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A Celebration of Life!

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Freedom Village is proud to announce
a great milestone reached by:
Freedom Fighter ¹
Cheryl¹
aka
"Chez¹"
~Quit  Smoking By The Grace of God on

Tuesday May 28, 2002~
Year Quit!
Wednesday
 May 28th, 2003

Cheryl's Journey
A One Year Ramble

OMG! Here I am sitting down to write a one-year ramble and I really do not know where to begin. I will approach this with talking about how I feel about my quit now and go backwards. Yeah that’s the ticket.

Well, I recently got back from a business trip and I saw so many smoking people (that is what I call them) shaking the leg and squirming in their chairs waiting for a break to run out of the meetings to make a mad dash outside to smoke. I was so curious that I actually went out in the smoking section and saw these people sucking in on the smokes and chatting to one another about how they were going crazy not having a smoke. I just stood there and smiled, I did not share that I did not smoke, I just had this overwhelming pleasant thought that I am no longer a slave to this! I used to even think that smokers were friendlier and that people that did not smoke were boring.

Well, at this conference of 500 plus people, I found that I was actually missing out on meeting so many other people and really the people who smoke are really much fewer. I did not even talk about smoking or the fact I quit, I just talked about other things and interesting subjects. Just this little trip made me realize that I am not a boring non-smoker I am free!

Oh the list goes on, I saw people racing off airplanes and out of restaurants to go smoke. I could tell who these smoker people were cos’ when they walked in the room, I could smell them! Not only did they reek of smoke, one guy even shared the breath to go along with it, come on buddy eat a mint or something!!!

Besides feeling this newfound freedom from the smoking slave, I woke up one day about a month ago and realized I really do feel better. I do not have that morning cough, any cold or bug goes away much faster and slowly but surely I do not loose my breath as fast going up lots of stairs. Amazing!

If I think back to last March 9, 2002 that is really when it begun. I did try to quit smoking several times from 1989 to 2002, even for 8 months once, but I did not have the sparkle I have now to make it stick. I realize that I can overcome the urge I still get to this day to smoke. I am stronger than this addiction.

Well, on March 9, 2002 I tragically lost my best friend suddenly. After the initial shock of this whole ordeal I was trying to grab on to something I could do to deal with my overwhelming loss.

Somehow, I thought of quitting smoking and even though I was totally not ready at this time, I logged on to BV where I had once been in 1999-2000 to quit smoking and lurked. During this period I selected May 28 to quit as it was my beloved friends favorite day of the year. I thought that would give me something to do and it would be closely connected to my friend.

In April I posted and said I was going to quit and I just went off and smoked my brains off until May 27th at around 10pm I had my last smoke and went to bed! I posted but I also left town the following day to go to conference and visit my family and friends on the West Coast. I think that was my saving grace to get through hell week really. I came home and started to have acupuncture and was chewing the gum. It really did help me tons and I was on the board posting like a mad woman for the first 3 or more months of my quit. I was not only fighting this addiction I was really in a deep grieving for the loss of my friend.

It was the fine people of BV and now on FV that I did not even hurt myself in some pretty dark moments. I had been at my job for almost 12 years and when I told people at the office I was gonna quit, they made comments like "Oh we’ll see." No real support or even asking me "how is your quit". I come home and my dog I know was interested in what I was doing, but she could not talk. The board was the single place that I could come and embrace the love of so many fantastic people that understood me for who I was and what I was going through. These are just words, but for that I feel so blessed and am so grateful.

I now do believe what they say about smokers all really being depressed people hiding behind these chemicals. I was pushing along in my quit and between months two and three I was feeling so lost so dark and so alone that I just cried and cried and cried, well heck I been in tears all year but it was overwhelming.

I tried taking Prozac and Wellbrutrin but I get to many side effects and it makes me feel worse. I realized that I had to do something to make me start learning how to deal with life. Before, smoking did that for me, and I was really walking around in a fog. I prayed a lot and grieved a lot,  and over the last three months of my quit, I have been in a deep spiritual search and by the grace of God I have touched my own spirit.

I am not 100% cured of how to deal with life now that I do not have a cloud of smoke following me around any longer, but I can see a light at the end of this tunnel and can cope so much better. I have fewer anxiety attacks, fewer chest pains and I am more relaxed and can socialize with out smoking out of my skin like when I first started my quit. I did this all working part time in a Smokey bar and I contribute my success this far to all my friends in FV! The board and FV friends I have made were the center of my success!!

One last note: If you are reading this and just started, don’t look back! If you are reading this and have been with me on my journey, I love you and you are a true blessing to me… If you are somewhere in-between, keep on path and know that you can overcome this. Post…Post…Post…

God Bless everyone.

Hugs
Chez

A few words from Texas Mags, Judy T, BubbaJames, Gord, Marsha, Cat & WendyB.


From Texas Mags:)

((((Cheryl))))

Welcome to the porch..It is so good to see you finally make it up here..now grab that rocker..Lets sit and talk for hours about how we're gonna continue this for the rest of our lives..shame we aren't on a REAL porch cause we'd never shut up..you have had many pitfalls in the last year and have managed to stare that Demon down and say be gone..You rock..you have given me so much in the last year but the most important has been your friendship..It means the world to me and you are one very special person and I am so thankful you have entered my life..just think the Demon brought us together..Bet that was one outcome he wasn't banking on..heheh together we have done this but you have been the stronghold..We have cried..We have laughed..We have lended an ear..One day I'd like to make it up where you are. for now I'll just stay here in my a/c all nice and comfy and thankful I ain't having to walk outside to sweat my arse off and smoke to boot..Ok..cheers to you my friend a whole year..

WTG!!!


From Judy T

Hey, Chez...

Big CONGRATULATIONS on getting YOUR ONE YEAR of being SMOKEFREE...that is one great accomplishment and you certainly deserve it.
I am so proud of you for sticking with it and so happy for you.
You have been a good friend and a GREAT SUPPORTER for me so many times.
I hope you do something special for " YOU " today...you have earned it.
Thanks again for your steadfast friendship, and support.
Your Friend,
Judy T

From James aka BubbaJames:-)  

((((Chez¹)))),


We started out in Blairsville and then a few of us decided to build a Village. You were right there with us!

It didn't take long before some trolls started coming onto the board and slamming into me for starting another board and for numerous other reasons. You and a few others were struggling through your quits just as I was but y'all jumped right in trying to protect my feelings and keep the Village a supportive place to all who wanted to use it .

As the months passed in our small community, people became sensitive and feelings were hurt and words taken out of context. We lost many good people but those with forgiveness in their hearts stayed put, they stood firm by our little community, they worked hard to make it survive.   

You my friend are one of those people! When I was at my lowest, and I was being beaten down,  I would often write to you, Mags, Paul, Judy, Dan, Gord, Gracie and other Villagers, family and friends for advise and encouragement. You would advise as best you could even though you were going through some tough times yourself. You would light a candle for me in church and you would keep me in your prayers. You and your prayers  lifted my spirit more than once Chez and I thank you for that. Not only have you stood by me but you have stood faithfully by Freedom Village. No one knows this (well now they do :-) but you have, more than once,  offered to make a donation for the expences for the operation of the Village. You know me well enough that I will continue to pay the bill for as long  as I am capable.   It gives me a sense of stability for the Village  knowing that you care about the board as much as I do.  

You are one of those many Villagers I can sincerely call a " Friend". A friend is forgiving, a friend is there when you  need a helping hand. Thank you (((Chez))) for being a FRIEND!! And speaking of friends, the lady you miss so much, I feel she  has to be a part of this page dedicated to you, I hope you don't mind but I put Kim's memorial in.

Bubba:-)


 
From Gord

Dearest ((((Chez)))

I am so happy to see you make it up here on the porch. I have watched with great pleasure as you have made your way steadily towards this great milestone.

I am soooo honored to have you as a friend, such a kind and caring person. Thank you Chez for always being there in my times of need :-)
Hope you enjoy this wonderful day, and know that you are in my heart as you take the big step to the porch.
CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
(((((((((((gord hugs)))))))))))))))


From Marsha

Congratulaions Chez!!!

You have reached ONE FULL YEAR OF FREEDOM!!! Welcome to the porch!!!! YOU DID IT!!! I hope you are so very very proud of yourself! You did it and you did a great job!!

xoxox
marsha

From Cat

Hey, (((Chez))), congratulations on that one year quit! This is one of the most important anniversaries of your life - it's the beginning of many years of love and respect for yourself and your body. I hope that you do something special on Wednesday because you deserve to reward yourself for a Job Well Done. OK, I'm scooting over now, come on up and have a seat on the porch and welcome!!

- Cat

From WendyB

((((((((((((Chez))))))))))))))

Wtg for you not smoking,. am proud of you !
So keep it up  :)
WendyB aka WBHarleyy



Cheryl's Journey
A One Year Ramble

OMG! Here I am sitting down to write a one-year ramble and I really do not know where to begin. I will approach this with talking about how I feel about my quit now and go backwards. Yeah that’s the ticket.

Well, I recently got back from a business trip and I saw so many smoking people (that is what I call them) shaking the leg and squirming in their chairs waiting for a break to run out of the meetings to make a mad dash outside to smoke. I was so curious that I actually went out in the smoking section and saw these people sucking in on the smokes and chatting to one another about how they were going crazy not having a smoke. I just stood there and smiled, I did not share that I did not smoke, I just had this overwhelming pleasant thought that I am no longer a slave to this! I used to even think that smokers were friendlier and that people that did not smoke were boring.

Well, at this conference of 500 plus people, I found that I was actually missing out on meeting so many other people and really the people who smoke are really much fewer. I did not even talk about smoking or the fact I quit, I just talked about other things and interesting subjects. Just this little trip made me realize that I am not a boring non-smoker I am free!

Oh the list goes on, I saw people racing off airplanes and out of restaurants to go smoke. I could tell who these smoker people were cos’ when they walked in the room, I could smell them! Not only did they reek of smoke, one guy even shared the breath to go along with it, come on buddy eat a mint or something!!!

Besides feeling this newfound freedom from the smoking slave, I woke up one day about a month ago and realized I really do feel better. I do not have that morning cough, any cold or bug goes away much faster and slowly but surely I do not loose my breath as fast going up lots of stairs. Amazing!

If I think back to last March 9, 2002 that is really when it begun. I did try to quit smoking several times from 1989 to 2002, even for 8 months once, but I did not have the sparkle I have now to make it stick. I realize that I can overcome the urge I still get to this day to smoke. I am stronger than this addiction.

Well, on March 9, 2002 I tragically lost my best friend suddenly. After the initial shock of this whole ordeal I was trying to grab on to something I could do to deal with my overwhelming loss.

Somehow, I thought of quitting smoking and even though I was totally not ready at this time, I logged on to BV where I had once been in 1999-2000 to quit smoking and lurked. During this period I selected May 28 to quit as it was my beloved friends favorite day of the year. I thought that would give me something to do and it would be closely connected to my friend.

In April I posted and said I was going to quit and I just went off and smoked my brains off until May 27th at around 10pm I had my last smoke and went to bed! I posted but I also left town the following day to go to conference and visit my family and friends on the West Coast. I think that was my saving grace to get through hell week really. I came home and started to have acupuncture and was chewing the gum. It really did help me tons and I was on the board posting like a mad woman for the first 3 or more months of my quit. I was not only fighting this addiction I was really in a deep grieving for the loss of my friend.

It was the fine people of BV and now on FV that I did not even hurt myself in some pretty dark moments. I had been at my job for almost 12 years and when I told people at the office I was gonna quit, they made comments like "Oh we’ll see." No real support or even asking me "how is your quit". I come home and my dog I know was interested in what I was doing, but she could not talk. The board was the single place that I could come and embrace the love of so many fantastic people that understood me for who I was and what I was going through. These are just words, but for that I feel so blessed and am so grateful.

I now do believe what they say about smokers all really being depressed people hiding behind these chemicals. I was pushing along in my quit and between months two and three I was feeling so lost so dark and so alone that I just cried and cried and cried, well heck I been in tears all year but it was overwhelming.

I tried taking Prozac and Wellbrutrin but I get to many side effects and it makes me feel worse. I realized that I had to do something to make me start learning how to deal with life. Before, smoking did that for me, and I was really walking around in a fog. I prayed a lot and grieved a lot,  and over the last three months of my quit, I have been in a deep spiritual search and by the grace of God I have touched my own spirit.

I am not 100% cured of how to deal with life now that I do not have a cloud of smoke following me around any longer, but I can see a light at the end of this tunnel and can cope so much better. I have fewer anxiety attacks, fewer chest pains and I am more relaxed and can socialize with out smoking out of my skin like when I first started my quit. I did this all working part time in a Smokey bar and I contribute my success this far to all my friends in FV! The board and FV friends I have made were the center of my success!!

One last note: If you are reading this and just started, don’t look back! If you are reading this and have been with me on my journey, I love you and you are a true blessing to me… If you are somewhere in-between, keep on path and know that you can overcome this. Post…Post…Post…

God Bless everyone.

Hugs
Chez





  In Loving Memory
of Chez's good friend ((Kim))
Kim  Renae Zarembski Cucco
February 19, 1963 - March 9, 2002
Dear Kim,

Your smile not only brought us light, you brought us so much laughter. We laughed so hard we would cry. You were not only there in the good times, you were right by my side in the bad times. You were not only a daughter, sister, mother, wife or my friend, you were family.

You not only loved, you taught love, compassion and it was all unconditional. Although you are still with us and love us, you are terribly missed and thought of every waking day and hour. Just like you say, "Whether we are near or apart, you are always in my heart."

May peace be with us, may joy be with us and may our hearts feel with the unconditional love you gave us forever.

Eternally your friend,
LYM XOXOXOXOXO
Nabe (AKA; Cheryl; AKA; Chez)


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