treepeo
832 posts
Registered:
29 Nov 2017
06 Dec 2017
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Hi Valerie,
I will be spending Christmas with two of my sisters. Both of them smoke. I hung out with them when I first quit, because I figured if I was going to slip, I would rather do it right at the beginning rather than later on. But I didn't slip. I kept my quit.
You know what I did? I told myself that I was proud of myself for quitting. I consciously thought about how hard I worked and how motivated I was, and how many really horrific cravings I had endured. And I said to myself, I am a good role model, and maybe they will learn something from watching me stay smoke free.
Now unfortunately, my sisters still smoke. Further, they did absolutely nothing to support me while I was going through the worst of it. But it doesn't matter any more. I can now look at them and know that I had the strength to quit, and that I have the strength to keep my quit, even though they will be smoking right in front of me. And I still think I am a good role model for them.
I remember how scared I was to try to quit smoking, for so many reasons. And I also remember feeling bad about myself because I smoked. I think we all felt that way. So one day my sisters might look at me and say to themselves, If she can do it, so can I. It would be great if they gave quitting a chance. But if they don't, that's okay, too. At least I know I am showing them that it really is possible to quit. I am living proof of that.