30 days of . . .

NOT SMOKING.

There. I said it. I could count on all my fingers and toes, and the fingers and toes of several other people, just how many times I've said I was going to quit smoking. I've tried medication, the patch, nicotine gum, hypnotism, electronic cigs . . . and I've quit for a week, a month, once even for over a year. But the nicodemon always draws me back in.

Then I went and signed up for a triathalon. Yes . . . I'm going to have to swim, bike and run my way to a finish line. And I can't do that if I smoke. The most motivated I've ever been to quit was when I quit smoking before my bariatric surgery - if any nicotine was found in my system, the surgery was off. Quitting was not easy, but was also the only option I had. I don't think I can train for this triathalon as a smoker. And I need to do this triathalon.

So . . . for the next 30 days, no smoking. I'm going to wear a nicotine patch, chew nicotine gum as needed and try not to eat everything in sight. Along the way, I hope to explore why I have such an emotional and identity attachment to smoking. And I'll probably be bitchy for a while. That'll be fun . . .

Day 30!

I realized after posting the previous entry, that this is day 30 - the last day of the grateful posts. I feel a bit like I cheated the system - not posting for 10 dang days.

What have I learned from this last 30 days? That it's very, very easy to think of things to be grateful for - which shows just how blessed I am. I've also learned that I need to make a conscious choice to recognize what I'm grateful for, or I can take it for granted.

I'm going to take a few weeks before starting the next 30 day challenge. I've already decided what it's going to be . . . but I'm not ready to say it out loud yet.

I really suck at this blogging thing . . . but I'm still GRATEFUL

Life got a little busy . . . and though I didn't keep up with the blogging, I sure kept up with the grateful thoughts. What has been dominating them for the last 10 days? This . . .

This is my amazing forensics team. We hosted the American Forensics Association National Individual Events Tournament . . .

And placed 16th in the nation. So proud.

Here's just a small list of things I've been grateful for through this nationals experience: Comfy hotel beds, a cute new dress, warm weather, flip flops, pillow fights, grilled cheese sandwiches, Tivo, an amazing dog sitter, Alumni who remind me it's not just about the trophies, Tequila Rose, and a forensics team who risked disappointment because they believed in themselves enough.

But I'm especially grateful for this incredible group of seniors. It breaks my heart to think of them being done, but I can't wait to see the amazing places that life takes them!