In May 2014, I started writing when I gave up smoking and started blogging because the subject was important to me -until then, I didn’t even know I liked writing. That’s why my blog is called “The Happy Quitter” because it all began when I gave up smoking after 35 years.
This section of my blog might interest you if you just gave up smoking as well, or if you decided to do so in the future.
“Every time I get used to something, I turn around, and she changes it.” That’s one of my husband’s favorite statements. She would be me, and He would be the wonderful man I am married to, and, as much as I hate to admit it, He would be right. I have rearranged our living room -again- just recently, and surprised him with it. His second favorite statement about me is a little bit more private. “I wake up with a brunette and go to bed with a blonde,” a humorous remark about how often I changed my hairstyle and the color over the last 30 years. What can I say? “Addicted to the bottle” might come to mind.
I was wondering about my blog. I would like to keep it alive. I can tell by the emails and views of my older posts that there are still many smokers out there—all over the globe—who want to quit as well. There is still so much to talk about that involves the tobacco industry and the politics around it. There is always “smoking news”, especially when it comes to the industry’s newest toy, the e-cigarette. I would like to continue to write about it, but not on a daily basis.
I did what I wanted to do; I paid it forward for one year and stayed focused on my quit by doing so.
BUT…there is so much more to The Happy Quitter than just my smoking past. I am a goofball with serious moments or a serious goofball. I am a rambler and talker, a student and a teacher, a reader and a blogger. I have so much on my mind and none of it has anything to do with smoking. Books, music, history, places I visited, and cultures I was allowed to explore. I am an agnostic believer, a feminist, who believes in spoiling her husband rotten. I am an animal activist and a first-generation immigrant. I was born and raised in Europe, and English is my second language. So, please be gentle with me and kindly overlook all the mistakes I am going to make…and yes, you might “hear” an accent now and then.
I am a European in America. There are some tough subjects that I would like to write about. There are humorous stories that I would like to share.
So, guess what? I am going to rearrange my blog a little bit. Will change the categories, will throw stuff around, and will bug you all with new ideas :-).
You can reach me via email at TheHappyQuitter@aol.com
I can’t believe it, but my little blog was named one of the Top Smoking Cessation blogs in 2015, 2016, and 2017. What an honor it is. Thank you, Healthline!
>>>link to the nomination 2015<<<
>>link to the nomination 2016<<<
>>>link to the nomination 2017<<<
Thank you for liking my post and well done giving up the weed! 👏🏻
What a wonderful blog! Glad I found you.
Thank you and welcome 🙂
Hi Well done for quitting and making this blog a smoke free zone!! Thanks for following Kyrosmagica… 🙂
“A smoke free zone,” I like that 🙂
:))) My hubby smoked for years but gave up when our children were still quite young – his father developed emphysema. I had the odd puff but was never really a smoker. Unfortunately my hubby’s dad gave up too late. Perhaps he might have still been with us if he hadn’t smoked. 🙁
I know what you mean. I smoked for 35 years and sometimes I wonder if I quit too late, but then I think it’s going to be alright. One way or the other we all have to go -some sooner, other’s later.
I can’t even picture myself with a cigarette now. Two years changed a lot.
Thanks for the follow, I hope I won’t disappoint 🙂
My hubby still misses his cigarettes but he wouldn’t go back. Thanks for chatting… :
Hi, I just wanted to thank you for liking a blog post I made for the daily prompt ‘price’ the other day. It was my first daily prompt and my first poem I’d ever put out into the online world so I really appreciate it was liked by anyone :).
Congratulations on quitting smoking.
Hi Bridget, it’s a pleasure to meet you! I came upon your blog through A Cooking Pot and Twisted Tales. Congratulations on quitting your smoking habit. Hopefully I can share some of your wisdom with my best friend who is struggling with quitting. I look forward to reading your posts. ~Steph
Nice to meet you too. I started as a smoking blog (quit blog) but then my blog changed. I am smoke free since more than 2 years and there is just no room for smoking anymore in my life. However, your friend can read my “smoking section” there are all the posts from day one. Giving up smoking can be a journey 🙂
Kudos to you!! I’ll check out your “smoking section.” I quit about 20 years ago but it’s hard for me to help her because it feels like I’m preaching but she had a heart attack at 43 and if she could quit smoking her chance of having another one would drastically be reduced. I know she’s tried but as you say it’s a journey and it’s different for everyone.
I smoked for 35 years, quit cold turkey in February 2014. My husband still smokes and it doesn’t bother me a bit. Sometimes I think I didn’t quit smoking, but outgrew it.
Yeah, it was the same for me. I tried quitting on a several occasions but went back. The last time I quit I actually had set a date but the morning I quit (prior to my set date) was the day. I even put aside 3 emergency cigarettes and to this day I don’t know what happened to them.
Just nipped over for a nose. We gave up smoking in 1991 and have never looked back. Good for you! 🙂
I has been 2 years at the 3rd of February and I totally forgot my anniversary. I have no idea why I ever smoked :-).
Thank you for stopping by my little blog
I am pleased to meet you.
That is very sweet….nice to meet you as well. Thank you for stopping by my little blog.
You are welcome.
So I want to add you to my favorite bloggers list …do you blog annonomously or can I get your first name?
💌Trista
My name is Bridget and my nickname is Ladybug (long story about a BBQ when I had too much to drink and cried, because someone had stepped on a Ladybug)
Thank you for adding me to your favorite blogger list, now I feel special.
Happy New Year to you and yours. May it be a good and healthy year for all of u.
BTW…I am huge Denver Bronco Fan myself 🙂
Oh we are going to be fab friends!
Hello dear, I invited you to share your favorite quotes in the 3 series quote. You can follow this trail http://acookingpotandtwistedtales.com/2015/10/25/the-miracle-is-in-you/ Have an awesome Sunday 🙂
You have a very interesting and nice to look at blog here and I enjoyed reading fyour articles. I am looking forward to your next posts!
I quit smoking about 8 years ago and still miss it every now and again. However, I am glad I quit and happy my kids never fell into the same trap.
Du kannst Deutsch mit mir reden, whatever language you prefer.
I miss it now and then as well, but not for long. My husband still smokes and watching him makes me stay strong..if that makes any sense at all.
Nett, Dich hier zu begruessen.
Hello from Rellick. I had to check out your blog when I saw that you liked my comment on A good blog is hard to find. I quit smoking one year ago, then I too started my blog. Very interesting blog.
Hello right back at you 🙂
HI
Thank you so much for finding my blog and liking a post hope you drop by again soon
Hi, I’ve been reading your blog for a year, so to acknowledge your writing with thanks, I’ve listed your blog over here (obligation free!):
http://movingtowardsthelight.com/2015/09/06/blogger-recognition-award/
Thanks for coming over and sharing my post today. Very much appreciated!
You are very welcome. I think many of us are bothered by the refugee crisis. I wrote this a few days back and I think you might like it. It will although explain why I had to reblog :-). Nice meeting you, it’s an honor.
https://nonsmokingladybug.wordpress.com/2015/09/01/dont-touch-me/
Happy to dive into it a bit later today. Thanks for sharing 🙂
Thank you for stopping by mine to read Willie’s story. I enjoyed reading your thoughts on blogging etiquette 🙂
Glad you enjoyed it 🙂
Hiya, thanks for coming in to see me at Steve Says…come again, stay a while – have a drink even! Happy blogging, Steve…
Your posts are a joy to read, even from someone who isn’t focused on the smoking aspect. I really like the motivation and idea behind this blog and the title is so great!
Thank you, I appreciate it 🙂
Thanks for the follow. Super glad you got the smoking beast off your back.
I just wanted to tell you for your friend that Humane Society of Utah is for sure a no-kill facility. So if he needs to take them somewhere, that would be a good place. My son said they’re pretty good about placing pets, though there’s an abundance of chihuahuas. I guess people find them a bit too yappy. I sure hope he finds someone to take them both together. If we didn’t travel back and forth to Maryland to see the grankids so often I would have considered it.
I assume he puts them down. I can’t talk to him, I am upset and not happy with his decision. Thank you anyway!
I enjoyed my visit here and it is great knowing you. Will keep coming back.
Thanks for your visit, Bridget! Enjoy your writing style, and I’ll be back to read more. Congrats on no more smoking. I quit smoking over 50 years ago! Worth it for health reasons, believe me! Christine
Thank you Christine. Nice to meet you. I will snoop around your blog as well. Reading blog entrees in the morning is my new guilty pleasure. Bridget
Congrats to you! And thank you for the follow on my blog. Your blog is so perky and inviting! I’m off to explore a bit!
Oh I like to be explored :-). Thank you for stopping by and for your nice words. Nice to meet you. But please don’t feel that you have to follow me!
I am pulled in by the ambiance and perky layout! Will follow along and see how we do! I enjoy meeting new people and hearing their stories.
I like the way you think, I am the same way. Yep, lets see how we do…I really do like that :-).
Hah. Sounds like we’re putting each other on probation, doesn’t it? Am glad you don’t mind the follow….for a moment there I thought perhaps you were out of room for followers! LOL>
English is not my mother tongue I might confuse you once in a while. I sound more polite then I actually am too lol. No, I am always tickled when I meet a new friend. I love this blogging thing more and more.
Thank you for stopping by my blog.
I thought I started following your blog months ago, but apparently I’m not. huh. Do you have more than one blog?
Maybe this time it will stick 🙂
Well, I will do my best that you stick around :-). I had a kitchen blog a while back, but put it on hold since I changed my diet drastically (healthwise and loving it). So good to see you!
ahhh – maybe that’s the one I connected to. Either way – Hi!
Thanks for connecting on my blog.. congratulations on your 35 years. I gave up 23 years ago but I remember coming to live in America for two years in the 80s and whilst I had good intentions then the price of the cigarettes was so cheap it did not happen.. plus zero will power then! Anyway good to meet you.
It’s an honor to meet you. Oh how funny, I came here to the US of America over 30 years ago. Yes, I do remember my excitement about the cheap cigarette prices as well. I had forgotten about it, until you mentioned it.
Could not afford these days I think they are up to £8 a packet in the UK.. we would be living in a tent in someone’s garden! Good to meet you too.
So I heard, haven’t been back in UK or Europe in over 10 years.
I think you would notice big changes. But hopefully some for the better..
My home is here. Home is where the heart is. But we would like to fly to Europe for vacation, my husband would love to see Ireland.
My husband is Irish and we lived there for several years between jobs around Europe etc. We are selling up here and will probably return there as his family are all in the Dublin area.. It is a great place.
My husband is American, he was stationed in Europe, that’s how we met, but never got the chance to see Ireland. He would love it I am sure. I worked in England for a few months and had a great time.
Well if we get over there you will have a contact in place to show you around. Funnily enough we are planning a trip the other way to catch up with our Texas and Canadian friends..
I don’t smoke but I congratulate you on quitting! Love the topics you talk about! 🙂
Thank you, that was a nice compliment.
Thanks for stopping by and following my blog. I look forward to getting to know you better in posts to come!
Glad to connect, Bridget! I love your About page, especially how you describe the growth of your blog. Good for you! I look forward to reading more.
It’s an honor to have you 🙂
Likewise!
Believing in life and love. 🙂
I suppose 🙂
good for you quiter 🙂
Never thought I would like being a quitter lol
Nice to “meet” you, my all time favorite insect ! Thanks for stopping by. Van
Congratulations on your success with quitting smoking! For some of my nursing career I facilitated a smoking cessation class.
Sounds like we both are with the loves of our life. 🙂
Yes, we are 🙂
I snuck over here to sneak a peek at your name quickly, but all I snagged was an initial: “B.”– the same as mine : )
Nice to meet you, B. Thank you for the visit at my place. Now I’m headed over there to tell you so on my home turf!
I am Bridget, or B. or Ladybug 🙂
Looking forward to finally catching up with some of your stories 🙂
I nominated you for the Liebster Award. https://conversationswithyolandi.wordpress.com/2014/12/18/the-liebster-award/ Thanks for a great Blog!
Congratulations! Such a hard thing to do. I really look forward to perusing your site!
~~~S Wave~~~
Thank you. Happy Thanksgiving
I just read you page and your post on new blogging rules! It was tweeted by Silver Threading! Congrats on giving up smoking! I am 50+ myself and and collecting new 50+ friends in wordpress 🙂 Look forward to more of your posts!
I am stunned, delighted and excited. Welcome to my blog. I assume you follow my quit-smoking blog. It’s an honor to have you. I will go and check your blog out now 🙂 I hope my “new rules” don’t bother you
Nah, we all need boundaries!
Hi, I came across your blog after reading conversations with Yolandi. I am also a fifty year old who gave up smoking after 35 years. Am going into my nineteenth month and still craving like a mad woman. Did it purely cold turkey with the help of one pack of nicorettes, after being a chain smoker, I cant wait for the day the cravings stop and I feel the benefits. They say two years – I am almost there. Well done on your jovial and positive quitting
I understand your birthday was yesterday…and no post! So I must congratulate you here! Happy Birthday!
Thank you so much. Sorry, my best friend came into town for a few days and we were all over the place -just not in front of the computer 🙂
Happy birthday, B 🙂
Thank you Paula 🙂
My pleasure B. Hope you’ll have all your b-day wishes come true. Enjoy!
[…] First one was a One Lovely blog nomination. I was nominated by a wonderful lady who inspires her readers to change their life. […]
That’s very cool! I never smoked cigarettes, only the other stuff.!
Hey there Newbie Spikey!
(for your info, a Spikey is the term for folk who are part of the clan known to be followers of Uncle Spike 🙂
Thank you… I really appreciate that as I for one, know how many interesting and entertaining blogs are out there.
Blogging since June 2013, my aim is to deliver an eclectic offering of posts, from my ‘point n shoot’ attempts at basic photography, to the sharing of my travel adventures over the decades, as well as day to day happenings here on the farm. Oh, plus a few observations, opinions and lighter-hearted stuff thrown in for good measure.
I normally keep to a couple of posts a day, maybe 3-4 at weekends if I have something special to share. But if you are at a loose end one day, maybe you’ll enjoy trawling through some of my older stuff too. I have added plenty of categories to help in said digging process.
Thanks again and hope you have a great day…
UNCLE SPIKE
Well, then I am looking forward to be a Spikey 🙂
Hi, congrats on quitting smoking! Woot woot! I guess I am sort of a happy quitter too! But I have not gotten around to quting smoking yet. I am going on 25 years. Ugh.
I was also born in Europe – I am from Poland and English is surely tricky! Lol!
Thanks for stopping by my blog, let’s keep in touch! Hugs.
I was born between Austria and Italy (not kidding). It’s an honor to have you hear on my blog. Yes, I would love to stay in touch…and I am going to be on your “butt” until you give up smoking “new friend”. Yes, English can be tricky and so confusing. Seriously…one word and hundred meanings 🙂
Hi nonsmokingladybug, thank you so much for nominating my blog for the very inspiring blog award. 🙂 Please click on this link to read my acceptance. http://alygeorges.wordpress.com/2014/07/09/very-inspiring-blogger-award-2.
Thanks so much for visiting my blog! I appreciate it very much. 🙂
Keep quit. And keep going with your blog! For what it’s worth, here’s my quitting story: http://stvrsnbrgr.wordpress.com/2014/03/04/twenty-thousand/
Thank you for the follow – best wishes on the blog, and congratulations on making the decision to give up smokes!!
I think I scared my husband when I announced that I would give up smoking. Mainly, because I am not just his wife, I am although his smoking buddy. He acted weird for the first days, like he was on a lookout. At the beginning I just didn’t understand it at all. Why was my quit so different from other people’s and why was it so easy for me compared to others. First it didn’t make any sense, that might be one of the reasons why I started to write a journal about my “journey”. I tried to find answers, tried to understand. I did ask my husband if I acted differently and he said “No”, he added that he didn’t understand why I wasn’t in a bad mood. He said I was my cheerful self.
Thank you for being here 🙂
And I congratulate you absolutely on that ! – WELL DONE YOU !!!!
Chic smoked from the time he was around 14 to when he finally managed to kick the habit at 50. At one time he started to try to give it up and after a fortnight I begged him to go back to it ! – he was VILE !! He was a total stranger – someone I had no wish to be married to. As we were stuck in another State at the time, and were having a pretty bad/hard time of it, I couldn’t handle that as well.
So he took it up again and returned to the wonderful bloke he always was.
We got back up to NSW fairly soon after that, and he was able to slowly wean himself off it with Nicabate chewing gum. Boy, did he have tired jaws !