Today is my 5 month anniversary of quitting smoking! Can you believe it? I have to pinch myself some days to make sure I’m not dreaming. Except for the odd craving (which are still surprisingly powerful), I don’t miss it most of the time. My worst time for smoking was in my vehicle while commuting to & from work – now I chew gum. I am proud of this accomplishment!
Below is a wonderful poem Audrey Hepburn wrote when asked to share her ‘beauty tips.’
It was read at her funeral years later.
For attractive lips, speak words of kindness. For lovely eyes, seek out the good in people. For a slim figure, share your food with the hungry. For beautiful hair, let a child run his/her fingers through it once a day. For poise, walk with the knowledge that you never walk alone. People, even more than things, have to be restored, renewed, revived, reclaimed, and redeemed; never throw out anyone.. Remember, if you ever need a helping hand, you will find one at the end of each of your arms. As you grow older, you will discover that you have two hands; one for helping yourself, and the other for helping others.
If you share this with another woman (or all your bloggy friends), something good will happen . . The world will become more beautiful.
Chris Sheridan
May 31, 2012 @ 00:11:23
Congrats on 5 months without smoking! That’s great progress and great news!!! Keep up the good work, Lynda!
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benzeknees
May 31, 2012 @ 07:56:12
Thanks Chris – it means a lot to me to have the support of my bloggy friends!
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Roly
May 31, 2012 @ 03:26:46
Well done. It gets easier as the time goes by 🙂
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benzeknees
May 31, 2012 @ 07:55:29
Thank you, thank you. I think you’re right – there are some days it’s hard to believe I was ever a smoker (& I smoked for over 40 years!)
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SB
May 31, 2012 @ 06:51:07
So proud of you for quitting. Don’t give in to the cravings! The longer you go the more silly it seems that you ever did smoke in the first place. You’re saving time, money and most importantly you HEALTH! Stay strong 🙂
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benzeknees
May 31, 2012 @ 07:54:33
Thanks I’m kinda proud of myself! They have a saying at Quitnet which I used to help me with the first few days: N O P E (not one puff ever). I think of this: NOPE Dope, whenever I get a craving.
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writerwannabe763
May 31, 2012 @ 08:29:02
Really good thoughts…Diane
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benzeknees
May 31, 2012 @ 15:44:35
Thanks!
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El Guapo
May 31, 2012 @ 09:35:00
Great poem, benzeknees.
And congrats on the quitting! I know how hard that is. Fantastic that you’ve made it past the habit part and haven’t gone back!
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benzeknees
May 31, 2012 @ 15:44:10
Every once in a while that old craving sneaks up on me & rears it’s ugly head, but for the most part I don’t even think about it anymore. I was really worried about trying to quit because I started smoking when I was 12 so I didn’t know how to be an adult without smoking. But it seems to have worked out okay. And thanks for your support!
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Pink Ninjabi
May 31, 2012 @ 11:23:32
Amazing, thank you, I shared this on my FaceBook as well. Thank you. 😀
Pink.
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benzeknees
May 31, 2012 @ 15:42:19
Thank you Pink!
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Mark Petruska
May 31, 2012 @ 14:35:35
I’ve had lots of friends try and fail to quit, so it’s nice to see somebody sticking to it. Good job! And love Audrey’s words of wisdom. Definitely sounds like something she would say.
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benzeknees
May 31, 2012 @ 15:41:56
It was both easier & harder than I imagined to quit. I remember once telling my doctor he would need to block a week out of his schedule if he wanted me to quit smoking so he could monitor me in an enforced coma to get over the worst part.
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sandylikeabeach
May 31, 2012 @ 15:02:37
Congrats on being smoke free for five months!
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benzeknees
May 31, 2012 @ 15:39:27
Thank ya Thank ya Thank ya
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DiatribesAndOvations.com
May 31, 2012 @ 15:04:25
It gets easier every day! Keep up the good work!
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benzeknees
May 31, 2012 @ 15:40:08
That’s the plan at the moment although there are the odd days when I truly want a smoke so bad!
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TheIdiotSpeaketh
May 31, 2012 @ 17:26:58
(Former) Nurse Mark says great job!! Here’s to MANY more smoke-free years!! 🙂
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benzeknees
Jun 01, 2012 @ 07:55:01
Thank you Mark, even if I guilted you over here! I couldn’t envision a life without smoking because I had never been an adult who didn’t smoke (I started smoking when I was 12), so I think for a long time this was my hold up to quitting.
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Jeanna
Jun 01, 2012 @ 08:37:10
I have nominated you for the Sunshine Blogger Award 🙂 http://xanaxorrunningshoes.com/2012/06/01/sending-out-the-sunshine/
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benzeknees
Jun 01, 2012 @ 14:11:42
Thank you very much, you’re very kind. It will take me a while to get around to following the rules as I am so far behind.
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The Hobbler
Jun 02, 2012 @ 04:03:14
We are flashmobbing Hotspur today. I thought you might be interested in helping. For more details: http://wp.me/p2pR2U-1n3
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Tilly Bud
Jun 04, 2012 @ 04:19:52
I love that poem.
Congratulations!
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elroyjones
Jul 18, 2013 @ 18:56:11
Maybe a gift/treat is in order with some of the money you saved from quitting? Good for you!
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benzeknees
Jul 18, 2013 @ 23:44:22
One of these days I will treat myself to something I truly want.
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Ron
Dec 06, 2013 @ 19:19:44
Benze, I hope you don’t mind but I copied that wonderful poem by Audrey, so that I can have to read everyday. And what a beautiful poem it is!
Thank you for sharing it!
And CONGRATS on quitting smoking! Brava!
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benzeknees
Dec 08, 2013 @ 22:58:06
You go right ahead & use Audrey’s poem as long as you attribute it to her. Towards the end of this month, it’ll be 2 years since I quit smoking! I thought they were going to have to put me in a coma to help me quit, but I guess not being able to breathe due to pneumonia did the trick.
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