I'm posting my anniversary post a day early because tomorrow is to be a busy day.
January 22, 2007 - I had my last smoke. The first few days were really hard, both emotionally and physically. I had to change habits related to: getting up in the morning; getting ready for bed at night; going to the bathroom; eating meals; driving; yard work; car work; house work; cleaning; celebration; sadness; work; weekends; joys; failures; stress; confusion; happiness; eating out; going to the guitar store; going on vacation; frustration; emotional upheaval; times when I needed a lift; times when I needed comforting; times when I needed to find solace; times when I needed peace; times when I wasn't sure of anything in my world; and so very much more.
After the first few weeks (perhaps even the first month or so) there were still urges that would pop me in the brain like a baseball out of the sun. The silliest or smallest things would make me think about the comfort of a cigarette. Most of the time, I was fine. I just needed to learn how to ride out the need for the nicotine... It's never too late to learn.
Now? I breathe better and feel better. I fight off sickness much faster. When I cough it is because of a germ or something in the air (or wolfing down my food too quickly). So many things in my physiology have improved since I quit smoking. Here, a year later, my heart is finally starting to get over the nicotine doses it used to get.
My sense of smell is better. This is not always a good thing. Walking into a public restroom is MUCH more unpleasant now that my sense of smell has improved so much.
My sense of taste is really about the same. I must be unusual in this. However, the only things that are different significantly different without smokes: coffee (a long-time favorite) tastes like BUTT (as my cubs so eloquently put it once...); Bojangle's tea tastes worse than how I feel about coffee now (perhaps that would be "sub-BUTT" or "über-BUTT"...).
I don't miss the expense. When I can, I spend my "cigarette" money on music, music instrument stuff, the cubs, or eating out. I think I'm still ahead though...
Something else: I DON'T miss having to put up with the "second-coming-of-the-inquisition-and-we-must-make-you-feel-cruddy-because-you're-a-nicotine addict" junk I always used to get at doctor's offices. I don't have to worry about the hotel any more, either. I once had an anus-spawned orthopaedic doctor worry the **** out of me for 15 minutes because of smoking - wouldn't even talk to me about the two full-blown stress fractured vertebrae in my spine. I don't have to worry about the judgments any more. Such a nice freedom. "Do you smoke?" "No. Let's move on to the next thing."
My mustache has lightened in color. Groovy. Well, even if it is because grey is coming in here and there in my fur. But, at least, it's not colored from smoke.
My teeth stay much cleaner now. Without coffee or smokes, and much less tea, my teeth are pretty much like they should be. And my breath is better most of the day long. (Although: I still love to munch on "daddy gum.")
It's been a journey - very much so. It seems so much easier on this side of the year than the other side. But then, I guess most addictions are that way. Sometimes it is one foot in front of the other, sometimes a month passes with hardly a wince of the nicotine demon.
Thank you for reading. If you look forward on the road ahead, you might see me. Stop by and say "hello" when you can.
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