What if I stop the gum today?

[bonnie]

Hi Margot,
I lost my father and best friend to cancer..smoking related.
It didn't make me quit. It made me feel guilty for smoking.
I know about the crying and thinking I was losing a friend..
Go to http://www.whyquit.com. and read the Cigarette My Friend.
You will look at this differently.
I still have days I feel like crying. I get over it. Just treat yourself nice and do this for you..
Bonnie

[Jeff]

Margot you will survive now. Do you know why?
I think you already know how so the why part might be not as important.

One thing I see and "feel" reading your last message was right to my heart.

Many people here have seen or felt what you have just posted.

I have an idea though Margot!
Every day that I am a free man from this addiction I look up and smile at my Father and Brother and friends that have died of cancer.

I smile because I KNOW they are so happy for me and US that we are going to try and live out our lives free of smoking.

I smoked WITH my brother as he lived in hospice. We would put him in a wheel chair and go out and smoke. I never even thought about quiting then. But I know he is real happy to see his younger brother not smoking.

I know this is the same with your family and friends too.
They see you and say "YES" she is ready to be free !!
They ARE celebrating with you dancing with you on your journey.

[Mimi]

Margot said:

So, when I say that I am sitting here crying, I'm not kidding. To have lost so many people who meant the world to me in such a short time, and then to have to give up cigarettes---the very thing that seemed to keep me somewhat sane all these awful months---well, it feels like another loss to me, one more thing I have to live without.

Margot, try to look at it this way: You lost so many wonderful, young people in such a short time that stopping your addiction is LIFE AFFIRMING. You are telling the world that you treasure life. That all life is worth the effort and pain of a quit. I just bet that if you asked each of the deceased, regardless of how they died, if they would go through nicotine withdrawal to live a full life there would be a resounding YES!

Dedicate YOUR QUIT TO THEM. Make your quit become something larger than yourself. Cry, if you must. It cleanses the body and soul. Did you know that tears contain chemicals that are negative to our bodies? Tears can be very useful and productive.