The Grieving Trap

[Giulia]

(photo credit)


You've lost someone you love. Your mother, father, favorite aunt. It might be your best friend, your lover, your spouse. A brother in more ways than one, a grandmother, a pet. There is no one who can replace this person in your life. They knew you in a way no one else could or ever will. You were as unique to them as they to you. You're heart has a hole in it and you don't think it will ever mend.

Smoking will not mend it.

You may feel at this moment that you don't give a damn about anything any more. That life has lost it's meaning and all it's joy. Thoughts may come like this: "Who cares if I smoke? I don't want to particularly live now anyway. There's nothing to live FOR any more."

Yes there is - and it's not smoking.

This is a time of the biggest excuse you'll probably ever have. Everybody will forgive you if you take a cigarette or two now. You're in a weakened state, you're vulnerable, it's understandable, after all.

No - it's not. And because you are in a weakened state and vulnerable you MUST BE ON YOUR GUARD. The alarm bells will be ringing but you won't hear them. You'll be blind, deaf and dumb. And you'll think - well I'll just have one to get me through this.

THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS ONE. AND YOU KNOW IT. DON'T KID YOURSELF.

So - be prepared. Protect your quit at all costs. Think about how you will respond when such an event occurs. And keep this in mind: do you really want to start all over again? With the withdrawals? With the fear, with the constant whispering in your head. Every day away from your smoking self is a day closer to the forgetting of your smoking self.

Keep your quit. It's very precious....to you and to those who love you.

[Giulia]

Well if you're feeling down today, Denise, here's a great big cyber hug for ya! Tomorrow is, as they say, another day. And the light of morning presents a whole new imagine on things. We often forget that in the blackness of the night. Hang in.

[Mike in @lanta]

I just want to say that grieving for friends & loved ones isn't the only grief that will pull you back to the smoke. In the beginning of our quits we often feel sad for some unknown reason. That reason is grief. It's a natural thing to feel this way. Cigarettes were our companion through so many highs & lows in our life that it's just like losing a loved one. Don't let this grief get you.

[Giulia]

Excellent point Mr. Mike!

[Jules]

Too True!!! This would make a great blog for the main page. Newbies need to see this.