New Year’s Resolutions Blog

Three Weeks In

Saturday, February 17th, 2007

Well, here I am three weeks into my resolution to quit smoking!  I wish I could say that it has been easy, but I would be lying to you.  It’s still very hard for me, but I have smoked for probably 45 years and I can almost liken this to losing a friend. Cigarettes have been my companion for all that time, helping me through stressful situations, even making me feel socially more secure! So, I didn’t really expect it would be easy.

I find that I have to keep reinforcing and reinforcing my commitment to stay strong. I had a routine doctor’s visit yesterday and shared the news with my doctor. Boy, did she make me feel good!  She was high-fiving me and told me how proud she was of me, it was great motivation to continue.  I almost feel like I have an obligation now not to let the people in my life be disappointed! Hey, I will take motivation wherever I can find it.

I’ve rediscovered an old love of mine - jigsaw puzzles! I kind of get obsessed with them so it really helps me not to miss a cigarette so much.  Once I start them, I have a hard time pulling myself away from them, so it keeps my hands occupied doing something I really enjoy and I don’t feel the need to run outside for a cigarette because I can’t pull myself away from the puzzle, ha ha!  They are even available to do online, although I don’t get quite the same satisfaction as I do in handling the pieces to see if they fit. Some people find that knitting or crocheting serves the same purpose - I am not that domesticated. Whatever floats your boat!

I don’t know how many of you out there who are reading this are spiritual, but I do feel like there is something greater than me at work in this.  It seems like whenever I feel like I don’t want to do this anymore, something comes along to steel my determination again.  As I mentioned before, my granddaughter was a big inspiration for me to do this. She and I have been passing the same cough/cold between us for about 3 months now. First, she was diagnosed with ashtma - then when the nebulizer didn’t seem to be of particular help, she developed pneumonia.  So, we are both on antibiotics now, trying to get rid of this for good this time. Thank God she is on the mend now, but it certainly powered me on to stick with my goal.

Then, I came across one woman’s experience with emphysema. I really want to share that story with anyone out there who is still trying to make up their minds about quitting. I will post it in a separate post when I have more time to type it all up…there is a jigsaw puzzle with my name on it!