits and routines. You've made new friends and, perhaps, let go of some old ones. You're starting to realize the benefits of living a SMOKE-FREE life. More and more, you see yourself as a non-smoker. We hope you're as proud of you as we are.
WHO'S BETTER THAN YOU TODAY?And while you've been doing all this for yourself, you've been helping everyone here at the Q: your membership in our community, whether active or passive, has demonstrated an ongoing support of the efforts of all of us. We hope you stay with us as you continue your SMOKE-FREE journey to a fuller, richer, healthier life.

Anniversaries

There are many QuitNet members celebrating important anniversaries today. Here are a few of them:

Bracelet (3 days):	zsredhead, xxcarabear117xx, xalwaysxlovexmex, keeler88, 62995wes
Heck Week (14 days):	krebug, 93brand, wwibley, kick-butt, ruready73
Tweener (50 days):	Lucifer6, Scott89119, mvike, jossung, gdcone
3 months:	98newbies, sweetnesskate, hans00, Vauxia, amyjmac

I was supposed to buy myself fresh flowers once in a while with the money I was saving from quitting smoking, but that's an expense that's really hard to justify in my current situation. Some day.

I quit once before for five years. That Christmas I told my father "I will never smoke again." A few months later in a new job where everyone smoked, I was joining in. Lessons learned: Never say never and avoid jobs where lots of coworkers smoke.

I also used the book The Enlightened Smoker's Guide to Quitting by Bear Jack Gebhardt. There's a new version out this year.



I have no idea why, but this time around I have never actually wanted a cigarette again. When I walk by someone who's smoking and smell that smell, my stomach just turns. Always before when I quit, I would like, inhale the smell of someone else smoking and it was a good thing. On that note where I've probably totally grossed out all the non-smokers (as opposed to reformed smokers who know exactly what I mean), I'll close for today with Renee Marie's version of "Lift Ev'ry Voice and Sing" for the Denver mayor's annual state of the city address.