Day 1 – No cigarettes today. Awwww, sh*t!  
Day 2 – Another day without cigarettes. Awwwww, sh*t!  
Day 3 – Why even bother getting out of bed?? Awwwww, sh*t!  
That is pretty much how my final quit started. As written in my profile, I longed for the day when I would wake up and the above would not be my first thought of the day. Amazingly, that happened somewhere in my third week, I think. That was the beginning.  
I had been trying to quit smoking for years. While I will admit most were half-hearted attempts, all ended in failure because I just couldn’t tolerate the pain, or discomfort or the fear of life without cigarettes. I never believed there was life after smoking. I always believed my life without cigarettes would be so miserable, that it just wasn’t worth the effort it took to quit and stay quit. Some call it denial, but I think I was truly brainwashed. As sad as it is, I thought life would not be worth living if I couldn’t smoke. I finally figured out that was my way of keeping myself smoking without too much guilt.  
When I found QuitNet, I found my way to freedom. I learned there were ways to improve my odds of quitting. I read profiles and messages from people who had already quit smoking and seemed to be happy about it. They journaled their thoughts about and struggles with this addiction. Many explained point by point how they succeeded. Reading their stories encouraged me that I could do this, too.  
So I did. No kidding, it was the hardest thing I’ve ever done. BUT it was only that hard for a short, short time. As soon as I learned and accepted that I wasn’t going to smoke again, no matter what, my quit became much easier. It was hard to think I would never again ‘get’ to smoke (I still had the wrong idea, there) so at times I just accepted I wouldn’t smoke for today.  
I think when I began quitting, I had the idea I would learn ‘how’ to quit. I could then go on with my smoking, and if it was ever needed, I could quit. Fortunately, I lived at the QuitStop forum during the first month here. You may not believe it, but since I wasn’t working and have no kids, I had plenty of time to spend reading profiles and messages. In fact, I know I read every single message posted in QuitStop during that first month. That is how I learned there is more to quitting than just not smoking. I learned of triggers and strategies, of floaties and Tweenerville. I saw people who had been quit for a long time, lose a quit and go through hell trying to get another quit going. That taught me that just ‘knowing how’ to quit might not be enough.  
As hard as it was to quit, I started believing the hardest part was staying quit. Once I learned that I controlled my quit, that it was totally up to me whether I smoked again or stayed quit…well, let’s say that was my light bulb moment. Why didn’t I understand that before? I was uneducated about addiction. To newbies I say, know your enemy! Learn as much as you can about addiction. Ask questions and ask for help when you need it 
Now, a thousand days have passed since I last smoked a cigarette. It makes me smile just to say those words. Once more I would like to express my thanks to the QuitNet community for guiding and supporting me on my journey to freedom. There are more names than my poor CRS-impaired memory can recall. To the creators of this web site and those who maintain it, I express my heartfelt thanks. Be very proud of what you do here. It really matters and changes the lives of so many. It certainly changed mine.  
And now, for the ceremonial part….I ascend the Grand Staircase and proudly stand with my mentors and friends. I turn, and with a big smile on my face, give my parade wave.   Leejay 
1000 days, 11 hours, 23 minutes and 20 seconds smoke free. 50024 cigarettes not smoked. $7,500.00 and 12 months, 22 days, 3 hours of my life saved! My quit date: 7/15/2000  
CURRENT STATS:  
5296 days, 19 hours, 52 minutes and 53 seconds smoke free. 264841 cigarettes not smoked. $39,720.00 and 67 months, 13 days, 2 hours of my life saved! My quit date: 7/15/2000