"What a fellowship, what a joy divine! Leaning on the everlasting arms!"
This pre-supposes the existence of everlasting arms; I like the way an old AA member said it once: Of course I believe in GOD – that’s Group Of Drunks! The fellowship is my Higher Power!
GUS (Gave Up Smoking) is a community support diary for Kossacks in the midst of quitting smoking. Any supportive comments, suggestions or positive distractions are appreciated. If you are quitting or thinking of quitting, please -- join us!
You can also click the GUS tag to view all diary posts, or access The GUS library at dKosopedia for a great list of stop-smoking links. Check it out!
So, today's diary is not to debate the existence of God, or as the dyslexic agnostic would have it, debate the existence of Dog. Today's diary is about the Fellowship that powers support groups, from the oldie but goodies like AA or NA, to the newbies like our little group here, GUS.
And so often, we become aware that one or two individuals may or may not help keep us smober, but the force, the presence of the entire GUS group behind whatever individuals are online and speaking right now, is a power to be reckoned with; a whole that is far greater than the sum of its parts.
And that fellowship (noun) that is greater than any individual member creates fellowship (verb) that is foundational for recovery from any addiction (for many addicts, YMMV).
Google Fellowship+Recovery, and the results are huge: 12-step based, Bible-based, no-God based, pick-the-drug-of-your-choice based, pick-your-sexual-orientation based, and more. There was very little data to be found re recovery and fellowship; fellowship is presumed to be person-to-person contact, not talking about contact.
And so why are we here? No, not the existential questioning, but a little closer to home. Why did GUS start? What barren spot in some Kossacks psyches needed the fellowship of a smoking-cessation support group? On a personal level, why did I, ChocolateChris, decide to join this fledgling group, GUS, and become part of the fellowship found on this site? What makes others with the same goal of quitting smoking and staying quit join GUS?
It's the fellowship - the feeling of being a part of the puzzle (insignificant on its own, but part of a much larger picture with the rest of the pieces), the feeling of having a safety net in the people in this fellowship (that I'm not trying something new without a safety net), and the social support (talking about how to do/say/be anything without a cigarette). It's having a clearing house for information: who did well on nicotine-replacement therapy? What does the body go through with cold-turkey? It's having a sounding board for feelings: is it normal to be depressed? Is it normal to be so crabby? And on a most basic level, it's about creating a new network of friends that are bound by a single characteristic: quitting smoking. That allows the conversations about kids, jobs, health, needlework, camping, sports, and spouses to go on on another level.
For myself, it has always been clear: I really didn't do anything with this quit attempt that I haven't tried before. What made the difference? Being able to log on to dKos and show up at GUS, to bitch, to celebrate, and to commiserate. That is the single reason that I am not smoking today. Thank you, GUSsacks!
Current members of the GUS team! Please post a comment in the butt can if you would like to join, or if your name is here in error:
1BQ, 3rdGenFeminist, Abra Crabcakeya, addisnana, AfroPonix, alstradamus, amk for obama, andsarahtoo, Anne933, aoeu, arcadesproject, Archie2227, ArthurWolf (in memoriam), awkawk, bamablue, barnowl, bgblcklab1, Bike Crash, BirderWitch, bleeding heart, blue husky, Blue Intrigue, bluestatedem84, BoiseBlue, Brahman Colorado, breedlovinit, BrowniesAreGood, bsmechanic, burrow owl, Cen Den, Chocolate Chris, ChurchofBruce, coppercelt, dadanation, dangoch, demkat620, Dexter, DiegoUK, Dingodude, donnamarie, DRo, droogie6655321, duckhunter, EdgedInBlue, Everest42, Fineena, Flea, flumptytail, FrugalGranny, Garrett, gooners, greylox, gchaucer2, Geiiga, grndrush, High Tide, Im a frayed knot, Indexer, indyada, Interceptor7, inventor, itsbenj, Jahiz, JamesEB, Jeffersonian Democrat, john07801, jmadlc55, johngoes, Jyrix, jvolvo's Mom, jwinIL14, kai99, kailuacaton, Kelly of PA, kestrel9000, khloemi, Khun David, Ksholl, labwitchy, Lady Kestrel, ladypockt, langerdang, LarsThorwald, Last Starfighter, Laurie Gator, Lipstick Liberal, litoralis, lmdonovan, luvsathoroughbred, maggiemay, magicsister, marknspokane, mdemploi, michael1104, Mikeguyver, Minerva1157, MinervainNH, mskitty, nannyboz, ncsuLAN, Nick Zouroudis, one pissed off democrat, Ordvefa, OverTheEdge, paige, PaintyKat, Pennsylvanian, phrogge prince, Positronicus, post rational, psycho liberal, PvtJarHead, red mittens, revelwoodie, rkex, roadlion, rosebuddear, SallyCat, Sark Svemes, seenaymah, Scrapyard Ape, sgary, sheddhead, smartcookienyc, spmozart, SpotTheCat, Tay, theatre goon, triciawyse, trueblueliberal, Turn VABlue, Turtle Bay, uc booker, Unduna, Unforgiven, Vacationland, webranding, weelzup, Wes Opinion, willy mugobeer, Wood Dragon, x
Any GUSsack that wants to host a diary is welcome! Pooties, YouTubes, travelogues appreciated! If writing is not your strong suit, please consider hosting an Open Thread for GUSsacks to hang out - keeps 'em off the streets and out of trouble.
Wed PM: West Coast Edition (you are here)
Thu AM: Labwitchy (Open Thread)
Thu PM: Me and my shadow
Fri AM: Who are you? who-oo-oo-oo?
Fri PM: What's your name, little darlin'?
Sat AM: Witchy Woman
Sat PM: (I'm running out of ideas, folks! Please help by signing up!)
Please indicate your interest in being a future diarist by posting a comment in the Butt Can below.