Dog Community

Giving Myself a Pat On The Back

Posted : 6/30/2012 7:35:18 AM

Well, June 30, 1999 I had my last cigarette. I had smoked for 28 years and was doing 2 packs a day of Misty menthol 120's. Often lit one off the one I was putting out.

We wre paiting, I noted how yellow the walls were, decided that was NOT good for our dogs health and when I finished my pack that day, that was it. Exactly one month later I spent the entire day at the hospital waiting for my first grandchild to arrive and went out with my son several times so he could smoke--but I didn't even bum a smoke from him.

Two weeks later we had to evac because of Hurricane Brett. I drove to Austin with Buck, Scooter and cat Pippi in my car. I am a wreck driving in traffic, but had to. Scooter died of heart attack while I was at my brothers and I had to drive home with just Buck and Pippi. I cried the entire 200 miles home.

There was an pack of cigarettes hubby had left under the visor, but I never touched them. I knew then that I had it licked.

My son quite 2 years ago. I have not been able to get hubby to even attempt--says it is to hard, beside he had smoked a couple years longer than I had. This I can tell you, before I ever smoked I could smell it on people, while I smoked I couldn't, but now, the stink is about 3 times what it was before I ever smoked. When hubby gets in off the road and I open up his mesh laundry bag and start taking his clothes out I almost throw up.

Son's wife makes half heart attemtps but it sin't easy enough for her. She wants to take a pill or slap on a patch and never think about a smoke, but it doesn't work that way. You WILL think about it, times you WILL want one. But you just have tomake up your mind you will not do it. I know for sure if I were to ever smoke one, I would go back to smoking. Know to many people who had quit for a coupel fo years, even as many as 5, thought one smoke wouldn't matter and were back smoking in a few days. So I pat myself on the back, 13 years smoke free!

Freedom

Posted : 6/30/2012 8:30:10 AM

Well done, good for you!

You said you did it for the dogs; but you know you did it for you and for all your family, not just the furkids.

Keep it up!

calliecritturs

Posted : 6/30/2012 10:24:24 AM

*Patting Sandra on the Back, TOO*

David and I are both former smokers - it was a promise we made to each other before we got married -- NEVER to start again (because it would likely make both of us start).-- Even 16 years later I still get tempted.

Good job!!

janobonano

Posted : 6/30/2012 12:44:35 PM

That's great! Yes

fuzzy_dogs_mom

Posted : 6/30/2012 1:45:37 PM

Bravo, Sandra. You deserve a pat on the back! I had my first (and last) cigarette when I was 4 years old. My dad was a 2 pack a day smoker and I was always bugging him to let me try one. One day he did - I thought I'd die on the spot and never wanted to try another one. My mom was furious at him, but I think he probably did me a big favor.

Joyce

tacran

Posted : 6/30/2012 2:41:57 PM

Sandra, good for you! I've had many friends and family members struggle with nicotine addiction, including a couple who quit for a long period of time, then took up the habit again. I've never been a smoker, but my mother was, and even though she quit 40+ years ago, she still says that she misses it sometimes and if they suddenly announced they were wrong about all the health dangers smoking causes, she'd take it up again immediately.

We have friends who both smoked -- the husband quit and stuck with it, the wife has tried many times, but still smokes. He is like you -- the smell of her smokey clothes is intolerable. It's hard when two people in the same household aren't both successful in attempts to quit. I hope your husband eventually reaches the same goal you did all those years ago. In the meantime, you deserve many pats on the back!

FrisbyPI

Posted : 7/2/2012 11:29:45 AM

Well done, Sandra!!

tiffy

Posted : 7/2/2012 6:58:33 PM

Congrats!

Johnny&Tessy

Posted : 7/2/2012 7:26:29 PM

You're AWESOME, Sandra!!! I'm coming up on the 10 yr mark for myself! I don't actually know an exact date but it's sometime this summer. Feels good to have all that time between!!!

sandra_slayton

Posted : 7/2/2012 9:46:52 PM

Good for you Johnny. I remember how proud I was when I hit a year smokeless, then 5 years, then 10 years.! Now 13.

There has been no somking in the house since I quit--even company has to go outsdie if they want to smoke. Also hubby decided to never smoke in the car and he hasn't. Of course when we get to where we are going he has to jump out and smoke before we go in. My son that wuit makes his wife go outsdie as well, He had actually never smoked in the house but she did. When they moved inbto their house 2 years ago he told her NO SMOKING IN THE HOUSE. Their kids, ages almost 13 and almost 11 are backing him. Both hate that she smokes at all.

shadowsgin

Posted : 7/3/2012 10:26:24 AM

congrats Sandra!!!!

the_gopher

Posted : 7/5/2012 1:39:52 PM

good for you!!!