A co-worker here at the Star said, "I'm getting sick of seeing your blog advertised all over the website. Why can't you just declare victory and be done with it?"
Right. Because quitting usually only takes a few weeks. There must be some other reason so many people keep smoking and die from cancer and emphysema.
Dork.
I cannot declare victory. I don't expect I will be able to for quite some time.
But don't worry ... I don't plan on subjecting you to this indefinitely.
Can you imagine?
Hi there. This is David Bruser. Remember? The reporter blogging about quitting smoking?It's day 245 of the quit. Isn't that interesting? Yeah, well, I had Cheerios for breakfast. The whole box. I now weigh 300 pounds. Well, at least I'm not smoking. Be sure to read tomorrow about my new recipe for saltines and peanut butter. ...
But with some satisfaction, I can say I don't think about smoking every waking minute.
And that, I think, is worth reporting.
It has been several days since my last post. Part of the reason is that I was out of town for several days. Then I had to catch up on other work.
But also - and please don't be offended - I just wasn't thinking about smoking or the blog all the time.
I did not wake up craving a cigarette. I did not sip my morning coffee vividly imagining how a cigarette was missing from the ritual. I simply enjoyed the coffee. When I arrived at the office, I did not log on to my computer itching to fill this space with rants.
Then an editor reminded me it had been days since my last blog post.
And I wanted a cigarette.
Kudos on not posting becuase your moving on! This is great news. Sad for me because I really enjoy reading your blog. I also am quitting, not yet smoke free. I have given myself the quit date of March 20th. The first day of spring. I my preperation(and sometimes defence); I have cut down to maybe a drag a day, and also, reading your blog really helps. I take it your co-worker is a non smoker...? Well, good for them, but they need to understand that what your doing is very helpful for people who feel as weak as I do. Thank you! Good luck!!
Posted by: Stephanie | March 18, 2008 at 12:43 PM
I'm on week five now too...and am now fighting non-smoking depression. I'm serious. I don't have that sharp craving for a cigarette anymore, and I certainly don't think about them 24/7. But there's this nagging fear (which I know is irrational) that my life will never be happy again without cigarettes. It's very depressing. I'm hoping this feeling goes away??? Because my RATIONAL mind KNOWS that my life is much better as a non-smoker, and so I should be happy about not smoking, right? Right?!?
Posted by: Kate | March 19, 2008 at 11:25 PM
Congratulations to everyone who has decided to be a non-smoker. I quit six months ago after a cheery pack a day habit for 30 years that I couldn't face giving up. Well, what a great thrill quitting was! Excluding the first 72 hours it was silly easy as I read a book titled The Easy Way To Quit Smoking by Dr. Alan Carr. What mystifies me is that our government and heath care providers are not sanctioning this twenty year old book as an effective aid to quitting? The common sense of the book makees you not a quitter, but a non smoker. The approach prescribed and endorsed by our health care system of pills and patches just keep you nicotine addicted in a less offensive way. Because I did struggle many times and feared everyday that I would not be happy as a non-smoker I want every smoker to now how easy and liberating it is not to smoke. I personally know of fifteen people who quit in the past six months. It is liberating. Toronto Star, please, do a public service and leave my comment, it is a kindness, not an advert. Thank You
Posted by: Stella | April 12, 2008 at 10:48 AM