Forums / My journey / Ain't Missing You

Ain't Missing You

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  1. efreeman75
    efreeman75 avatar
    296 posts
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    02 Apr 2018
    28 Nov 2018
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    So here's a little more background of my quit.  On Valentine's Day this year, my brother collapsed at work unconscious.  Rushed to hospital - turns out he has a defective heart valve, possibly genetic.  I think about it for a couple of days, and figure if I need to go get some tests done, I might as well quit smoking.  So looking at my family during Family Day weekend, I make the commitment and take the plunge.

    Fast forward 9+ months later, I am still smoke free.  And after months of planning and waiting, my brother is having heart surgery today.  Surgery has been cancelled and re-scheduled numerous times (don't get me started on that!), but finally yesterday afternoon all the pieces aligned and he was told to get ready for today. 

    I dropped his kids off at school this morning, and while driving to my office, the song "Ain't Missing You" by John Waite plays on the radio.  A smirk comes across my face as I turn up the volume and realize that I haven't even had the urge to smoke with all the craziness the last 24 hours has hurled at us.  Life will be stressful with or without cigarettes, but at least without, we are in control.

    I think I've got a new theme song.  Cigarettes - "I ain't missing you at all, since you've been gone away!!!"

    E

  2. jenna lee, quit coach
    jenna lee, quit coach avatar
    265 posts
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    28 Jun 2018
    28 Nov 2018 in reply to efreeman75
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    efreeman75,

    Thank you for sharing your story. So sorry to hear about your brother. Unfortunately, sometimes quitting smoking is the silver lining of the dark clouds in our lives.

    Wow what a beautiful moment for you today with that song! We all wish your brother well in his surgery.

    Best,

    Jenna Lee
    Last modified on 28 Nov 2018 19:52 by jenna lee, quit coach
  3. shazzan
    shazzan avatar
    140 posts
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    06 Nov 2018
    29 Nov 2018 in reply to jenna lee, quit coach
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    Hi efreeman

    Sorry to hear about your brother.  I am sure all our thoughts will be with you until he has recovered.. 
    It is great that you have a song for your quit. There is life after the cigarette and its high time it's finally given you some peace. You don't need cravings to remember your journey and the mantra NOPE... you have a song, and every now and then it will remind you over the years. When you hear it .... it will make you smile and have made this journey so worth while. 
  4. lloyd
    lloyd avatar
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    30 Nov 2017
    29 Nov 2018
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    Congratulations on your quit! I know the Demond's that I fight (less each day though) you have also fought, and even though I don't really know you I am very happy for you. I also find it inspiring that other people  like me who never thought they would be able to quit, are so far along! Keep up the good fight!
  5. rosie1931
    rosie1931 avatar
    50 posts
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    27 Sep 2018
    29 Nov 2018 in reply to lloyd
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    Hi Efreeman

    Yes, thank you for sharing. And I couldn't agree more about our health system.  The anxiety that it causes us having to wait, it simply wasn't like that 20 or so years ago.  I hope your brother is going to be okay.  A sad way for you to quit, but I think for most of us, it takes a very hard kick in the arse, to get us started.  9 plus months is awesome!  50 days here and going strong.  Now, I'm gonna go find that song and turn it into a favourite for me, as well.


  6. treepeo
    treepeo avatar
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    29 Nov 2017
    30 Nov 2018
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    Hi efreeman75,

    I hope that things go well for your brother.  At times like this, I always comfort myself with the thought that they know so much more today than they did in the past, so our chances for a full recovery are that much better.

    Holy cow, I can't believe it's been 9 months already.  A huge congratulations to you!  That's terrific.  Now I am going to smile a secret smile every time I hear that song, too.  I like the way you think!
  7. eagerquit
    eagerquit avatar
    415 posts
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    07 Mar 2018
    30 Nov 2018
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    Hi efreeman75,

    I hope your brother's surgery went well. I had heart surgery myself several years ago. They fixed me up real good and I am enjoying all that I did in the past and more. I quit not long after you and I sure ain't missing them either. My mother drummed it into us a kids to never use that word, so I am feeling a little guilty writing it!

    Wishing everyone another smoke free day!

    Eagerquit
  8. efreeman75
    efreeman75 avatar
    296 posts
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    02 Apr 2018
    30 Nov 2018
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    Hey everybody - just an update - brother's surgery went incredibly well.

    Thank you everyone for all the well-wishes.  It's great knowing and feeling the support of this forum.  We're all in this boat together, and no one gets left behind!!!

    And eagerquit, our mothers sound very similar - I felt like my computer would go up in flames as I typed "ain't".

    Have a great day everyone.

    E
  9. treepeo
    treepeo avatar
    832 posts
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    29 Nov 2017
    30 Nov 2018
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    Hi efreeman75,

    Thank you for updating us on your brother's surgery.  I am so pleased that it went well.  Sounds like he is in very good hands.  We are so lucky to be Canadian, eh?  (Tee, hee, I just had to throw that in.)

    Enjoy a great, smoke free weekend!
9 posts, 0 answered