What else has to change?

In order to actually accomplish my goal of being a non-smoker there are other things in my life that will need to change. Smoking is a crutch, and once I let it go there will be many things that come up that I'll have to find new ways to deal with.

After the initial 3 days the nicotine is basically out of your system. Three weeks into the process most of the other chemicals contained in cigarette smoke are gone as well. This is a very rough time physically, but honestly the hard work really starts about then. It becomes an emotional journey that requires strength of character and determination in order to get through.

So the immediate things that need to change are:
Eating breakfast and making sure I have healthy snacks available throughout the day. Gotta go grocery shopping.

• Drinking lots and lots of water. Just get your Sigg out and go to town.
• Keeping busy... HA! this is the hard one when my life can often just be about sitting around and smoking cigarettes all day! Some ideas include...
• Going to the gym and getting a good cardio work-out in
• Joining a dance class
• Volunteering
• Making dates with non-smoking friends
• Going for a bike ride
• Meditating or going to Yoga
• Taking a bath
• Shopping, getting a pedicure, watching the sunset, reading a great book...

All of these things will help, the trick is to do them consistently. It's really about finding a way to do the behaviours even if I don't yet feel the value of them. It's funny, for a woman who actually does love herself and thinks her life is of high value I honestly have no idea how to take care of myself!

That's what this blog is for.. good start!

My Reasons to Quit Smoking

I will start with my list of reasons that I am quitting smoking. This will be permanent but as I go I will make additions. Like anyone needs a list right? hahaha.. they're evil! Start with that!

• I can't sleep at night because I've had so much nicotine in me all day.
• My lungs ache from smoking more than 1.5 packs each day.
• I stink!
• I spend $10.00 a day on cigarettes...that's $3,500 a year or $70,400 I've already wasted.
• Smoking is the number one thing I want to change about my life.
• I can't take my health seriously until I am a non-smoker
• I care about the environment and then throw cigarette butts on the ground, that makes me a hypocrite.
• My grandmother died of emphysema. I don't want to die the same way.
• I hate giving big tobacco my money.
• I don't have to continue being a drug addict.
• My life is worth more to me than a pack of cigarettes.
• I can't be the person I want to be if I continue to smoke.
• Smoking isn't sexy!
• I want to climb mountains and live free.
• I want to have children someday and mommies don't smoke.
• There isn't anything else in my life that makes me hate myself the way that cigarettes do.
• I don't want to make everyone wait for me while I feed my addiction.
• I don't want to have to go outside and miss things because I need a fix.
• I don't want to be a junkie.
• I want to smell beautiful.
• I want to love myself enough to not kill myself.
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u_8BerrJg0M (thanks tobacco, you killed my mom)
• I hate being a slave.
• I want my power back!
• My teeth are yellow.
• I don't want to die of cancer, heart disease, or lung problems at a young age.
• I want to feel in control of my life!!!

I've had enough

Well it's time. Time to find a way to make a change. What really percipitated this feeling of needing a new life? I guess that would be MEN! ha :)

I was divorced 2 years ago...and not enough has changed in my life since. I'm still bored with myself and totally out of balance. I'd like to find a new partner to share my life with but honestly I just don't have enough of me to share yet. So this is the journey. The journey that leads me to the person I believe I can be. The person that has so much to share.

First order of business is to quit smoking. I quit for six weeks in February of this year. I did well until I let a man take the wind out of my sails. Any of you that have ever smoked will know how hard it is to let it go...however, it is doable but it requires certain changes to be made. No longer can I hide behind a smoke screen and just disengage out of my life. Quitting smoking brings lots of issues up to the forefront of ones mind. Thus the changes needed in my life are finally finding a way to be priorities to me. YAY! (sorta) ha :)

By the way...I am in life a very honest person, I plan to be the same here. If you are easily offended or don't want to hear the reality of my situation I suggest you don't read any further. Honesty with myself and you all is the only way I am going to get to the place I need to be to make the changes I want to make. Read on if you like :)