Up in Smoke : Day 142

Today marks my 142nd day without smoking. Hard to believe I made it this far. Thank you to all who have wished me well. I couldn’t have done it without the support of others,  especially my wife and family. She and others had hoped and prayed for years that I would decide to quit smoking.

I’m glad I decided to take the leap and make the commitment. It really does come down to a commitment. It wasn’t the drug Chantix that was the miracle cure. I had made up my mind before using the pill. It was a tool that helped accomplish the task. Don’t get wrong though, it did help tremendously. It got me through the initial stages of quitting. This is usually the hardest period of quitting and where I usually faltered in the past. The first few weeks were the hardest for me in the past.

I do get urges for a cigarette from now and then. They occur less frequently as time goes by. I notice now that they generally occur at times when in the past I would have smoked. It’s not that I actually need a cigarette but, was something I did in similar situations in the past. When the urges do occur I do think to myself do I want to throw away all I’ve accomplished for a drag on a cigarette? What does it really accomplish other than satisfying a craving? Cravings were gone a long time ago anyway. The urges generally last only a short moment and then forgotten.

What have been the rewards of this? Taste buds and sense of smell are gradually returning. Ironically I find that cigarette smoke does indeed smell bad. Saving money has been big. I’ve saved close to a thousand dollars so far. I got the iPhone I’ve been wanting for quite some time along with a 71 VW Super Beetle I’m working on. Neither of these would be possible while I was smoking.

To wrap this up I want to address smokers and non-smokers who wish others close to them to quit. First to non-smokers, be patient and supportive. It’s OK to let smokers aware of your opinion of smoking but, the worst thing to do is to nag. This will just put them on the defensive and not want to quit already. Yes they know it’s bad for them. Secondly they have to decide for themselves to quit. You can’t do that for them. It just builds resentment anyway.

To the smokers: It can be done. I smoked for over twenty-five years and I did it. I understand what your going through and you have my support. This is a decision that has to come from within yourself. No one else can make up your mind for you. Though my method worked for me it may not for you. I urge you be patient and persistent. If one method doesn’t work, regroup and try a different way. The biggest factor is to make up your own mind to do it then follow through with it. I wish you the best in your journey.