Quit smoking

[dreadnut]

14 years ago today was my first day of non-smoking, after being a smoker for 25 years. Started when I was 15, had a couple one-year stints of not smoking during that time but always started back up again. Not this time.

A little math, at about a pack and 1/2 per day,that constitutes somewhere in the neighborhood of 7,500 packs of cigs I haven't smoked, or about 150,000 cigarettes, and I've not spent in excess of $20,000.00 on them.

Hey, I should treat myself to a new Guild!

 

[killdeer43]

Hey, I should treat myself to a new Guild!

Congrats on giving up the cigs.
Now get out there and start shopping! :wink:

Joe

 

[guitarjamman]

Congrats on giving up the cigarettes! I know how hard it can be to quit, and having the mental power to stay a quitter (doesn't quite sound right). I was a smoker for over 10 years and decided to quit for the future of my health - I am only 25 and needed to be in better shape. I truly do give you props, the change in lifestyle and re-learning how to have a coffee in the morning without a cigarette or two takes severe dedication.

This occasion certainly does warrant a new guild!

Question for you: do you still get a craving every now and again? I have been smoke free for around 8 months and still get a hankering for a smoke when drinking with my buddies or when undertaking a long drive. Wondering if they fade out in time or if this is just a daily battle I must conquer.

Thanks,

-Zach

 

[Brad Little]

Question for you: do you still get a craving every now and again? I have been smoke free for around 8 months and still get a hankering for a smoke when drinking with my buddies or when undertaking a long drive. Wondering if they fade out in time or if this is just a daily battle I must conquer.

Thanks,

-Zach

I can't speak for the OP, but I quit about 30 years ago and every once in a while I still get a craving. YMMV.
Brad

 

[davismanLV]

First things first, CONGRATS on successfully giving up smoking!! It's the best thing you can do for yourself. Last night I attended the memorial service for one of my best friends mother. She was only 64 and a registered nurse who saved lives and cared for people for 40 years. Unfortunately, she could never give up the cigarettes. She died of chronic emphysema. She did finally manage to quit but, that was two months ago and it was already too late. She left a daughter, a son, and a grandson behind. So sad.

@ Zach, you probably will get craving occasionally, but they do lessen with time. After a couple of years (it's been 12 years for me) they become less frequent and not as strong. 8 months is still kinda fresh.

dreadnut, stopping smoking is it's own reward. Don't ever think it's not. And you've already worked out the financial savings of giving up the habit. But I'm all about celebrating life, and if you need an excuse to buy a Guild, I'd say celebrating life if one of the best ones I can think of.

Now for the more difficult question. What kind of Guild do you celebrate with??

 

[evenkeel]

Huge congrats :!: :!: and I'd say yes, a new Guild should be a reward! Go get one.

 

[killdeer43]

What kind of Guild do you celebrate with??

Hmmm, a Guild as a celebration.....almost redundant! 8)

Joe

 

[Thunderface]

14 years! Way to go, Dread! Here's to 14 x 14 x 14 more!

 

[Frosty]

Hey, I should treat myself to a new Guild!

You don't really think anyone here is going to discourage that reward, do you?

Way to go, dread!

 

[twocorgis]

Congratulations Dread!

I'm coming up on my 10 year anniversary this June 28th. I smoked for about 25 years, and must have tried to quit (and failed) at least a dozen times. What really tipped the balance was watching a close friend get diagnosed with lung cancer. He gave me the news, and then I didn't see him for a few weeks. The next time I saw him, he had a big lump on his head that was a tumor that had metastisized to his brain. I took one look at that and threw all the cigarettes I had in the garbage, and haven't smoked one since, nor have I even had the urge to tell you the truth. My friend didn't live much longer after that, and my quitting was probably the only positive thing that came out of the whole thing.

For me, what really worked was quitting cold turkey, and thinking about myself as a non-smoker immediately. I also resigned myself to the fact that I took even one puff that I was a smoker again. It also helps to view smoking as the filthy disgusting habit that it is (my apologies to all the smokers on the board.

I'm not saying it would work for everyone, but it did for me. Tobacco is a horrible, horrible addiction; probably the worst one there is. I really feel for people that can't seem to break it.

 

[dreadnut]

Zach: Congratulations, especially at your young age, that's the best possible thing you can do for yourself, your family, and your friends. Don't look back. One is too many and a thousand aren't enough. Horrible, noxious, addictive, deadly things they are.

I don't have cravings, trust me, they will fade into oblivion.

We buried my best friend fron high school last year after a 2 1/2 year fight with lung cancer. Over 20 years ago he managed to quit drinking and cocaine, but was never able to quit the cigs, even after having a heart attack. I'm convinced the cigarrette companies formulate their products to be the most addictive drug known to man.

 

[taabru45]

20 grand compounded from the time over smokers lifetime equates out to more than what buying a new house, then burning it to the ground would cost..... :shock: :shock: Crazy? Not really....all you smokers (I used to be one too) perform a death defying act TODAY QUIT SMOKING.....(get a jar and a Guild account and set aside your daily cigarette money for your new dream guitar)....Steffan

 

[cjd-player]

Congrats, Dread. That's quite an accomplishment.
How have the cig companies survived without your cash? :shock: :shock:


Like Tom's friend, my dad smoked all his life and died from emphysema two years ago. Tough to watch. Not a way I would choose to die.

 

[cjd-player]

... It also helps to view smoking as the filthy disgusting habit that it is ...

Neither my wife or I ever smoked. Shortly after we were married, our washing machine broke. We took laundry to my parents' house, where my dad smoked. Some clothes were hung on a clothes line in the basement. When we took them home, they reaked so badly of cigarette smoke, we had to store them outside until we could get them to a laundry. It is filthy.

 

[jcwu]

Congrats!! At $20k, you could buy almost 10 new Guilds, and share with those of us who're congratulating you and helping you stay strong in your resolve to not smoke!

 

[Ross]

Congratulations to all those who quit
It does get easier with time, as the cravings diminish.

 

[adorshki]

@ Zach, you probably will get craving occasionally, but they do lessen with time. After a couple of years (it's been 12 years for me) they become less frequent and not as strong. 8 months is still kinda fresh.

Also alcohol stimulates the urge. I like clove gigarettes (they're tobacco-based) but I only want to smoke if I'm drinking beer.
What's weird is I still get occasional dreams of craving/using something I haven't "sniffed" in like 30 years. :wink:

 

[Zelja]

My Dad grew up in a part of Europe where smoking was very common & used to fill & light his grandfathers pipe as a 6 year old ("Have a puff yourself, lad"). He probably smoked cigarettes from when he was 13 & at 28 was a 2 or 3 packs a day man.

At that age, when he emigrated to Australia via boat in 1967, he had 2 cartons of cigarettes - one as a present for his brother & one for himself. His carton was gone after a week & not having any money he just stopped & has never had a cigarette since. The other carton was delivered to his brother.

Well done dreadnut. Definitely treat yourself to a Guild with the saved money.

 

[Steelpickin']

Congrats,dreadnut!
It was 14yrs ago this past January 20th that I gave em up myself!!
One of the best things WE ever did!!!
I dont smoke the "other stuff" anymore either...although sometimes I do miss that a bit but,
not enough to start that " long strange trip" again! :mrgreen:
Heres to another 14!! clink!! :lol:

Larry

 

[CA-35]

BIG FARKIN CONGRATULATIONS DREAD!!!

I've quit numerous times only to be lured back again by that one drag when you've had a few too many beers. I am 3 years clean now and have learned that one is too many and a pack is not enough. One day at a time. I've quit many things in my years on this planet but I must say those cancer sticks were, and continue to be, the toughest ever.