Call Me A Quitter

Re: Call Me A Quitter

feeds@yuku.com (Joel) — Thu, 23 Nov 2006 17:36:00 GMT

From above:

I saw a discussion up today about people not seeming to know who they are since they quit smoking. It is true that most smokers do not know what it is like to be an adult without cigarettes--they took up cigarettes in their childhood or adolescents, and had cigarettes incorporated into many of their adult thoughts, rituals, and daily practices. They may never have drove to a job in their life without a...

Re: Call Me A Quitter

feeds@yuku.com (JoeJFree Gold) — Sat, 22 Apr 2006 00:27:00 GMT

But once a person quits he or she will quickly learn who he or she is without smoking. The truth be known, the ex-smoker is now the real person that he or she was always meant to be. So many adult decisions and lifestyle adjustments were designed to accommodate smoking. Yes the person may have established a successful existence, but cigarettes still may have held him or her back from reaching his or her maximum potential--not to...

Re: Call Me A Quitter

feeds@yuku.com (Joel) — Sat, 11 Jun 2005 15:02:00 GMT

From above:

John was in pretty poor health when he joined up. He really felt it was probably too late when he quit. But as you can see 12 years later he is still alive and well.

Re: Call Me A Quitter

feeds@yuku.com (JoeJFree Gold) — Thu, 14 Apr 2005 07:01:00 GMT

For Carroll / freeforlife46,

Just know that you should substitute compulsive behavior or conditioned response for the word habit. Cause we all know our thinking it was just a "Nasty Little Habit" helped to keep us trapped and not...

Re: Call Me A Quitter

feeds@yuku.com (Joel) — Thu, 22 Jul 2004 19:50:00 GMT

From: Joel.

Sent: 9/26/2002 7:51 AM

...

Re: Call Me A Quitter

feeds@yuku.com (Joel) — Mon, 15 Sep 2003 02:21:00 GMT

Even people who are sure they are "hopelessly addicted" can succeed over the long-term. It takes the realization that they are indeed addicted but taking control over the addiction is not a hopeless venture. Quitting is possible and staying free is doable for any person as long as he or she understands that to stay smoke free is as simple as sticking to his or her commitment...

Re: Call Me A Quitter

feeds@yuku.com (Joel) — Fri, 27 Jun 2003 14:14:00 GMT

This letter illustrates how even people who were once die hard smokers, people who thought they could never quit, can actually quit smoking and stay off over the long haul. It simply comes to a point where a person must recognize that quitting smoking is a fight for ones life and that to win that fight is as simple as just knowing to never take another puff!

Joel

Re: Call Me A Quitter

feeds@yuku.com (MsArmstrongKIS) — Mon, 05 May 2003 20:33:00 GMT

Thanks so much, Joel! I hope I'm still excited and proud about never taking another puff many decades from now! I hope I always see it as a major accomplishment of my life, something still worthy of guarding carefully and smiling about. I hope I never look back on all of this work I did educating myself as just a fad, and I love seeing and hearing about proof that it can be done, and that others have gone the path that I hope for myself.

Alex...

Re: Call Me A Quitter

feeds@yuku.com (Joel) — Thu, 26 Sep 2002 17:51:00 GMT

I saw a discussion up today about people not seeming to know who they are since they quit smoking. It is true that most smokers do not know what it is like to be an adult without cigarettes--they took up cigarettes in their childhood or adolescents, and had cigarettes incorporated into many of their adult thoughts, rituals, and daily practices. They may never have...

Re: Call Me A Quitter

feeds@yuku.com (DubiouslyDos) — Tue, 30 Jul 2002 19:50:00 GMT

I really appreciate seeing this today - my grandfather Charlie started smoking when he was 9 and got up to 3-4 packs daily, as did this gentleman. He passed away at home when he was only 66. What idiots we all were to feel relief that it was his heart, and not cancer that ended his life. We were thankful he ended peacefully because he was coughing so much.

For years I used his death as an example that a smoker does not only die of cancer - what...

Re: Call Me A Quitter

feeds@yuku.com (Joel) — Tue, 30 Jul 2002 12:04:00 GMT

For Darby:

Just wanted you to know you are not the only one to be happy to be able to call yourself a quitter. John is a quitter for over 13 years now, and is every bit as happy and enthused to be able to use this term about himself today as he was when he first quit. I actually received a lengthy email from him a couple of days ago...

Re: Call Me A Quitter

feeds@yuku.com (Joel) — Sat, 18 May 2002 15:42:00 GMT

You can see from the post above that even after years and decades, the appreciation of being smoke free can still be as important and significant as it is the very first days if you keep remembering where you once were as an actively using nicotine addict and how you never want to be trapped in such an existence again. To avoid chronic withdrawal, further destruction and initiation life threatening illnesses always remember why you originally committed to never take another...

Re: Call Me A Quitter

feeds@yuku.com (Joel) — Sun, 07 Apr 2002 16:27:00 GMT

Hello Deb:

You are not in a haze. I think it's been just about 12 years since they finally categorized nicotine as an addiction. I was just commenting on how when John wrote his original piece, while the scientific community had not yet really accepted the reality that nicotine was an addiction, John himself did. The clinic he was in taught him in no uncertain terms he was an addict.

When it comes down to it...

Re: Call Me A Quitter

feeds@yuku.com (DebD (GOLD)) — Sun, 07 Apr 2002 09:52:00 GMT

Thank you, Joel!
I just being in my nicotine haze, I've lost track as to how long it's been considered an addiction and not just habit. Thank you, Joel, for the continued education, that is why I am here making this my first and final educated quit because I've learned to take it one day at a time and never take another puff. Also that a dose of nicotine is not going to resolve any problems. All the assistance is much appreciated. DebD

Re: Call Me A Quitter

feeds@yuku.com (Joel) — Sun, 07 Apr 2002 04:13:00 GMT

Hello Deb:

I guess I should point out, John in this letter learned that nicotine was an addiction when he was in the clinic 12 years ago. I called it an addiction and treated it as such since 1976. I was just out on a limb and often criticized as being a renegade for making such wild claims. Here is a piece I wrote back in 1982 on the issue. Are you a nicotine...

Re: Call Me A Quitter

feeds@yuku.com (DebD (GOLD)) — Sun, 07 Apr 2002 03:08:00 GMT

Thank you, Joel for posting this! 12 years!! I have difficulty imaging myself at 1month due to past failures but I know I can do this due to the education and support I get here and because I'm taking it one day at a time and will never take another puff! Congrats to the "Quitter"!

Diana, I...

Re: Call Me A Quitter

feeds@yuku.com (Joel) — Sun, 07 Apr 2002 02:37:00 GMT

I saw where Bill W thought the board had a tone of gloom and doom. Thought I would bring up some posts showing that people can actually be happy and excited to have quit smoking--even years later seeing it as a big deal and a great accomplishment. John here exemplifies this feeling 12 years post quit. You can all achieve the same kind of success as long as you always remember the importance of knowing to never take another puff!

Joel

Re: Call Me A Quitter

feeds@yuku.com (childofnite GOLD) — Mon, 07 Jan 2002 23:24:00 GMT

Hmmm... never saw this one before. This guy sure believes in you Joel, as do all of us. It's great that people that have been off that long care to come and post, and share their experiences. It's very encouraging.

Re: Call Me A Quitter

feeds@yuku.com (Joel) — Mon, 19 Nov 2001 15:25:00 GMT

I saw where one of our newest members was writing with great enthusiasm of how much better life was since quitting just two weeks ago, I just thought this one illustrates how some people feel the same enthusiasm for many years if they just keep reminding themselves of what life was truly like when smoking and comparing it to how things improved once they quit. The more accurately you remember what it was like to be a full-fledged smoker with all is expenses, smell, social...

Re: Call Me A Quitter

feeds@yuku.com (Joel) — Thu, 19 Apr 2001 15:10:00 GMT

For Melissa G:

Melissa wrote that reading people who were off 6 months or more was a real help to keeping her motivation up. Many people find this helpful, to hear the experience of people off a long time. The reason being that many people are skeptical of their chances of long-term success, actually believing that people can't quit for a long time or that if they do, they suffer miserably and feel deprived most of their life. Neither fear is true.

It actually will get...

Call Me A Quitter

feeds@yuku.com (Joel) — Sun, 07 Jan 2001 04:08:00 GMT

Yesterday when I was online feverishly trying to process applications and answer emails, I saw a past clinic graduate show up in my buddy list. I flashed off a quick email to him telling him to drop by Freedom and make a post. My reasons was he was a long-term ex-smoker, 12 years now. Most of the responses you see here at Freedom are from people off two years or most actually much less. Then is not surprising since most people here quit in online...