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 (or want to support quitters), please - join us! We kindly ask that politics be left out.
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!
Want to make sure you never miss us? Follow (♥) the GUS tag to keep GUS in your Stream. It's just that easy!
A message to all quitters: you don't have to avoid GUS if your latest attempt to quit didn't work out. We won't give you a bad time and we consider the attempted quits as "practice" for the real quit.
So, most of you GUS regulars know my schedule has been a little out of whack lately, and that as a result, I haven't been around her as much as I usually am. Last week, I first tried to change my regular hosting shift, then had to cancel it entirely.
While I was very swamped, both at work and with family things to sort out, if I'm being entirely honest, that's not the only reason I bowed out on Thursday. See, after going through the trouble of rescheduling, I'd expected to at least have something to post that day besides the mission statement, buddy list, and schedule. But as time ticked away and real-life pressures mounted, my potential writing time dwindled away, until it finally evaporated---POOF!----on the day itself. Staring down yet another night of overtime, juggling work and phone calls and family communications, and having to run an unexpected errand, I bailed on the one thing I was absolutely sure I was not going to do right...or at least, sure I wasn't going to be able to do to my own satisfaction.
In other words, my best just wasn't going to be good enough.
I don't know about you guys, but I've had that line of thinking derail my efforts more than once. If it can't be just so, I sometimes find it easier to just not do it. Sound familiar? Not that bailing is necessarily the easy way out, mind you; I actually do struggle with the decision to postpone or cancel a commitment, and try to avoid doing so whenever I can. Sometimes, however, something's got to give...and more often than not, that "something" is the thing I know I'm not going to do very well, for whatever reason.
Part of it is my perfectionist streak, not wanting others to see me do something that's kind of half-assed and perfunctory, or not delivering on something I'd agreed to do (and to do well, according to my own internal standards). Don't get me wrong---I have no trouble hanging out in an open thread; I actually love the random, organic nature of the conversational pathways those tend to spark. But one of the reasons I host a regular GUS diary slot is to give myself a reason to write some kind of essay, one with a theme and maybe some links or images to illustrate it. I like the discipline of having to come up with something new, fresh, and (I hope) useful for the community. I also find it useful for my own purposes; it's a way I can keep my hand in feature writing and sharpen my writing skills, since so little of my day-to-day technical writing has anything of "me" in it. So slapping together an open thread doesn't really serve that purpose, and when I do it--or when I leverage a "I couldn't think of what to write, so I'll write about not knowing what to write about!" impulse into a diary (like I'm doing RIGHT NOW AS WE SPEAK) I feel disappointed in myself.
You know what? I need to get over myself. Seriously.
I think knowing when "just good enough" is actually fine---and perfectly acceptable---is something quite a few of us struggle with (I know I certainly do), but it's also something that could change the way we approach things in a very fundamental way. I use that "I won't be able to do it well, so why do it at all?" line of reasoning to excuse myself from doing a whole bunch of things.
I don't think it's a coincidence that many of these things we bail on---or postpone indefinitely, or never even BEGIN---are those that involve effort that may or may not reap immediate rewards, fix whatever else is going on in our lives, or solve our own problems...in fact, they may be the very things adding to our stress levels. They're often the things we may be looking for excuses to avoid doing, too, the things we know may be tough (emotionally, physically, or both), take our time and attention (something that may be in very short supply), or which might be inconvenient or feel overwhelming, at least in the short-term. We can't do that fitness regimen perfectly, so we don't even start it. We bail on the diet at the first sign of non-compliance. We give notice before we get fired. We ditch the quit at the first sign of things not going exactly according to plan.
Perhaps we should re-think that strategy.
Now, this is the part of the essay where I usually attempt to wrap up this week's theme in a neat little bow, perhaps adding a few tunes that underscore the message. This is also the time when I go back, read the whole thing through, and maybe tweak it a bit, to make sure I'm not repeating myself too much, heading off on tangents, linking to the wrong stuff, or losing the plot. I'll swap out or reposition an image, double-check the schedule and list to make sure I've got the most recent one, and then do one more read-through, y'know, just to catch the stuff I might've missed earlier.
But y'know what? I'm not going to do that this week. You folks are smart; I don't really need to wrap things up that way. I'm not being graded; this isn't going to get too many hyper-critical eyeballs, so the QC process isn't really necessary. This week's Monday GUS is probably okay to post right now, and in fact I'm going to do just that, since I'm not sure what my schedule is going to look like later on.
It's not perfect, but....eh, it's good enough.
Who's your Little Buddy?
1BQ, 3rdGenFeminist, Abra Crabcakeya, Actbriniel, addisnana, AfroPonix, aishmael, Alise, Alpha99, A Man Called Gloom, ambeeeant, American in Kathmandu, amk for obama, andsarahtoo, angry marmot, Anne933, anodnhajo, aoeu, aquarius2001, arcadesproject, Archie2227, arodb, Arthur Wolf (in memoriam), assyrian64, awkawk, b4uknowit, bamablue, BARAKABETH, barnowl, b barrie, bdizz, beatpanda, Beefydaddy18, BFSkinner, bgblcklab1, BigAlinWashSt, Bike Crash, BirderWitch, BJKay, bleeding heart, blingbling65, bluedust, blue husky, Blue Intrigue, bluedust, BluejayRN, BlueJessamine, Bluerall, bluestatedem84, BoiseBlue, boudi08, Brahman Colorado, breedlovinit, BrenP, Bronxist, BrowniesAreGood, bsmechanic, buddabelly, bumbi, burrow owl, BusyinCa, Carol in San Antonio, CathiefromCanada, CathodeRay, CDH in Brooklyn, cee4, Cen Den, ChiTownDenny, ChocolateChris, ChurchofBruce, ciganka, cinnamondog, citizenx, ClapClapSnap, Cleante, Code Monkey, codobus, Coldblue Steele, Colorado is the Shiznit, coloradomomma, common green, commonmass, Common Sense Mainer, congenitalefty, coppercelt, dadanation, dangoch, DarienComp, Dauber, Dauphin, Dave in AZ, Dave in Northridge, deedogg, demkat620, Dexter, Diana in NoVa, Dickie, DiegoUK, Dingodude, dirtdude, distraught, djMikulec, dolfin66, donnamarie, Donna O, dotsright, DRo, droogie6655321, Dube, duckhunter, Eclectablog, Eddie C, EdgedInBlue, effervescent, elbamash, El barragas, el vasco, ericlewis0, Everest42, Ex Con, ezdidit, fhamme, Fineena, fiona2, fishhawk, Flea, flumptytail, fritzi56, FrugalGranny, Garrett, Gator, gchaucer2, GDbot, Geiiga, GenXangster, Georgianna Darcy, glpaul, GN1927, gooderservice, gooners, gravlax, greylox, grndrush, GrumpyWarriorPoet, gzodik, Haole in Hawaii, HappyinNM, henlesloop, HeyMikey, hideinplainsight, High Tide, hiliner68, hold tight, hulibow, I love OCD, Im a frayed knot, imisa, Indexer, indubitably, indyada, Interceptor7, inventor, I said GOOD DAY sir, itsbenj, Jahiz, JamesEB, janl1776, Janeo, JayinPortland, jayjaybear, jbou, Jeffersonian Democrat, jmadlc55, jmonch, Joe's Steven aka Steven, john07801, johngoes, jsfox, JVolvo's Mom, jwinIL14, kai99, kailuacaton, Kamakhya, kat herder, Kelly of PA, kestrel9000, khloemi, Khun David, Kitsap River, kittania, Kodiak54, Kristina40, Ksholl, labwitchy, Lady Kestrel, ladypockt, Lahdee, langerdang, LarsThorwald, LA rupert, last starfighter, LaughingPlanet, Laurie Gator, Lipstick Liberal, litoralis, lmdonovan, lockewasright, Lonely Texan, longislandny, luvsathoroughbred, maggiemay, magicsister, mango, Marc in KS, Marjmar,, marknspokane, marsanges, maryabein, Matt Esler, mdemploi, Meteor Blades, Micburke, michael1104, MillieNeon, Minerva1157, MinervainNH, Missys Brother, mjbleo, MnRaindog, mntleo2, Morague, Mr Bojangles, mrsgoo, mskitty, msmacgyver, MsWings, Murphoney, nannyboz, ncsuLAN, NearlyNormal, Nedsdag, Nick Zouroudis, notgivingup, NY brit expat, OleHippieChick, one pissed off democrat, Onomastic, operculum, OrangeMike, Ordvefa, Overseas, OverTheEdge, pager, paige, PaintyKat, paradox, parryander, paulitics, Pennsylvanian, phrogge prince, Positronicus, post rational, Proud Mom and Grandma, psycho liberal, ptolemynm, Purple Priestess, PvtJarHead, racheltracks, randallt, ray bob, real world chick, red mittens, Reepicheep, regis, relentless, revelwoodie, revsue, Rex Manning, rexymeteorite, RiaD, rickeagle, ridemybike, rightiswrong, Rileycat,rincewind, rkex, roadlion, Roger Fox, Rosebuddear, roses, rscopes, Rudini, Safina, SallyCat, Sanuk, Sark Svemes, sboucher, scooter in brooklyn, Scrapyard Ape, seenaymah, sfbob, sgary, Shahryar, sheddhead, shesaid, Shifty18, shmuelman, shopkeeper, sidious666, slowbutsure, smartcookienyc, smeesq, Smoh, snoopydawg, snorwich, SnyperKitty, SoCalHobbit, sofia, soonergrunt, sostos, sowsearsoup, SpecialKinFlag, spmozart, spotDawa, SpotTheCat, StateofGrace, Statusquomustgo, stiffneck, sunbro, Super Grover, Syoho, tallmom, Tay, tdslf1, teknospaz, theatre goon, The Eyewitness Muse, TheGeneral, TheStoopingRabbit, TigerMom, tiredofcrap, TomP, tonyahky, Toyotabob7, Treefrog, triciawyse, tripodisblack, trs, trueblueliberal, ttanner, Tulsonian, Turn VABlue, Turtle Bay, Tyto Alba, uc booker, UncleCharlie, Unduna, Unforgiven, ursoklevar, USArmyParatrooper, VA02 femocrat, Vacationland, valadon, Vayle, Vetwife, vgranucci, Village expects idiot home soon, waytac, webranding, weelzup, Wes Opinion, Whimsical Rapscallion, willy be frantic, willy mugobeer, Wood Dragon, wolfie1818, Wordsinthewind, Wreck Smurfy, x, xopher, yet another liberal, Zotz
Has your life been affected by smoking or smokers in your life?
Feel like providing a supportive place for quitters and would-be quitters to hang out? If so, we would love to have you write a GUS diary or host an open thread! Please sign up in the Butt Can (Tip Jar), and name the day and time that works for you (AM, PM, late-night, early-bird, lunchtime, whatever...)
Diarists in regularly-scheduled time slots are listed in bold.
Mon PM: Vacationland (back in the saddle)
Tue AM: gchaucer2
Tue PM: Open
Wed AM: bsmechanic
Wed PM: Open
Thu AM: Open
Thu PM: Open
Fri AM: Friday Fun With flumptytail
Fri PM: Open
Sat AM: effervescent's Super Saturday Yoga Party
Sat PM: Open
Sun AM: Safina's Sassy Sunday Soiree
Sun PM: Open
Mon AM: Open
Coming Attractions: bsmechanic hosting Saturday 5/19! eeff hosting Friday 6/1!
Help!! As you can see, we have a ton of open slots on the schedule, especially on Thursday. If you can spare a few hours, please consider hosting! Not sure where to start? Go here to find out how to write a GUS diary the easy way, or just ask for help in the Butt Can (Tip Jar). Seriously, it doesn't have to include specific elements or require all sorts of fabulous diary formatting skills. The regulars will make sure stuff gets carried over from diary to diary, so if you want to just tell your story or provide an open thread and host for a few hours, that's cool too.