|
okay
Sept 16, 2004 8:39:33 GMT -5
Post by judyb on Sept 16, 2004 8:39:33 GMT -5
Hurricane Ivan missed us. We're okay!
|
|
|
Post by judyb on Sept 16, 2004 8:39:33 GMT -5
Hurricane Ivan missed us. We're okay!
|
|
|
Post by judyb on Sept 16, 2004 11:00:42 GMT -5
yeah you right!
|
|
|
Post by judyb on Sept 16, 2004 11:00:42 GMT -5
yeah you right!
|
|
|
Post by judyb on Sept 13, 2004 7:05:01 GMT -5
Sign in please!
Keeping a very close eye on Ivan this morning....but not smoking!
6 years, 1 month, 3 weeks, 2 days, 19 hours, 18 minutes and 36 seconds. 78,638 cigarettes not smoked, saving $9,829.77. Life saved: 39 weeks, 1 hour, 10 minutes.
|
|
|
Post by judyb on Sept 13, 2004 7:05:01 GMT -5
Sign in please!
Keeping a very close eye on Ivan this morning....but not smoking!
6 years, 1 month, 3 weeks, 2 days, 19 hours, 18 minutes and 36 seconds. 78,638 cigarettes not smoked, saving $9,829.77. Life saved: 39 weeks, 1 hour, 10 minutes.
|
|
|
Post by judyb on Sept 16, 2004 11:02:02 GMT -5
a late kudo's to you!
|
|
|
Post by judyb on Sept 16, 2004 11:02:02 GMT -5
a late kudo's to you!
|
|
|
Post by judyb on Sept 16, 2004 10:43:06 GMT -5
sorry I'm late!!! Kudo's on overcoming the beast & I hope you're still charging forward!!!!
|
|
|
Post by judyb on Sept 16, 2004 10:43:06 GMT -5
sorry I'm late!!! Kudo's on overcoming the beast & I hope you're still charging forward!!!!
|
|
|
Post by judyb on Sept 7, 2004 11:23:50 GMT -5
“My Cigarette, My Friend?” by Joel Spitzer
How do you feel about a friend who has to go everywhere with you? Not only does he tag along all the time, but since he is so offensive and vulgar, you become unwelcome when with him. He has a peculiar odor that sticks to you wherever you go. Others think both of you stink.
He controls you totally. When he says jump, you jump. Sometimes in the middle of a blizzard or storm, he wants you to come to the store and pick him up. You would give your spouse hell if he or she did that to you all the time, but you can't argue with your friend. Sometimes, when you are out at a movie or play he says he wants you to go stand in the lobby with him and miss important scenes. Since he calls all the shots in your life, you go.
Your friend doesn't like your choice of clothing either. Instead of politely telling you that you have lousy taste, he burns little holes in these items so you will want to throw them out. Sometimes, he tires of the furniture and gets rid of it too. Occasionally, he gets really nasty and decides the whole house must go.
He gets pretty expensive to support. Not only is his knack of property destruction costly, but you must pay to keep him with you. In fact, he will cost you thousands of dollars over your lifetime. And you can count on one thing, he will never pay you a penny in return.
Often at picnics you watch others playing vigorous activities and having lots of fun doing them. But your friend won't let you. He doesn't believe in physical activity. In his opinion, you are too old to have that kind of fun. So he kind of sits on your chest and makes it difficult for you to breathe. Now you don't want to go off and play with other people when you can't breathe, do you?
Your friend does not believe in being healthy. He is really repulsed by the thought of you living a long and productive life. So every chance he gets he makes you sick. He helps you catch colds and flu. Not just by running out in the middle of the lousy weather to pick him up at the store. He is more creative than that. He carries thousands of poisons with him which he constantly blows in your face. When you inhale some of them, they wipe out cilia in your lungs which would have helped you prevent these diseases.
But colds and flu are just his form of child's play. He especially likes diseases that slowly cripple you—like emphysema. He considers this disease great. Once he gets you to have this, you will give up all your other friends, family, career goals, activities—everything. You will just sit home and caress him, telling him what a great friend he is while you desperately gasp for air.
But eventually your friend tires of you. He decides he no longer wishes to have your company. Instead of letting you go your separate ways, he decides to kill you. He has a wonderful arsenal of weapons behind him. In fact, he has been plotting your death since the day you met him. He picked all the top killers in society and did everything in his power to ensure you would get one of them. He overworked your heart and lungs. He clogged up the arteries to your heart, brain, and every other part of your body. In case you were too strong to succumb to this, he constantly exposed you to cancer causing agents. He knew he would get you sooner or later.
Well, this is the story of your "friend," your cigarette. No real friend would do all this to you. Cigarettes are the worst possible enemies you ever had. They are expensive, addictive, socially unacceptable, and deadly. Consider all this and NEVER TAKE ANOTHER PUFF!
|
|
|
Post by judyb on Sept 7, 2004 11:23:50 GMT -5
“My Cigarette, My Friend?” by Joel Spitzer
How do you feel about a friend who has to go everywhere with you? Not only does he tag along all the time, but since he is so offensive and vulgar, you become unwelcome when with him. He has a peculiar odor that sticks to you wherever you go. Others think both of you stink.
He controls you totally. When he says jump, you jump. Sometimes in the middle of a blizzard or storm, he wants you to come to the store and pick him up. You would give your spouse hell if he or she did that to you all the time, but you can't argue with your friend. Sometimes, when you are out at a movie or play he says he wants you to go stand in the lobby with him and miss important scenes. Since he calls all the shots in your life, you go.
Your friend doesn't like your choice of clothing either. Instead of politely telling you that you have lousy taste, he burns little holes in these items so you will want to throw them out. Sometimes, he tires of the furniture and gets rid of it too. Occasionally, he gets really nasty and decides the whole house must go.
He gets pretty expensive to support. Not only is his knack of property destruction costly, but you must pay to keep him with you. In fact, he will cost you thousands of dollars over your lifetime. And you can count on one thing, he will never pay you a penny in return.
Often at picnics you watch others playing vigorous activities and having lots of fun doing them. But your friend won't let you. He doesn't believe in physical activity. In his opinion, you are too old to have that kind of fun. So he kind of sits on your chest and makes it difficult for you to breathe. Now you don't want to go off and play with other people when you can't breathe, do you?
Your friend does not believe in being healthy. He is really repulsed by the thought of you living a long and productive life. So every chance he gets he makes you sick. He helps you catch colds and flu. Not just by running out in the middle of the lousy weather to pick him up at the store. He is more creative than that. He carries thousands of poisons with him which he constantly blows in your face. When you inhale some of them, they wipe out cilia in your lungs which would have helped you prevent these diseases.
But colds and flu are just his form of child's play. He especially likes diseases that slowly cripple you—like emphysema. He considers this disease great. Once he gets you to have this, you will give up all your other friends, family, career goals, activities—everything. You will just sit home and caress him, telling him what a great friend he is while you desperately gasp for air.
But eventually your friend tires of you. He decides he no longer wishes to have your company. Instead of letting you go your separate ways, he decides to kill you. He has a wonderful arsenal of weapons behind him. In fact, he has been plotting your death since the day you met him. He picked all the top killers in society and did everything in his power to ensure you would get one of them. He overworked your heart and lungs. He clogged up the arteries to your heart, brain, and every other part of your body. In case you were too strong to succumb to this, he constantly exposed you to cancer causing agents. He knew he would get you sooner or later.
Well, this is the story of your "friend," your cigarette. No real friend would do all this to you. Cigarettes are the worst possible enemies you ever had. They are expensive, addictive, socially unacceptable, and deadly. Consider all this and NEVER TAKE ANOTHER PUFF!
|
|
|
Post by judyb on Sept 7, 2004 11:18:28 GMT -5
originally posted by Ann on Tuesday, January 09, 2001 - 01:50 pm:
1. Just let it be.
When a feeling does come up just let yourself sit with it, become aware of it and go through it.
2. Breathe.
When you have a difficult feeling take several slow, deep breaths. This helps you center yourself.
3. Remember that you don't have to act on it.
Having a feeling doesn't mean you have to do anything about it right now or ever. A feeling can just be felt.
4. Reach out.
Talking about what you're feeling with someone supportive helps diffuse the rugency of the feelings, and puts them into perspective.
5. Don't judge feelings.
Your feelings are automatically justified, just because you feel them... Even if no one else realizes them. Your feelings are neither right or wrong; there are no 'shoulds' when it comes to feelings.
6. Notice negative tapes.
Take a moment to cut to reprogram your internal computer. Tell yourself nuturing things. Be a loving parent to your inner child.
7. Stay in the moment.
Many of the painful feelings are related to past hurts or fears about the future. This is why bringing yourself back to the present can help you cope better. A baby does this automatically. One minute a baby can be crying from a wet diaper, but as soon as that diaper is changed, that baby is smilig. The baby is not hanging onto the past or worrying about the future.
8. Check out reality.
Because our most difficult feelings often stem from primitive, irrational beliefs and fears, they can have little to do with our current reality.
9. Remember, 'this too shall pass.'
Feelings, like cravings are temporary. No matter how uncomfortable, they do pass in time.
10. Let your feelings thaw out.
If you blocked your feelings off as a child, you may be emotionally numb now. No longer even aware of what you feel. In recovery, you may be in for some surprises the feelings will surface. Getting in touch with your feelings is a process. It might take a while. When you've been numb all your life, it takes a while to thaw out.
from "Willpower's Not Enough" by Arnold Washton, PHD & Donna Boundry, MSW
|
|
|
Post by judyb on Sept 7, 2004 11:18:28 GMT -5
originally posted by Ann on Tuesday, January 09, 2001 - 01:50 pm:
1. Just let it be.
When a feeling does come up just let yourself sit with it, become aware of it and go through it.
2. Breathe.
When you have a difficult feeling take several slow, deep breaths. This helps you center yourself.
3. Remember that you don't have to act on it.
Having a feeling doesn't mean you have to do anything about it right now or ever. A feeling can just be felt.
4. Reach out.
Talking about what you're feeling with someone supportive helps diffuse the rugency of the feelings, and puts them into perspective.
5. Don't judge feelings.
Your feelings are automatically justified, just because you feel them... Even if no one else realizes them. Your feelings are neither right or wrong; there are no 'shoulds' when it comes to feelings.
6. Notice negative tapes.
Take a moment to cut to reprogram your internal computer. Tell yourself nuturing things. Be a loving parent to your inner child.
7. Stay in the moment.
Many of the painful feelings are related to past hurts or fears about the future. This is why bringing yourself back to the present can help you cope better. A baby does this automatically. One minute a baby can be crying from a wet diaper, but as soon as that diaper is changed, that baby is smilig. The baby is not hanging onto the past or worrying about the future.
8. Check out reality.
Because our most difficult feelings often stem from primitive, irrational beliefs and fears, they can have little to do with our current reality.
9. Remember, 'this too shall pass.'
Feelings, like cravings are temporary. No matter how uncomfortable, they do pass in time.
10. Let your feelings thaw out.
If you blocked your feelings off as a child, you may be emotionally numb now. No longer even aware of what you feel. In recovery, you may be in for some surprises the feelings will surface. Getting in touch with your feelings is a process. It might take a while. When you've been numb all your life, it takes a while to thaw out.
from "Willpower's Not Enough" by Arnold Washton, PHD & Donna Boundry, MSW
|
|
|
Post by judyb on Sept 7, 2004 11:17:13 GMT -5
Day 13 Coffee drinking and smoking go together in the minds of many smokers like the proverbial horse and carriage -- so much so that some cigarette quitters feel they must renounce coffee also. But adding the stress of giving up coffee to that of giving up cigarettes can be unduly traumatic. Most cigarette quitters would just as soon postpone caffeine withdrawal, perhaps till the grave. However, you might as wee be advised to cut down on the quantity of caffeine you're taking in. Smokers metabolize caffeine faster than nonsmokers. In one test, caffeine levels went up 46 percent after smokers quit smoking--while still drinking the same amount of coffee. This could account for some of the irritability and nervousness attributed to cigarette withdrawal. So add some decaf to your usual coffee brew, and if need be, alter your rituals. The after-breakfast cup of coffee causes many recent ex-smokers to grieve for their after-breakfast cigarettes. Have that second cup of coffee (maybe decaf) but don't sit around with it. Stroll in the garden. Strum the old guitar you've stowed in the closet. And this is an excellent time to write in your journal--where you can express those feelings you're no longer trying to extinguish with smoke. --------------------- Day14 Two weeks smoke free! You're feeling like a real nonsmoker now, not even thinking about cigarettes for big chunks of time. You may still have bad moments, very likely in the evenings when you're tired and your defenses are low. It's a good idea to acquire new routines to get your mind off sinking into an easy chair with a cigarette. One couple who quit together now each evening take a stroll together. You may need to find things to do with your hands: Set up a picture puzzle, do the ironing, bake bread, groom the dog, sew, take up needlework, make a model airplane, pull weeds, or practice your golf swing. One ex-smoker started making a replica of the Vatican from a cut-out book. "It's incredibly soothing," she says. "I methodically cut, fold, and glue, and the Vatican rises before me." Michelangelo didn't smoke. If he had, at the age of eighty he could hardly been hanging from the Vatican's Sistine Chapel ceiling painting the frescoes.
|
|