I see the 13th post in this string was knocked off the page here. It was an important one to add perspective to the original post. Here is
what Jeanne wrote on 11/15/2004:
"I think this thread needs updating. It's been a year and a half since that BBQ. About six months ago we found out that my brother-in-law, the expert, who had been quit for more than 10 years has, in fact, relapsed back to smoking full-time. He's back to the standing outside to smoke in the cold. He's back to spending his hard-earned money on poison. He's back to suffering withdrawals anytime he has to go more than an hour without nicotine, which is often because he lives and works in non-smoking environments.
He thought he was smoking "for fun" when he "wanted" to, but slavery is never fun. And, in my opinion, it's probably even worse once you have tasted freedom and let yourself go back.
Never take another puff. It's the only way!"
Here are my full follow-up comments from that day that were in the 17th post of this string:
Aren't you glad that you just waited and watched to see how things progressed with Jeff as opposed to taking his comments that day at face value.
There are times when I have done corporate clinics where one person will have really blown a quit big time, but tell others from the group he or she can just smoke occasionally and seem outwardly to have it all under control.
Sometimes a successful ex-smoker hearing this story figures that if the person smoking is saying that he or she can control his or her cigarettes, maybe then he or she can can control it too. So the successful ex-smoker takes a drag. He or she basically has blown his or her quit now.
But sometimes that person when caught smoking will lie about it to another from the group, saying something like, "Sure I smoke every now and then now, but I have it under control." Then the person that he or she is telling his or her lie to blows his or her quit. Pretty soon they are all outside freezing together in the smoking section by the loading dock lying to each other how they will be quitting smoking one day soon.
Our relapse policy makes this kind of group behavior just a little bit harder to pull off. Well actually, our relapse policy makes this phenomena impossible to pull off. People can't relapse here, say that they just had a little slip but are now fine and have everything under control. Their puff took away their voice here and their abililty to influence any other people reading here.
Fortunately they will still be able to read information here at Freedom and at WhyQuit.com if they are ever able to muster the strength to attempt a quit again. They just won't be able to influence anyone else.
It is crucial that every smoker knows that there is no lying to your body. A relapsed smoker may be able to fool those around hin or ger but he or she can't fool his or her own body. The only way to stay smoke free is to honestly believe in your commitment and keep in force your promise to never take another puff!
"I think this thread needs updating. It's been a year and a half since that BBQ. About six months ago we found out that my brother-in-law, the expert, who had been quit for more than 10 years has, in fact, relapsed back to smoking full-time. He's back to the standing outside to smoke in the cold. He's back to spending his hard-earned money on poison. He's back to suffering withdrawals anytime he has to go more than an hour without nicotine, which is often because he lives and works in non-smoking environments.
He thought he was smoking "for fun" when he "wanted" to, but slavery is never fun. And, in my opinion, it's probably even worse once you have tasted freedom and let yourself go back.
Never take another puff. It's the only way!"
Here are my full follow-up comments from that day that were in the 17th post of this string:
Aren't you glad that you just waited and watched to see how things progressed with Jeff as opposed to taking his comments that day at face value.
There are times when I have done corporate clinics where one person will have really blown a quit big time, but tell others from the group he or she can just smoke occasionally and seem outwardly to have it all under control.
Sometimes a successful ex-smoker hearing this story figures that if the person smoking is saying that he or she can control his or her cigarettes, maybe then he or she can can control it too. So the successful ex-smoker takes a drag. He or she basically has blown his or her quit now.
But sometimes that person when caught smoking will lie about it to another from the group, saying something like, "Sure I smoke every now and then now, but I have it under control." Then the person that he or she is telling his or her lie to blows his or her quit. Pretty soon they are all outside freezing together in the smoking section by the loading dock lying to each other how they will be quitting smoking one day soon.
Our relapse policy makes this kind of group behavior just a little bit harder to pull off. Well actually, our relapse policy makes this phenomena impossible to pull off. People can't relapse here, say that they just had a little slip but are now fine and have everything under control. Their puff took away their voice here and their abililty to influence any other people reading here.
Fortunately they will still be able to read information here at Freedom and at WhyQuit.com if they are ever able to muster the strength to attempt a quit again. They just won't be able to influence anyone else.
It is crucial that every smoker knows that there is no lying to your body. A relapsed smoker may be able to fool those around hin or ger but he or she can't fool his or her own body. The only way to stay smoke free is to honestly believe in your commitment and keep in force your promise to never take another puff!
