Hey there, fellow quitters and would-be quitters, GUS buddies, cheerleaders and lurkers -- I'm your hostess, Vacationland. I'd like to welcome you to GUS's first-ever BINGO NIGHT!
Everyone's quitting experience is a little bit different, it's true. That's one of the reasons why we don't have any hard and fast rules in GUS about "the right way" to quit, or lecture anyone about doing it "wrong." There are as many ways to ditch nicotine addiction as there are people who try to quit, and everyone's journey will be unique. We can support you along the way, or share what worked for us, but ultimately, you have to figure out a way to quit (and stay quit) that works for you.
That said, there's an awful lot of common ground too. Whenever someone pops in to share their quitting experience, there's usually at least one person (and often quite a few of us) reading who thinks "Hey! That sounds like what I went through." For all our unique circumstances, there are a whole lot of things that we, as quitters (or people getting ready to quit) have in common. We have similar frustrations, concerns, excuses, roadblocks, and challenges that influence our decision to stop smoking.
I ended up with so many examples, in fact, that I had to split the list into "pre-quit" and "post-quit" versions -- one card wasn't big enough to hold all of them! The one we have tonight is the pre-quit version, and includes those things we may have experienced that convinced us to give quitting a try. The second version includes all the fun stuff we may have experienced after we quit...we'll have to save that one for another Bingo Night to be named later.
The game is simple, and I'm thinking it's pretty easy to get B-I-N-G-O no matter what your own experience. I tried it myself and I was able to get five in a row in almost every direction (top to bottom, side-to-side, or diagonally from almost any corner); only a few don't apply to me. I smoked for a long time, so this doesn't surprise me.
Everyone gets the "FREE" space in the middle -- so go ahead and use that one for a unique thing not included in the game that convinced you to quit (and also feel free to share it with us in the comments). Cheerleaders and never-smokers want to play? You can go ahead and check off things the smokers in your life have used as reasons to quit (or not to quit, as the case may be). Everyone's welcome!
I don't picture this as a race to be first, or a game with one winner. In fact, I think that we're all winners just for giving quitting a shot or even entertaining the idea in the first place! Instead, I was thinking it might be fun to see how many ways we can get B-I-N-G-O using our own quitting experiences. And I would love suggestions on things to include for the post-quit variation of the game (don't worry flumpty, I got you covered - I already have Blow Pops on the list).
Current members of the GUS team:
1BQ, 3rdGenFeminist, Abra Crabcakeya, addisnana, AfroPonix, aishmael, Alpha99, ambeeeant, American in Kathmandu, amk for obama, andsarahtoo, Anne933, anodnhajo, aoeu, aquarius2001, arcadesproject, Archie2227, Arthur Wolf (in memoriam), assyrian64, awkawk, b4uknowit, bamablue, BARAKABETH, barnowl, bdizz, beatpanda, BFSkinner, bgblcklab1, Bike Crash, BirderWitch, bleeding heart, blingbling65, blue husky, Blue Intrigue, bluestatedem84, BoiseBlue, Brahman Colorado, breedlovinit, BrenP, BrowniesAreGood, bsmechanic, burrow owl, CathodeRay, cee4, Cen Den, ChocolateChris, ChurchofBruce, Cleante, Colorado is the Shiznit, coloradomomma, Common Sense Mainer, coppercelt, dadanation, dangoch, Dauphin, demkat620, Dexter, DiegoUK, Dingodude, distraught, dolfin66, donnamarie, Donna O, DRo, droogie6655321, duckhunter, EdgedInBlue, effervescent, El barragas, ericlewis0, Everest42, Ex Con, fhamme, Fineena, fiona2, fishhawk, Flea, FlipperWaves, flumptytail, FrugalGranny, Garrett, Gator, gchaucer2, Geiiga, Georgianna Darcy, GN1927, gooderservice, gooners, gravlax, greylox, grndrush, GrumpyWarriorPoet, Haole in Hawaii, HeyMikey, hideinplainsight, High Tide, hiliner68, hulibow, I love OCD, Im a frayed knot, imisa, Indexer, indyada, Interceptor7, inventor, I said GOOD DAY sir, itsbenj, Jahiz, JamesEB, janl1776, jbou, Jeffersonian Democrat, jmadlc55, Joe's Steven aka Steven, john07801, johngoes, jsfox, JVolvo's Mom, jwinIL14, Jyrinx, kai99, kailuacaton, Kelly of PA, kestrel9000, khloemi, Khun David, Kitsap River, Kodiak54, Ksholl, labwitchy, Lady Kestrel, ladypockt, Lahdee, langerdang, LarsThorwald, last starfighter, Laurie Gator, Lipstick Liberal, litoralis, lmdonovan, lockewasright, longislandny, luvsathoroughbred, maggiemay, magicsister, mango, Marc in KS, marknspokane, maryabein, Matt Esler, mdemploi, Micburke, michael1104, Mikeguyver, MillieNeon, Minerva1157, MinervainNH, Missys Brother, Morague, Mr Bojangles, mrsgoo, mskitty, msmacgyver, MsWings, nannyboz, ncsuLAN, Nick Zouroudis, notgivingup, NY brit expat, operculum, one pissed off democrat, OrangeMike, Ordvefa, OverTheEdge, paige, PaintyKat, paradox, parryander, Pennsylvanian, phrogge prince, Positronicus, post rational, Proud Mom and Grandma, psycho liberal, ptolemynm, Purple Priestess, PvtJarHead, real world chick, red mittens, Reepicheep, relentless, revelwoodie, revsue, Rex Manning, rexymeteorite, RiaD, rickeagle, ridemybike, rincewind, rkex, roadlion, Roger Fox, Rosebuddear, Rudini, Safina, SallyCat, Sark Svemes, sboucher, scooter in brooklyn, Scrapyard Ape, seenaymah, sfbob, sgary, Shahryar, sheddhead, shmuelman, slowbutsure, smartcookienyc, smeesq, snoopydawg, snorwich, SoCalHobbit, sofia, soonergrunt, sowsearsoup, SpecialKinFlag, spmozart, SpotTheCat, Statusquomustgo, tallmom, Tay, ThAnswr, theatre goon, TheStoopingRabbit, TigerMom, tiredofcrap, tonyahky, Toyotabob7, Treefrog, triciawyse, trueblueliberal, ttanner, Turn VABlue, Turtle Bay, uc booker, Unduna, Unforgiven, Vacationland, valadon, Vayle, waytac, webranding, weelzup, Wes Opinion, willy be frantic, willy mugobeer, Wood Dragon, wolfie1818, Wordsinthewind, Wreck Smurfy, x, yet another liberal, Zotz
Please post a comment in the butt can if you would like your name added to the GUS Buddy List.