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Joined: Sep 2008
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I remember I used to buy cigarettes for my dad and they were .60 cents a pack!!! I can't believe how ridiculously expensive they are now. When I was quitting I was told to have a really good reason that will keep you from reaching for a smoke. Well the health thing didn't really cut it because that's not something you see or feel immediately. Then one day I was trying to decided if I wanted to spend my last $5 on a pack of American Spirits or lunch when it suddenly hit me. WTF!!! Here I am living paycheck to paycheck spending my hard earned money on cigarettes so the cigarette company execs can get rich and in turn they are providing me with a product that will eventually kill me. F THAT! So basically I quite out of spite.
Anyway, this is what I would suggest. First of all remember to accept the feelings you are having as normal. Sometimes if you try to fight it too hard they will come back stronger. But if you allow/accept them they will usually subside rather quickly.
Also, do stuff that you enjoy or things that will make you feel uplifted and energized. Rent a comedy, try cooking something you've never had before, maybe even try some yoga or martial arts classes. I know they're not music related but they are all things that will make you feel better and require at least some concentration. Don't use the cigs as a concentration crutch. YOU are the one who decides to concentrate not the cigs. It might take a little time but you can do it. I also have concentration issues and normally practice in short spurts. I feel that overtime I will sort of build my "endurance" and will be able to sit longer.
Finally, and this is most important. I think the idea that motivation comes first is a myth and waiting around for it is a mistake. Action comes first-then motivation-then more action. So, play anyway. Even if you feel unmotivated. Because more often than not once you get started you will just want to keep playing. (To get yourself started you can just say you will play for 5 mins. But I bet once you get started you will not stop after 5 min.)
Good Luck!
“The doubters said, "Man cannot fly," The doers said, "Maybe, but we'll try," And finally soared in the morning glow while non-believers watched from below.†― Bruce Lee
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Joined: Sep 2008
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I think the calendar is a good idea. I did that when I quit caffeine/diet soda. It really helped to see my progress and one day before I knew it I realized it had been 4 months since I last had caffeine.
“The doubters said, "Man cannot fly," The doers said, "Maybe, but we'll try," And finally soared in the morning glow while non-believers watched from below.†― Bruce Lee
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Bluekeys:
Pot/booze/cigs/caffeine...its all a vicious cycle. I'm glad you found your way out of it.
Sometimes I think all people need is something that connects with their soul. But, unfortunately they usually find "substances" first. Music is such and incredible healer.
“The doubters said, "Man cannot fly," The doers said, "Maybe, but we'll try," And finally soared in the morning glow while non-believers watched from below.†― Bruce Lee
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I have successfully quit before, cold-turkey,
Years ago during one of my attempts to quite smoking my son sensed my anguish and blurted out "why don't you just quit by eating cold turkey"
“The doubters said, "Man cannot fly," The doers said, "Maybe, but we'll try," And finally soared in the morning glow while non-believers watched from below.†― Bruce Lee
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Any other suggestions for alternative ways to break up practice sessions in order to renew mental freshness?
Tuck your hands under your armpits and run around he house squawking like a chicken. If it doesn't renew your mental freshness at least you will be laughing so hard at yourself you will forget all about the cigs and deprssion. p.s. the spa water sounds good. I think I will try that. I'm trying to cut down on calorie containing drinks but sometimes get bored with plain water
“The doubters said, "Man cannot fly," The doers said, "Maybe, but we'll try," And finally soared in the morning glow while non-believers watched from below.†― Bruce Lee
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Joined: Sep 2008
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Btw.. can you tell I'm totally bored at work with all these replies
“The doubters said, "Man cannot fly," The doers said, "Maybe, but we'll try," And finally soared in the morning glow while non-believers watched from below.†― Bruce Lee
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Well, it's been 10 days, and I'm hardly having cravings at all. But tonight is the big test -- we're going to visit an old friend of mine who smokes like a chimney, and I'm sure to be tempted. So I'm reminding myself how nice it is not to be having cigarette cravings all the time, because I know that if I bum a single smoke from my friend, the cravings will just start up all over again. Must gird myself up to be strong & sensible, even after indulging in a beer or two... perhaps I should drink coffee instead.
My withdrawal moodiness is still manifesting itself mostly in relation to my music, in that I'm still quite cranky about relocating myself to the piano, though I have demonstrated to myself several times now that I have fun once I get started playing. I had an awesome practice session last night, with a big breakthrough with my sight reading (more on that in the sight reading thread). But that hasn't helped me drag myself to the piano yet today, sigh! I hate being moody & irrational!
Please step aside. You're standing in your own way.
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I entered the medical field in my late 20's and I have over that time seen countless people die and suffer from smoking. The cost to our economy is mind bending. The majority of the young heart attack patients I see in the Cardiac Cath Lab are smokers, I quit when I hit 30 and never looked back...
I see so much regret when I talk to these people who now wish they could turn back time and save themselves...
WILL YOU? Time is on your side, don't waste it...
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HANG IN THERE!!! Water or coffee instead of beer is a good idea. Of course, you have to take into consideration my bias - I had to give up beer just before I turned 30 because I couldn't resist a lot of things I told myself I wouldn't do, if I was drinking. I still miss it, sigh. But water is the best thing. . . I love water. Take care, and hang in there Cathy
Cathy Perhaps "more music" is always the answer, no matter what the question might be! - Qwerty53
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good advice Shiro
tobacco has nothing to do with music. if the drug helps - do find another crutch.
accompanist/organist.. a non-MTNA teacher to a few
love and peace, Õun (apple in Estonian)
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Smoking stinks! My neighbours' entire family smokes and their backyard is facing ours, so whenever someone takes a smoke break it comes wafting into my house. Even the bedroom windows which face their yard. Grossest thing waking up to that smell.
Hard to tell them to stop, it is their right, unless I grow some massive trees to block it.
Another funny thing I see is after playing outdoor basketball, alot of the younger Asian players will smoke up during the break! Kind of defeats the purpose of working out.
My suggestion, do some hard exercise like sprints or heavy weight lifting. The endorphin kick may be a good substitute.
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Happy to hear about the ten day mark, Tangleweeds! Some days you'll be in a good mood, and somedays you'll really be dying for a smoke, but hang in there! Come on, Tangleweeds!!!
Nothing is accomplished without enthusiasm. - Ralph Waldo Emerson
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Good news -- at this point I seem to be more addicted to the internet than to nicotine! Last night we were responsibly irresponsible, and phoned the mothership to report that we were spending the night at my old friend's house, rather than drive home under the influence. And then we took the opportunity to thoroughly overindulge, guilt free.
And I really only had one bad nicotine craving, which tempted me out onto the porch to breathe some second-hand smoke while our host had a smoke (whereupon he grimly ordered dme back inside!). Amusingly, I was much, much more stressed out at being separated from my computer and internet umbilicus. Being a intoxicated and therefore no longer the sharpest knife in the drawer, I somehow conflated resisting nicotine addiction with resisting my internet addiction, until finally late in the evening, in a flash of light, it occurred to me that it was permissible for me to bum the use of a web browser before I passed out for the night. Ah, the relief... internet umbilicus re-established! Forget tobacco, I'm strung out on information!
Now I just need my piano cravings to resume...
Please step aside. You're standing in your own way.
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Great news. And how cool that your host is enabling your QUIT syndrome The nice thing about your internet addiction is that *all* of us benefit from it Cathy
Cathy Perhaps "more music" is always the answer, no matter what the question might be! - Qwerty53
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Good work, Tangleweeds. Now treat yourself to something good, like a new book of sheet music. Reinforce yourself, you deserve it. (basic Pavlovian behaviour modification).
Liebestraum 3, Liszt Standchen-Schubert/Liszt arr Sonata Pathetique-Adagio LVB Estonia L190 #7284
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Congratulations, tangleweeds! The hardest part is over... but you need to still be vigilant. Avoid triggers (e.g., smoky bars) and continually remind yourself of how grateful your loved ones (present AND future) will be that you took this step to ensure your health and longer life.
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In this, I am well versed. If you passed a night of drinking without smoking, you are easily 80% there. Next you will have a dream that you started smoking again and you will wake up grateful that it was just a dream. After that you need to make it through a significantly stressful event while maintaining the attitude that no matter what happens you're not going to smoke. That might not happen for a few months, so be vigilant. Calm is in order now, no back pats just yet. (Also, whack yourself in the thigh with your fist every time you get a craving. That helps.)
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Next you will have a dream that you started smoking again and you will wake up grateful that it was just a dream. Yes! I had those for months, when I quit smoking several years ago. (Also, whack yourself in the thigh with your fist every time you get a craving. That helps.) I've had good luck with hyperventilating a little bit through pursed lips, as if smoking an invisible cigarette. Strangely effective, not sure why. But I don't argue with what works... maintaining the attitude that no matter what happens you're not going to smoke There's definitely something key about maintaining a sense of closure regarding my relationship with cigarettes. I remember that from last time, that sense of being finished with it. It's that open-ended "Well maybe if..." that wakens the devils of temptation.
Please step aside. You're standing in your own way.
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Oh, just continue reading the forums and I'm sure the piano cravings will appear. How could they not?
Nothing is accomplished without enthusiasm. - Ralph Waldo Emerson
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Actually, I'm quite hopeful that I'll be in for a good dose of piano-related excitement when I get back home to Portland from my visit to Seattle.
First, I've been continuing my hobby of hunting down inexpensive used copies of sheet music which catches my interest, and so a series of slow (but cheap!) media-mail packets have been wending their way toward Portland. I have been informed as each item arrives, but it's pretty abstract satisfaction to that an item has successfully completed its journey, when I can't examine it in detail and gloat over each item properly.
And on a much larger scale of anxiety and relief, there was an issue with my new PX-330, and after Casio was useless in even helping me fully diagnose the problem, Sweetwater swept in to the rescue. They emailed me a label to ship the problematic unit back to them for free, and the replacement arrived in Portland just a few days ago. I'm so glad I spent the extra $$ to buy from someplace with a good customer service policy!
So I have a plethora of highly interesting piano-related packages awaiting me upon my return. I can't imagine this failing to awaken some degree of pianistic compulsion on my part.
Please step aside. You're standing in your own way.
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Piano
by Gino2 - 04/17/24 02:34 PM
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Piano
by Gino2 - 04/17/24 02:23 PM
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