Re: Do you smoke?
Posted: Thu Dec 20, 2012 3:49 pm
First, it always deserves acknowledgment if someone manages to stop smoking. Parts of your post ring a bell with me: In the meantime, November 2011, I have quit smoking, too, and until today I am rather "clean". Yes, "rather", almost every day there is still feel a desire here and there to have a cigarette. Normally, I get along with it by either having a lozenge or a chewing gum; they are always in my pocket for cases of emergency. Another help are pictures in my mind. Such pictures influence our sub-consciousness much deeper than we might realize. I always see in mePhaseolus wrote:I haven't been smoking for 4,5 years ; but it amaze myself that I still feel attracted by a smoke now and then. I can not really say that I am a non-smoker. I guess I am a smoker that nowadays does not smoke, (...)!
- the better consciousness towards my body: It feels so much better not to do this harm to the most valuable that you have, and to keep it healthy.
- the more positive outlook for the future and the old age: The risk of terrible diseases like cancer, strokes, heart diseases etc. is reduced and your old age might be a happier and more active one.
- the money that I save. The average of
is in my pocket now. Every month I calculate how much less I would have if I kept on smoking. (Well, actually it is 
. The other half I spend each month for an additional life insurance. )- the stronger power of my lungs. Sporting such as bicycle riding and jogging is more pleasant now. I can run longer and drive faster and it just feels good. And the lungs do not ache anymore.
And a family man should see that his wife may enjoy a longer and happier time in life by the side of her husband, and the children grow up in a cleaner environment and with the positive orientation of a non-smoking father. And if daddy used to smoke before and then never more, he may serve as a prime examples for his kids that a strong will can achieve a lot.
Yes, now and then, I feel attracted by a smoke, too. And indeed, here and there I wrangle me a one and smoke it. Matter-of-factly, it did help to relieve the "pain" and for a few days it was easier to stand. But there still were these pictures in my mind which prevented me from falling back into old bad habits. The good thing is that I only get ready cigarettes from the pack, and no self-rolled ones. The latter were my favourites during my "active" years as they taste much better and authentical. So, the cigarettes that I smoke here and there are not really tasty and instead of running the risk of becoming addictive again it provides a confimation that it was the right thing to quit smoking. (Contradictory? Who says that I am perfect?)
Now, 13 months later, the desire or "attraction", how you refer to it more aptly, still prevails, sometimes stronger, somtimes less. All in all, the red line is declining. It would be arrogant to say "Me becoming a smoker again? NEVER!" Always expect the unexpected, especially if it comes to addictions, but the present state is that I can hardly imagine to relapse into smoking again.
And at this very moment, I am at home with a cold. (In our company it is not tolerated that we infect our colleagues unnecessarily so we are encouraged to stay at home for a couple of days if we are couging and sneezing distributors of virusses and bacteria.) When having a bad cold there never was a desire for me to smoke. And here "the circle closes" - der Kreis schließt sich: Bad colds are less bad and less painful if we do not smoke (anymore).
See this, too, Phaseolus and all the other (no-more)smokers: There lies another strong point for your "mind picture" on which you may rely if the desire becomes too strong again: You remain healthier and if sickness occurs, the symptoms are milder.
), and I wil 