by Julie L.
Member since:
August 30, 2006

Anniversary

October 07, 2006 09:30 PM EDT
views: 44 | comments: 23

Yesterday, October 6,2006  was my 2 year anniversary for being smoke free!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! If I ccan do it anyone can. I have to brag on myself about this. I smoked more than half my life. My dad passed away two years ago right after he found out he had lung cancer. It scared me and I quit.

I went to Vicksburg, Mississippi last night to one of the river boat casinos. Boy was that place smokey. I woke up this morning with a sore throat, my lungs felt like they were on fire, and my allergies were going crazy. It seemed like everyone around me was smoking and it was all coming my way. But I am still smoke free, except for the second hand smoke from the casino.

I wanted to share in my victory and success with those of you that are struggling to quit or to stay quit or even those who want to quit.

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Comments: 23

Lori Cee Oct 7, 2006, 9:36pm EDT
way to go, sweetie! keep up the excellent work! you go ahead and brag because you should be very proud! im sorry that it was because of the death of your father that you quit but if ever there was a time to, that was it.
Julie L. Oct 7, 2006, 9:51pm EDT
Thanks Lori, I am very proud of myself. It's sad that it took my dad dying to get me to quit, I had known I needed to for a long time. Truthfully, when I first quit I did not think I would actually be able to do it. A few months before my dad's death I had quit for 4 days and it was pure hell all 4 days of it. But when I quit for good, it was not as bad as I thought it was going to be. I guess it was because of circumstances that made it easier.
Sandra L. Oct 7, 2006, 10:22pm EDT
Congratulations and keep it up. I'm proud of you.
Linda R. Oct 7, 2006, 10:30pm EDT
I echo the congratulations. You ought to do something nice for yourself to celebrate.

When I quit (it will be 14 years on Christmas day) I put away $10 a week for the first 5 years and used the money to fix up my kitchen and do some other projects. I figured I would have spent/wasted the money on cigarettes.
William M. Oct 7, 2006, 10:35pm EDT
Congratulations. My wife was over there yesterday. You might have passed her.
julian 'blighted karma' three Oct 7, 2006, 10:42pm EDT
So - your Dad's gift to you... he gave you the will. Congratulations, and well done!
Julie L. Oct 7, 2006, 11:04pm EDT
Thank you all. Yes I do feel as if it was my final Earthly gift from my dad. Otherwise I have no idea where I would ave gotten the will power.

William was she just in Vicksburg or was she at the casino? If she was at the casino, I hope se had better luck thank me.
Cheryl W. Oct 7, 2006, 11:45pm EDT
Congratulations! This is a very big victory and something that you should be very proud of.
Firoze H. Oct 8, 2006, 1:22am EDT
way to go, Julie....personally, I could never understand why people spend good money on a product which leaves an icky feeling in the throat and a lousy aftertaste in the mouth...if you want to feel mellow, drink wine...it's yummy, plus it's good for yr health
Julie L. Oct 8, 2006, 3:40am EDT
Thank you Cheryl!

Firoze, it is an addiction just like any other. At 13, which is when I started smoking, it was the cool thing to do in the group I hung out with. By the time I realized it wasn't cool it was too late I was addicted. As far as wine goes, I don't really care for it.
Diane S. Oct 8, 2006, 10:37am EDT
Wooooohhh Whooooo !! Keep up the good work !!
Barbara B. Oct 8, 2006, 10:39am EDT
Good for you Julie! My grandpa and uncle died from lung cancer. Numerous friends have died from lung cancer, Evelyn, Lera, Jan, all gone. All were smokers. Keep up the fight!
Tiffanie C. Oct 8, 2006, 12:37pm EDT
That is awesome! Be proud! Just don't get too cocky and think you've won and that you can have a smoke "once in a while" that's how I am smoking again now after 2 years of not smoking.
Congrats! This is a HUGE accomplishment!
I'm going to feature this one.
Hilary O. Oct 8, 2006, 12:47pm EDT
Wow!! Keep up that determination and brag all you want, that is really is something to be proud of.
Lisa W. Oct 8, 2006, 1:24pm EDT
Linda, that's an excellent idea. Plus, you've probably saved money on healthcare costs, too!

Congrats again Julie.
Amanda "middle of nowhere" C. Oct 8, 2006, 1:45pm EDT
Congratulations and here's to you, Julie! My pulmonologist has a poster in his office about all the things that happen in your body after you quit...things that happen immediately, things that happen after one year, five years, etc. Of course, now I can't remember any of it-but it's one of the best things you can do for those you love. It greatly enhances the chance that you'll be around for a long time!
Nathan Schauer Oct 8, 2006, 4:22pm EDT
That is great julie - it was one of the hardest things I ever had to do - quitting smoking - I have read it is harder than kicking a heroin habit. Just don't get disappointed in yourself if you slip up. Quitting forever takes time.
CANDY k. Oct 8, 2006, 4:24pm EDT
Happy Anniversary! Haaaaappppy Anniversary! Haaaaaaaapppy Annnnniversary!
Susan *. Oct 8, 2006, 5:41pm EDT
Congratulations...and may this anniversary be the start of many MANY more!
Julie L. Oct 8, 2006, 9:33pm EDT
Thank you all very much.

I won't ever get cocky enough to think I could just have one. That happened once before 12 years ago I quit for a year and decided to just have one. It led right back to me smoking.

I have heard that about it being harder to quit smoking than it is to quit heroine. I have found that caffiene is much harder to quit, especially Dr. Peppers.

Congratulations to all of those who have quit. It is not an easy thing to do but well worth it.

As far as health goes, I used to have bronchitis for 6 months out of every year. I have not had it since I quit smoking.
Val G. Oct 9, 2006, 2:52am EDT
Congrats, Julie! You did one of the best things for your health that you could ever do, and one of the hardest, or so I hear. After being smoke free and going back into a smoking environment, it makes one wonder why people do that to their bodies, doesn't it?
Misty D. Oct 9, 2006, 1:10pm EDT
Very awesome of you julie!! When my husband and I first met, he was a huge chain smoker. I have never smoked because it really bothers my asthma and my eyes get all red and watery. I knew my husband was pretty serious about me when he gave up smoking for me without me asking him to! He had been smoking since he was 12 years old! To me, that said a lot!

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