Day 7: I Slipped, But I Think It was Good

by Heather Long | More from this Blogger

14 Nov 2006 06:35 AM

Okay, bear with me here. I slipped yesterday. I spent the entire day wanting that cigarette in the back of mind, unlike all the previous days, this little voice never shut up and it never went away. So I slipped, after hours of doing everything I could think of to get my mind off of it, I caved and had a cigarette.

Do you know what?

I didn't enjoy it.

In fact, not only did I not enjoy it - it wasn't what I wanted at all. It didn't help me feel better. It didn't actually comfort the craving I was having. In the end, I made myself finish it and then I put it out and realized that whatever the cravings were I was having - they weren't cravings for cigarettes. I took my nicotine patch off and left it off the rest of the day and I was fine. I'm going longer and longer in each day without the nicotine patch, because I want to wean myself off of it.

Sometimes We Fall Just So We Can Get Back Up

Why do we fall? It's an old question, but it has a great nugget of truth in it. We fall so we can get back up. Today is day 7 and yes, I'm not starting the clock over for one slip. It's been one week since I stopped smoking. Yes, I had a cigarette yesterday, but it wasn't what I wanted and I didn't want another one. I got up this morning and walked out and picked up the pack and I waited for the craving to hit. It didn't.

Yesterday morning I made it three hours before the first pangs struck, today it's been almost two hours and I got nothing. Not only are cigarettes not what I'm craving, I don't want them. I don't want to go and light one up and smoke it.

Yes, I slipped yesterday, but it was a good thing. It taught me stuff and now when the cravings hit, I know to tell my mind to shut up - that's not what it wants anyway.

How are you doing today?

Related Articles:

I Have a Confession to Make

Stop Smoking: Exercise Can Help

10 Reasons to Be Thankful About Stopping Smoking

Day 3: I'm Still Not Smoking

Day 5: My Throat Hurts & My Sinuses Hate Me

Learn more about Heather Long

Heather Long is 35 years old and currently lives in Wylie, Texas. She has been a freelance writer for six years. Her husband and she met while working together at America Online over ten years ago.

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Valorie Delp (49340) 15 Nov 2006 08:42 AM

Good for you Heather! Can we have an e-party when you've gone a month? ;-)

Heather Long (16954) 15 Nov 2006 09:39 AM

I'd love that! Course, when I hit a month -- I might be all cranky by then too. Wait -- that was day 3.