I messed up

[Tina326]

I evolved to vaping full time on March 24th. I picked up a nasty analog twice since then. The first time I was drinking with family members who encouraged me to join them in a smoke. I did. The next day I felt like a failure and felt like my journey had been for naught. I got over it and continued on my merry way. Another time I lit one while visiting my sister. I took one puff and handed it right back, disgusted with the smell and taste. That was three months ago.

I no longer desire a cigarette taste, smell, or anything about it. My family thinks I'm some "new age" nut. (serious backwater folks around here) When they tell me to join them in a smoke, I tell them to join me in a bullet to the face. They know I'm about to go off on a tangent on how smoking decreases life expectancy, etc. and they shut right up. Explain to them that you feel better since quitting and appreciate their support. Give the guilt thing about how you are so proud to have a family who supports you in this. If that fails, kick 'em in the balls.

A slip or five is more or less expected. Don't beat yourself up. There will come a time when the smell of smoke reminds you of all the stinky clothes, cough filled mornings, and shortness of breath you are now thrilled to be rid of. Hang in there. It's coming.

 

[maureengill]

I wish I could say the same, but something hasn't been working for me lately....it's probably the people that I've been hanging around with....access to smokes all the time ect. I'm starting to doubt that I can do this again....it's a shame because I was doing so well....

Unfortunately two weeks ago I found out that my girlfriends nephew passed....suicide from what they said....and unfortunately it brought back a lot of stuff I thought I was finally starting to cope with....

 

[vaporgalinfla]

Maureen - I'm sorry about your girlfriend's nephew.

Hang in there. You definitely can do it again. Think positive!

 

[TexasT]

Vaporgal's right Maureen.

You're a strong woman for such a lovely, tiny gal.

I know danged well you can do it.

And I know we have to love and remember those who go before we do,

but we need to focus on those who are still here and love them too.

And as far as we're concerned your still here, we love you and we want you to quit smoking because we want you to be here for a long, long time.

So love and remember those who are gone.

But stop smoking for us.

TT

 

[Elphaba13]

Ok Maureen honey, it's time for some tough love from Miss Elphaba.

You just have to make the decision to stop. I know it's hard. MAN do I know it's hard. Especially when you have constant access to cigarettes. I live with a smoker. There is always a pack of cigarettes on the bench. They are safe out of the way of little hands, and therefore put on the bench in the kitchen. The same bench I walk past a million times a day. I see them every time I make coffee. Every time I pour a glass of wine. Every time I walk through the kitchen to go to the bathroom, or the laundry, or out the back door. For a long time that stopped me from quitting. Serious craving? No prob, I'll just have a cigarette. For months I used the following excuses:

"I've had a crap day at work, I'll just have one"
"I haven't slept for 3 days, I'll just have one"
"I'm so tired. I'll just have one".
"Hubby's having one, I'll join him. It's only one"
"A cigarette would be great with this coffee, I'll just have one"
"I can't enjoy my wine without a cigarette, I'll just have one"
"I've been hit by a truck! I'm in agony! Surely that means I should be allowed to have a ......med cigarette! I'll just have one".

As you can see, all of the above are excuses. We can sugar coat them all we want, but they are excuses. Why do we do this? Because cigarettes are nasty and horrible and hook us so completely that it's bloody HARD to not have one. They are easy to use. No faffing about with driptips, or chargers, or cartos, or leaks. You just light it up, and voila! You're off and running! So smoking is easy. Not smoking is hard.

However, we are lucky. As anyone who's given up before knows, it's rarely successful. But we have this amazing gift, called vaping. We can have our nicotine, we can have our hand to mouth, we can have our "breathing smoke and fire" and we can have amazing flavours. No, it doesn't give us everything smoking did. It may not give us the same satisfaction, the social acceptance among fellow smokers, the ease of whipping one out and lighting it up. But it also doesn't give us cancer, a terrible cough, a constant stench around us and an empty wallet.

I'm just putting it out there honey. As one struggler to another. It's hard. I KNOW it's hard. But smoking won't solve anything. Please try again sweetie. Don't say you can't do it. You CAN! You did it before. You have been through some total CRAP in the past year, and you have vaped through it. Please keep doing that. And please come here and whinge all you want. We are here to support you, not to judge you. I promise the above is not a judgement of you - it's a reflection of my own life when I was trying to quit, before I realised the only thing stopping me was me.

I say this because I love you. And I believe in you. And you were a huge inspiration to me when I started vaping, and you continue to be. You CAN do this. Now hold out your hand for smacks or get your little chair or whatever way it is that you want us to punish you, fill one PV with gummy bears, the other with doublemint and go sit in the corner and vape them dry!

Love you love you love you

Me

 

[SecondChance]

Yea what E said!!! Now MG get back to it missy!!

Hugs, SC

 

[TexasT]

Yea what E said!!! Now MG get back to it missy!!

Hugs, SC

Hey SecondChance,

ALL of these ladies really have a way with words, huh?

They all tell it like it is ... Tina, Vaporga, Elphaba and all the others.

Well done!

TT

 

[SecondChance]

Yep TT, they do, exactly why I kept my mouth shut...so I didn't mess up all those purdy words and thoughts..

SC

 

[Norry]

Maureen-It's all been said. I'm just sending you tons of Hugs, loads of Luv and poem that has always Inspired me.

When things go wrong, as they sometimes will,
When the road you're trudging seems all uphill,
When the funds are low and the debts are high,
And you want to smile, but you have to sigh,
When care is pressing you down a bit-
Rest if you must, but don't you quit.

Life is queer with its twists and turns,
As every one of us sometimes learns,
And many a fellow turns about
When he might have won had he stuck it out.
Don't give up though the pace seems slow -
You may succeed with another blow.

Often the goal is nearer than
It seems to a faint and faltering man;
Often the struggler has given up
When he might have captured the victor's cup;
And he learned too late when the night came down,
How close he was to the golden crown.

Success is failure turned inside out -
The silver tint in the clouds of doubt,
And you never can tell how close you are,
It might be near when it seems afar;
So stick to the fight when you're hardest hit -
It's when things seem worst that you must not quit.

Luv Ya Girlfriend!

 

[SecondChance]

That is beautiful Norry, can I keep it?? ....cuz I am gonna anyway!

SC

 

[Elphaba13]

Hey SecondChance,

ALL of these ladies really have a way with words, huh?

They all tell it like it is ... Tina, Vaporga, Elphaba and all the others.

Well done!

TT

What can I say? We are the drama, you boys are the comedy! And we lub you. (and you are both perfectly capable of turning on the purdy words for the girls, you sweet talkers!)

 

[Elphaba13]

Lovely, Norry.

 

[Norry]

Well of course you can SC...The author is unknown but I've always loved it.

 

[Elphaba13]

My sister gave me a bookmark with the first verse of that after my divorce. I never knew there was more than the first verse.

 

[vaporgalinfla]

Maureen - Where are you tonight? If you're out with friends, I hope you're not smoking. But if you are, we forgive you. On the other hand though, please stop and vape some of your favorite flavors. We care about you.

 

[cRaZyIpAdMoM]

You can do it Maureen !!!!!! Big hugs to ya . It is hard sometimes , I understand my whole family smokes . Your doing awesome keep trying