“As an example to others, and not that I care for moderation myself, it has always been my rule never to smoke when asleep and never to refrain when awake.” - Mark Twain on his 70th birthday speech .

Why Quit?

I smoked cigarettes for 42 years before deciding to quit. Quitting was one of the hardest things I have ever had to do in my life.

If you have never smoked, then you can’t imagine the power tobacco can have over a person. To those of you who have quit smoking, and have refrained from lighting up, I applaud you. For the rest of you who smoke and are considering the idea of quitting, QUIT!!

To those of you who don’t smoke and are thinking of starting, DON’T BE STUPID!!

Nicotine releases dopamine, a pleasure chemical. Your body will hunger for more of this chemical which will lead to a habitual behavior requiring you to keep pumping dopamine into your body’s system.

Once this happens you start doing things you only use to hear about smokers only doing.

Case in Point?

Ok, if you have never smoked, did you ever search through the cushions of the couch looking for a stick of chewing gum? Did you walk to a convenience store at 3 AM in the morning to buy a package of gum because there was no more in the gum package?

I did both of those described activities, along with a few other things I won’t mention due to the sake of embarrassment. Only it was cigarettes I was after, not gum. I did those things just to receive some satisfaction.

That’s what can happen.

Fighting Back

Exercise has helped me overcome some major obstacles in quitting tobacco products. When I’m working out, my thoughts are focused on the movement I am doing at the time.

I like the way I feel after getting back from a walk or my visit to the gym. Sure, the urge to smoke a cigarette is there. I’m just able to suppress the impulse now.

I will spare all of you of sending you to a site where some non-smoker will go through the drill and clinical rundowns on how smoking will do this or that, and how quitting now will put 300 years back on your life.

I am not a doctor and I don’t do doctor speak.

I’m shooting from the hip, because I know what it’s like to give up something that’s been your companion for quite some time.

Cheap Thrills

Did I enjoy smoking? Well, I must have, because 42 years is a hell of a long time to do something and not enjoy it.

I replaced that enjoyment with a different kind now.

I enjoy being able to walk a mile without wheezing.

I enjoy the taste of food and the aromas of cooking.

I enjoy waking up in the morning without a smoker’s cough.

I enjoy marking my calendar at the end of another day without cigarettes.

Each day without a cigarette is another small victory for me.

I didn’t think I could quit smoking either, but I did. Yes, it has been hard and many times I have felt the urge to smoke.

This makes me realize my battle with nicotine is far from over and will probably never be over.

All I keep in mind is how good I feel now.

I enjoy being an ex-smoker.

Spare Me the “I Can’t Quit.”

If I can quit, you can too.