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 even just thinking of quitting, please join us! We kindly ask that politics be left outside.
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A message to ALL quitters (and would-be quitters): You don't have to avoid GUS if you have a failed quit. We won't give you a bad time or nag you. We consider the failed quits as "practice" for the real quit.
It's not about HAVING time, it's about MAKING time.
Most of us spend at least some of our lives pressed for time. We all have responsibilities both personal and professional, demands on our limited resources, and only so many hours in the day to accomplish all that we must.
Even those without as many external demands on their time frequently have challenges of a different nature: difficult or time-consuming routines; unreasonable expectations; limits on resources that require them to spend more time on basic tasks or errands (think commuting via public transportation or walking vs. hopping in the car).
My retired Dad has a handful of appointments in a typical week, for example, but he still feels "busy" because, well, as someone with limited mobility, it might take him 45 minutes to put on his socks and shoes without help, and that kind of thing can and does add up. It's all relative, anyway---one person's typical day might make someone else's head spin, while another's might seem like a day at the beach. Without knowing the individual's circumstances or innate abilities and challenges, though, we can't really compare them.
Demands change over time, too: the days of students or new parents or busy working professionals or resource-strapped volunteers all look very different, but one is no less challenging than another. All of them might feel as though they don't have enough hours in the day to do what they need to do.
And all of them just might be right.
So when we're faced with taking on a challenge that we know will require our focus and attention---our time---we are understandably concerned. "I don't have time for this!" is a frequent response to the realization that whatever it is we're attempting will be sucking up some (or even most) of our waking hours, for who knows how long. We balk at altering routines, or giving up familiar activities for unknown ones that might throw us off schedule. We use the uncertainty as an excuse for not attempting the change. We have it all figured out, after all---why risk upsetting things once we have it figured out?
Honestly, few of us HAVE a lot of free time to tackle the big stuff...but most of us have the ability to choose to MAKE some time to do it. It may mean experiencing discomfort in the short-term, but there's a really good chance it will pay off in the long-term in ways we haven't even had time to figure out yet. It's okay to invest in yourself and your own well-being, even if it means that you have to make the time to do it.
You're worth it. Make the time.
Need more jellybeans?
Who's Your Little Buddy?
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Have you had some experience with the effects of smoking, and want to 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. The weekly GUS Diary Schedule is below, with regular hosts in bold. There's an open slot just calling your name!
Wed PM: Vacationland
Thu AM: anodnhajo
Thu PM: Open
Fri AM: flumptytail
Fri PM: Open
Sat AM: Open
Sat PM: Open
Sun AM: gchaucer2
Sun PM: Open
Mon AM: Homers24
Mon PM: Open
Tue AM: gchaucer2
Tue PM: Open
Wed AM: Homers24
If you can spare a few hours, please consider hosting GUS. It doesn't have to be a permanent slot; it can be a one-time deal or just an open thread! Not sure where to start? 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. You do not need to be perfect, you do not need to become a regular, and you would make some quitters very happy.