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Mary Ella’s Weekly Message

December 19, 2011

Gift of Freedom

This holiday season, you can joyfully proclaim that you are smokefree—or close to it! This may be the first time in many years that you will be celebrating the holidays without smoking. Congratulations on all the hard work you have done to get to this place. You have given yourself the gift of better health and freedom—freedom from nicotine. This gift may be the best one you've ever given yourself and your loved ones.

During this busy season, take a moment to sit down and remind yourself of all the benefits of quitting. Think about the benefits you have enjoyed since becoming smokefree.

Many people go to or host holiday parties. It's great to have some fun throughout the holidays, so make a plan to stay smokefree during any social events you plan to attend. Planning will help you avoid a slip or relapse. Perhaps you have been smokefree for quite a while now. Having a plan will help you stay that way!

You've given yourself the gift of freedom. What have you done to reward yourself? We can't underestimate the power of a reward for “good” behavior. It helps to reinforce your success.

Listed below are some gifts that you're giving yourself by becoming smokefree:

1. Extra jingle in your pocket—from the money you're saving by being smokefree.
2. Time—there's no more scrambling to get to the store to buy you-know-what when your supply runs out.
3. Both of your hands—to help you with holiday tasks, instead of just one that did all the work and the other that had something burning in it.
4. A sweeter fragrance—you no longer smell like an ashtray!
5. Freedom to go anywhere—without worrying about whether or not the area is smokefree.

Consider giving the gift of a Freedom From Smoking Premium membership to a friend or loved one. If this program has helped you, it could help someone you love.

Send a free American Lung Association Christmas Seal by e-mail to someone you care about. The website has all of the Christmas Seals that have been used since the campaign started in 1907, as well as a game for kids and a coloring sheet.

All of us at the American Lung Association wish you the happiest and healthiest of holidays!

I’ll see you on the Message Boards!  :-)   Mary Ella

Don’t forget: If you're in the Premium program and want help fast on the Message Boards, put "HELP NOW" in the subject line of your post. If you're looking to offer help, watch for those, "HELP NOW" posts and alert your other FFS Online buddies to offer some assistance as well.