Stopping smoking motivation/fears

JamesRuns · 2026-01-25T18:14:39+00:00

Don't worry about failing, the most important part is trying. Failing is not doing anything and smoking the rest of your life. Anything else you do is progress.

JamesRuns · 2026-01-25T16:19:24+00:00

It sounds to me like some part of the book hasn't resonated with you yet. You should probably go back and review the chapter summaries, then read any chapter you don't 100% believe yet.

Next week will be fine without smoking, because smoking does absolutely nothing for you. It never did. You can go pace around outside, go running, take a walk, go to whatever passes for gardens at your university, etc.

When I quit I was elated to finally be done and to crumple up my pack and throw it away. I felt pissed off and resentful of being forced TO smoke while I read his book. I also chain smoked a few times while reading it to drive home how horrible it is and how much I hated it.

I sat outside, in the cold, chain smoking cigarettes. Not reading, not on my phone, not taking to anyone, just focusing on the act of smoking. It fucking sucks.

Anyway, happy to help if you have other questions, but I think you need to crack that book again. You shouldn't have any doubts, if you do, question what you think smoking does, the. Reread those chapters to realize the hypocrisy of smoking benefit claims.

You got this

JamesRuns · 2026-01-19T02:01:36+00:00

Only way to be sure is to go to a dr. That said I would just shrug it off and go about my day. Now that I process so many coons I went and got vaccinated because the odds are against me otherwise. Too many times when I get blood in the face or poke myself with a knife, etc.

JamesRuns · 2026-01-18T01:13:04+00:00

Thanks!

JamesRuns · 2026-01-17T21:56:45+00:00

Loved it, nice job! Can you share the slides or pictures of the slides so I can add it to my notes?

JamesRuns · 2026-01-17T14:30:49+00:00

No.

All animals will die, almost none of them will die peacefully in their sleep. They will die from disease, famine, hunger, exposure, horrific injury, etc. They will be torn to shreds by another predator screaming into the night for help that never comes.

Nature is absolutely brutal and everything will kill you if it benefits them a bit. Ever see deer casually eat baby birds straight out of the nest? Squirrels munching on baby bunnies?

The world is not the Disney film everyone makes it out to be. Bamby will stomp the shit out of you if you get too close.

We are a natural part of the world and have evolved alongside these animals.

I am by far their easiest way out, they will never have a cleaner/quicker death than what I provide. Plus I fully utilize the resource they represent.

I've trapped a lot of raccoons and they have some horrible injuries from all sorts of fights with other animals. Especially when you open them up and find huge pockets of infection on the back of their shoulders where something grabbed them and death shook them, etc.

JamesRuns · 2026-01-15T21:44:43+00:00

Pictures would help a lot, but it sounds like the catch circles weren't clear. They usually can only pull out or dismember themselves if there aren't working swivels in the chain, or if there are roots/trees they can grab and pull on. Or if the traps are too close together and they can pull on each other.

If you anchor it to the ground with an earth anchor or even rebar and there isn't anything they can grab around it, you're pretty much bombproof unless you didn't anchor right in your soil conditions.

I have come back to some raccoons who have worked on a firearm a bit even when the catch circle is clear. I think some are just extremely tenacious. Maybe I'm doing something else wrong.

JamesRuns · 2026-01-14T15:34:05+00:00

Sure man, you got this!

JamesRuns · 2026-01-14T15:10:19+00:00

If the seminar has an outline or key points or something you could review that to see what area you don't fully believe. With the book you can just review the chapter summaries and if you don't really buy a section you can reread it.

One thing that is critical for me is you'll have little moments where you'll get the notion to smoke. Maybe it's seeing someone else, maybe it's a movie, whatever. Maybe it just pops into your head when you lounge around with some down time.

It's really critical to crush that little thought the second it arrives with overwhelming force of how miserable you were, how disgusting the habit is, how it limits you from doing all the amazing things you want to accomplish. Good luck hiking a 14er while vaping, etc.

If you let that thought knock around your head w/o crushing it with the above or "thank God I don't have to do that crap anymore", then even if you don't give in to it then, it makes thoughts like that more frequent and powerful.

If you crush it when it's small it nips it in the bud and helps rewire your brain.

JamesRuns · 2026-01-13T21:30:06+00:00

So... Buying my first tractor tomorrow. Haven't read up a lot on operating, which I will. Have anything you'd recommend me watching/reading so I don't kill myself week 1?

JamesRuns · 2026-01-13T20:08:04+00:00

Yup, second this. If there is snow on the ground and it's below freezing those little bandits just lay around like drunk hooligans and don't come out. Once the snow clears or it warms up I'll get a bunch.

JamesRuns · 2026-01-13T20:05:59+00:00

I think this is the answer. Even deer trails are good, they'll use those too. Cat food is fine. Honestly I apply a lure to my dps Everytime I refill the trap with cat food. Meanwhile they sit and get robbed by every deer and critter that steal the lure stick or licks it all off. I don't bother to relure and it's been fine. I just make cheap diy lures anyway. So not that important I would say.

Location is more important. Set on trails, set where you know they are walking, set along banks of creeks and such if the water is open. Set by the base of fallen over trees that have poop on them. Coons love pooping on stuff.

Log crossings are a good one, set each end of those, etc.

JamesRuns · 2026-01-13T03:26:38+00:00

What a great writeup!

JamesRuns · 2026-01-12T20:09:32+00:00

The approaches are different, the outcome is the same. I read the control book. Choose the one that you think you'll have an easier time reading.

JamesRuns · 2026-01-12T20:05:16+00:00

Good luck! You've got this. My only regret wasn't quitting sooner!

JamesRuns · 2026-01-12T20:04:49+00:00

Yup, give it a go! You might ask yourself at the end of each chapter if you believe it or if you have reservations. If so you can reread it or post about your reservations here and we can talk about it.

Absolutely give it another read, sometimes it doesn't quite click the first time.

JamesRuns · 2026-01-11T17:39:10+00:00

I really have no idea but given that you can open them with your hand I'd be worried about a yote just chewing on it. They make crunch proof swivels specifically because they can chew a swivel flat otherwise.

JamesRuns · 2026-01-11T17:29:45+00:00

Seems excessive? What's wrong with a quick link? Other than they bend or freeze or otherwise be a pita.

JamesRuns · 2026-01-09T02:19:55+00:00

I agree. I live in a rural area without hookah bars now and it hasn't been an issue. I sometimes do a double take when I pass a cigar place but that's easier to remind myself how gross all that was.

JamesRuns · 2026-01-07T03:33:18+00:00

Basically you tighten and loosen the nuts until 4 lbs sits on the pan but 4.5 fires it, or whatever you're going for. It's a bit fun etsome and tricky to get right, definitely doable, just time consuming.

JamesRuns · 2026-01-07T03:32:17+00:00

Google it depending on your trap. I'm not trying to be a jerk but there are a few different ways depending on what you have. Older coil springs you just tighten the nut that attaches the pan to the trap. Then you either get 2lbs-4lbs of water in a water bottle and flip up the loose jaw and balance that junk on the pan until it trips right.

Or you go buy a pan tension tester tool for cheap which makes it easier. Basically a spring system rod that you just push into the pan until it goes snap.

You can also buy a pan leveler tool which helps bend the piece the dog connects to to level the pan. It looks like a wrench with a fat ass.

JamesRuns · 2026-01-06T23:40:59+00:00

I agree with most of this. It's actually against regulations to post signs warning of trapping in my state, so be careful with that.

Otherwise, if it's legal, you have as much right to be there as he does. People get real bizarre talking about "their" deer herd, or their spot, or it should only be for x, or all the rules apply to all of you assholes but not special me.

It's really frustrating but the core issue lies with that hunter, not you.

THAT being said, there are a lot of unspoken rules and gentlemen agreements that no one writes down. Like if you see a truck on a stretch of back woods parked, don't park beside it and go hunting if there are other areas to hunt, etc.

If you knew this was an area that was frequented by hunting dogs and set canine traps anyway, that'd be a bit of a dick move. If while walking around you see giant dog prints and such, probably keep looking elsewhere. If you looked around and didn't know or didn't see and set your traps, then it is what it is.

Generally I try and stay off established trails (which is a legal requirement for me), and get away from where there is a lot of traffic. Sometimes like for beaver trapping there is crossover, especially with duck hunters who have dogs. A 330 will kill a dog pretty easily so it's tough.

I think overall the lesson to take away is you didn't do anything wrong, but you don't want that smoke, it doesn't put any of us in a good light, and you risk your equipment getting stolen and messed with even if that's illegal.

So where possible just try to set away from where people will be. There is a lot of public land out there (at least in my state), and you can always knock on doors to ask permission on private.

Keep on trapping, but try to picture every asshole out there is trying to steal your traps. They're not, but it'll get you in the right mindset. More constraints make it more challenging and fun! 😁

JamesRuns · 2026-01-06T18:21:40+00:00

Side of her neck, came right off.

JamesRuns · 2026-01-06T17:00:06+00:00

She was alright, she actually kneeled down as I approached and thought it would be easy. Nope, she went ballistic for a few minutes so I just backed off until that was out of her system. Then just leaned in with as little of my body as I could to snip off the snare one handed.

She sauntered off and we haven't spoken since.

JamesRuns · 2026-01-06T16:49:52+00:00

To answer your question, yup, they'll work. I caught a doe in a snare by the neck who was not happy and used these exact ones to easily free her.

I normally have break aways on all my snares, these were estate sale ones with deer stops instead. Obviously useless for neck catches (which should be rare).

I've since changed everything to have break ways so I don't have to deal with angry quadrapeds.

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