That was really great, thanks! Came over from the Dry January instagram page. I stopped smoking about 30 years ago, I'd just met my future husband who had stopped 3 years before, he didn't push about it but just said he preferred I didn't do it round him or in his flat, and many things about life were changing at the time, like not going to pubs as much and breaking the beer-and-a-cigarette link, so it was the right time to stop. But I know it was still quite difficult for a while, I thought about smoking and dreamed I was still doing it for years, but now I can't remember or imagine what it was like to be a smoker, though I still remember to be grateful I no longer am! I don't know exactly how I'll build on Dry January, I think I'll carry on for a bit as I have really enjoyed it, and hope I can maintain the benefits, I don't think it'll be too difficult. Good luck on the path you're on!
Hi Jennifer, thanks for responding! I have to confess, I am the last person in the known universe who doesn't have a smartphone, so most apps are of no use to me. I do have a Chromebook, which has a Whatsapp extension and a few other phone-ish things, and I am signed up for Instagram but only to follow, as I can't easily upload photos to it. But I did quite enjoy looking in on the Dry January community there. I also don't do Facebook in any form, which precludes quite a few things, but like the smartphone, this is a positive choice I've made and which I stick to stubbornly!
I know just what you mean about wanting to get to a take-it-or-leave it state with alcohol; I'm not sure it's possible for me but I don't know. different stages of one's life can bring unexpected changes in areas which might have seemed like an inevitable part of one's personality before. I live in France, and drinking wine has become a habit in a very cultural, social and psychological way, I wouldn't say it's become too much of a problem, but I think I wasn't always totally honest with myself or others about how I was using it, and I've welcomed the opportunity to reassess it. I realise, for example, I'm an 'emotional drinker' for better or worse! Since turning 60 a couple of years ago, I very much feel I want to review my life and make some good changes, and that my health, mental and physical, although still good, is something I can't afford to take for granted.
I'd been a fairly regular smoker for about 10 years before I stopped, it wasn't really too hard, and was generally a relief. The dreams were odd though, always about how I'd never really stopped, I'd just been lying about it, and I always woke up confused, but then relieved. My husband, who smoked considerably longer than I did and missed it more, had the same dreams, and once woke up and asked me to confirm that he'd never smoked since we had known each other! I think they've more or less stopped now for both of us, but they went on for a long time.
That was really great, thanks! Came over from the Dry January instagram page. I stopped smoking about 30 years ago, I'd just met my future husband who had stopped 3 years before, he didn't push about it but just said he preferred I didn't do it round him or in his flat, and many things about life were changing at the time, like not going to pubs as much and breaking the beer-and-a-cigarette link, so it was the right time to stop. But I know it was still quite difficult for a while, I thought about smoking and dreamed I was still doing it for years, but now I can't remember or imagine what it was like to be a smoker, though I still remember to be grateful I no longer am! I don't know exactly how I'll build on Dry January, I think I'll carry on for a bit as I have really enjoyed it, and hope I can maintain the benefits, I don't think it'll be too difficult. Good luck on the path you're on!
Thank you for reading, and for sharing your story, Lucy! More evidence that anything we quit does get easier with time!
I want to carry on staying dry, too. I haven’t reached “take it or leave it” yet, and I want that feeling before I drink again.
Just curious, did you like the Dry January app, or was the Instagram community more helpful?
Best wishes for your journey!
Hi Jennifer, thanks for responding! I have to confess, I am the last person in the known universe who doesn't have a smartphone, so most apps are of no use to me. I do have a Chromebook, which has a Whatsapp extension and a few other phone-ish things, and I am signed up for Instagram but only to follow, as I can't easily upload photos to it. But I did quite enjoy looking in on the Dry January community there. I also don't do Facebook in any form, which precludes quite a few things, but like the smartphone, this is a positive choice I've made and which I stick to stubbornly!
I know just what you mean about wanting to get to a take-it-or-leave it state with alcohol; I'm not sure it's possible for me but I don't know. different stages of one's life can bring unexpected changes in areas which might have seemed like an inevitable part of one's personality before. I live in France, and drinking wine has become a habit in a very cultural, social and psychological way, I wouldn't say it's become too much of a problem, but I think I wasn't always totally honest with myself or others about how I was using it, and I've welcomed the opportunity to reassess it. I realise, for example, I'm an 'emotional drinker' for better or worse! Since turning 60 a couple of years ago, I very much feel I want to review my life and make some good changes, and that my health, mental and physical, although still good, is something I can't afford to take for granted.
I'd been a fairly regular smoker for about 10 years before I stopped, it wasn't really too hard, and was generally a relief. The dreams were odd though, always about how I'd never really stopped, I'd just been lying about it, and I always woke up confused, but then relieved. My husband, who smoked considerably longer than I did and missed it more, had the same dreams, and once woke up and asked me to confirm that he'd never smoked since we had known each other! I think they've more or less stopped now for both of us, but they went on for a long time.
Oops, I wasn’t done typing!
American perception is definitely that drinking is part of your culture. :) Good for you for examining how much of that is self-directed.
I think that is my biggest takeaway: Dry January was a great experiment to learn more about myself.
And thank you so much for sharing your quit story. I had the same dreams!
I wish you the very best in your efforts to stay healthy and thriving.
Oh! So you didn’t log into the app every day to get a confetti shower with the message, “You stayed dry today!” Lol, I can’t help it, I enjoy that.
It’s fascinating to me how many people I know will point to Europeans and say, “They drink all the time and they’re healthy.” 🤔
I love this post!
Thanks Duff!