4588686 Posted August 14, 2012 Share Posted August 14, 2012 [quote name='jaime' timestamp='1344898535' post='2467169'] I used to call that "morning coffee" [/quote] I'm just curious, did you quite before or after you went to Bosnia? If you quit before going then you deserve a freaking medal for not relapsing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4588686 Posted August 14, 2012 Share Posted August 14, 2012 In Bosnia we stopped by a Mosque to speak with an imam (Muslim cleric) who was on the Zenica (city we stayed in) inter-faith council with whom I had the following exchange Imam-Cigarette? Me- No thanks Imam-Don't smoke? Me- Not really... Imam- Huh. You are not man *nodes to himself quietly and gazes off into the the distance while taking a drag* Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jaime Posted August 14, 2012 Share Posted August 14, 2012 [quote name='Hasan' timestamp='1344907344' post='2467258'] I'm just curious, did you quite before or after you went to Bosnia? If you quit before going then you deserve a freaking medal for not relapsing. [/quote] My first trip to Bosnia in 97 I was in heaven. My second trip to Bosnia a few years ago was hell Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4588686 Posted August 14, 2012 Share Posted August 14, 2012 (edited) [quote name='jaime' timestamp='1344913668' post='2467306'] My second trip to Bosnia a few years ago was hell [/quote] That's amazing. I honestly have no idea have any former smoker could live in Bosnia for any amount of time and not return just totally relapsed. I can't think of a single smoke free public space I ever experienced there. I guess the bus to Sarajevo? I'm pretty sure that nobody was smoking on the bus to Sarajevo. Teachers didn't even bother to smoke outside. They smoked under an open window in the hallway. We went to a group member's art exhibition and since, you know, smoke damages paintings, they had a designated smoking corner. I was mostly in Zenica but we stayed in a Croat area not to far from Medjugorja and I didn't notice any difference. Edited August 14, 2012 by Hasan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
franciscanheart Posted August 14, 2012 Share Posted August 14, 2012 [quote name='Hasan' timestamp='1344925611' post='2467406'] That's amazing. I honestly have no idea have any former smoker could live in Bosnia for any amount of time and not return just totally relapsed. I can't think of a single smoke free public space I ever experienced there. I guess the bus to Sarajevo? I'm pretty sure that nobody was smoking on the bus to Sarajevo. Teachers didn't even bother to smoke outside. They smoked under an open window in the hallway. We went to a group member's art exhibition and since, you know, smoke damages paintings, they had a designated smoking corner. I was mostly in Zenica but we stayed in a Croat area not to far from Medjugorja and I didn't notice any difference. [/quote] Reading your accounts makes me think I'd either come back a chain smoker, or permanently done. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Papist Posted August 14, 2012 Share Posted August 14, 2012 Exercise.and a lot of chocolate milk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
To Jesus Through Mary Posted August 15, 2012 Share Posted August 15, 2012 [quote name='Aragon' timestamp='1344745210' post='2466381'] Has anyone here been a smoker who has successfully given up smoking? I'm on my first day of quitting now... Any tips? [/quote] I smoked a pack a day for about 9 years. I also love smoking. I still feel that temptation. I LOVE Jaime's answer. For me though, I asked for Our Lady's intercession A LOT... I mean a lot a lot. Every time I wanted a cigarette I would say a Hail Mary. Said more then a Rosary worth everyday... I would get through the nicotine withdraw in 72 hours (drink lots of water) but then comes the hard part... the mental addiction. I couldn't drink for several months, because I know every time I tried to quit in the past that was my weak spot where I would give in again. Exercise. I don't feel like smoking after I work up a good sweat. I asked a bunch of people to pray for me. Count on my prayers!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
To Jesus Through Mary Posted August 15, 2012 Share Posted August 15, 2012 [quote name='Aragon' timestamp='1344745210' post='2466381'] Has anyone here been a smoker who has successfully given up smoking? I'm on my first day of quitting now... Any tips? [/quote] I smoked a pack a day for about 9 years. I also love smoking. I still feel that temptation. I LOVE Jaime's answer. For me though, I asked for Our Lady's intercession A LOT... I mean a lot a lot. Every time I wanted a cigarette I would say a Hail Mary. Said more then a Rosary worth everyday... I would get through the nicotine withdraw in 72 hours (drink lots of water) but then comes the hard part... the mental addiction. I couldn't drink for several months, because I know every time I tried to quit in the past that was my weak spot where I would give in again. Exercise. I don't feel like smoking after I work up a good sweat. I asked a bunch of people to pray for me. Count on my prayers!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gabriela Posted August 15, 2012 Share Posted August 15, 2012 [quote name='jaime' timestamp='1344755600' post='2466433'] I smoked two packs or so a day for 15 years and I LOVED SMOKING!! (Plus I looked totally sexy when I smoked) Anyway, I tried quitting a few times to no avail. Then I figured out what was missing for me. I had to find an end to the sentence "Is this cigarette worth...." where the answer would always always always be no. When I didn't have the correct end to that question, I was able to start up again. For example "Is this cigarette worth the risk of cancer? " Yup I'll take that risk. "Is this cigarette worth the thousands of dollars I spend a year?" Sure I make plenty of money! Finally I was meeting with my spiritual director and we were talking about someone who I deeply cared about and lost contact with. I found out that she became an atheist. This was a struggle for me because we were no longer talking and I was scared for her. My spiritual director suggested that I could do sacrificial acts as a prayer for her possible protection. So I chose to give up smoking as a sacrificial prayer for protection of her soul. That was five years ago. I'm not going to say that quitting smoking was easy or that I don't still miss it from time to time. But every single time I am tempted to smoke, I ask the question "Is this cigarette worth her soul?" The answer has always been and will always be no. Now do I believe with absolute certainty that this act of quitting smoking will protect her soul from hell? Nope. But I know I've done everything I could to help her. And that's enough. You just got to find your own "no" [/quote] Dude, that is totally amesome. I'm inspired. And I smoke a pack a day. :-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhuturePriest Posted August 15, 2012 Share Posted August 15, 2012 [quote name='Hasan' timestamp='1344908030' post='2467268'] In Bosnia we stopped by a Mosque to speak with an imam (Muslim cleric) who was on the Zenica (city we stayed in) inter-faith council with whom I had the following exchange Imam-Cigarette? Me- No thanks Imam-Don't smoke? Me- Not really... Imam- Huh. You are not man *nodes to himself quietly and gazes off into the the distance while taking a drag* [/quote] Hm. Even the Imams can spot a woman trapped in a man's body. How impressive. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gabriela Posted August 15, 2012 Share Posted August 15, 2012 I started smoking at age 12 and am now 32. I smoke a pack a day of Marlboro Lights. I've quit many times, but never for longer than 10 months. For me, stress is the relapse trigger. I'm thinking of taking up boxing to help me quit. I have a lot of pent-up anger. The time I quit for 10 months was the time I went online and read all the smoking-will-do-worse-than-kill-you websites. Once I was informed not just about the tiniest details of what smoking does to you, but also how the quitting process works in your brain and body, it was easier for me to quit. So if you're a cerebral type, I'd say, educate yourself. Maybe make one of those websites your homepage for a while, or sign up for a daily email from them. I also once heard that a woman made an index card with all the things she loved on one side (jogging, kids, disposable income, etc.) and all the things smoking did to her on the other (bad breath, coughing, getting winded walking up stairs, etc.). She kept it in her wallet and anytime she wanted a cigarette, she whipped it out and read it. I made a list like that once, but I didn't have much to live for then, so it didn't work out well. When I quit again, I'll give it another try. Know that the third day is hands-down the worst. Unless you're like me and stress is your trigger, in which case, you will want a cigarette every time you get stressed out until you die. Not to be discouraging, but it's true. Nicotine patches did help me immensely (I've seen addiction counselors and therapists and all that), but they just drag out the process and so prolong the "dangerous" period in which you're likely to relapse. If I quit again, it'll be cold-turkey. I just want it over with. I'd light one of those big Mexican candles to St. Jude, pray a novena to St. Jude, and just generally buddy up real close with St. Jude for a good long time. Good luck, man. People who have quit smoking deserve Purple Hearts. It takes a will of steel to ditch that croutons. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gabriela Posted August 15, 2012 Share Posted August 15, 2012 Seriously? "C-r-a-p" is what's getting turned into "croutons"? That is hilarious! And so are those yia yia commercials. I favorited them in youtube. They're new to me... (I live under a rock). Also, FuturePriest387, I just have to say: Your trailer is a riot. :-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhuturePriest Posted August 15, 2012 Share Posted August 15, 2012 (edited) [quote name='curiousing' timestamp='1345004832' post='2467799'] Seriously? "C-r-a-p" is what's getting turned into "croutons"? That is hilarious! And so are those yia yia commercials. I favorited them in youtube. They're new to me... (I live under a rock). Also, FuturePriest387, I just have to say: Your trailer is a riot. :-) [/quote] My trailer? I'm not sure what you are referring to, but whatever it is you really need to stick around more if you think something I do/say is hilarious. I'm stuck with these boring people who think "normal" senses of humor are better. Edited August 15, 2012 by FuturePriest387 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark of the Cross Posted August 15, 2012 Share Posted August 15, 2012 [quote name='Papist' timestamp='1344966655' post='2467563'] Exercise. and a lot of chocolate milk [/quote] But I used to go for a bike ride as an opportunity to sneak out for a cig and to hopefully get rid of the incriminating smell on my clothes which never worked. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Norseman82 Posted August 15, 2012 Share Posted August 15, 2012 (edited) [quote name='Aragon' timestamp='1344898305' post='2467163'] I'm about ready to attack anyone who so much as looks at me, but it's going good [/quote] Take up hockey, boxing or martial arts to channel the aggression (plus it will require good working lungs so that will also be a good reason to stay away from the cigarettes). Edited August 15, 2012 by Norseman82 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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