Name a time you followed the crowd. When I was in high school I was at a church youth group meeting. They served pizza, and all the boys got up packed

@NativePortlander1970 Yeah it was either late 80s or early 90s

@JimboSaturn And the girls paranoid about weight issues, starting at a young age.

@JimboSaturn Just meant to be a funny story

@JimboSaturn Religion is creepy

@Cloud7593 in my case, it’s more so I have to present myself as a blank canvas because it’s hard for people to feel comfortable and open up if they already have a bunch of potentially negative assumptions about you based off your clothes. At least, this is what the agency is concerned about.. a number of years from now after I’ve jumped through all the hoops, I can present myself however I want, and if clients don’t like it, then they can go see somebody else. 🤔🤭

@WhateverWorks Are you a counselor?

@Cloud7593 Eventually. My internship starts in a couple weeks. Before this, I did peer to peer counseling, but that environment was intentionally very laid-back.

@SW-User I made several attempts. This time it's just behind me.
In my first serious attempt I joined a site that helped, quitnet, but it's closed now.
It was hard at first and I used all of the suggestions that I found online, such as to have a first aid kit for when you need to smoke, to have a friend or two accountable that you can call anytime at least for the first weeks. To celebrate every little victory, your first day, 3 days, 1st week, 2nd, then a month, then celebrate every month.
Also you might need to stop being in the company of others who smoke for sometime. And avoid activities that go well together such as coffee, alcohol, etc.

But after 7months quit I went back. Then I was smoking so intensely. Years passed and I was on and off. Finally I made the decision i will only smoke every full moon, only one single cigarette a month. Half a year went by and I was having my ritual. Then one full moon I felt like let that shit go. I didn't smoke..and haven't ever since. I've lost count but it must be a year and a half or maybe close to two years ago..

@elafina Wow, good for you!! .... Around 1997 or so i burnt half our house down due to how idiotically i put out the cigarette. I didn't smoke for three days after, but like a fool started up and i've always been smoking since. I got a book that might help, but i'm procrastinating on it.

@SW-User @elafina
Smoking: did it for 30 years. Tried unsuccessfully to quit, many times, and got up to 3 packs a day in a very stressful job. . A workmate who knew I was in distress recommended a retreat/workshop that she said would turn my life around. So I enrolled. On the eve of departing my brain suddenly said to me 'You're going to turn your life around but you can't quit smoking?' I tossed my last pack into the garbage. That was almost 40 years ago.

Drinking: Still doing it more than advisabe. I mostly use it as a reward for task-completion, fatigue or just relief of boredom. Somehow tea, coffee, fruit juice etc don't do it. And at my age, energy level and lack of social interaction 'staying busy' isn't viable. Plus I'm married and we co-enable. Maybe I'll just accept my lack of willpower!

@Queendragonfly I loved to eat as a teenager. I had a high metabolism so didn't gain weight.

@NoGamesTolerated Typically I did too but I remember that 1 incident.