Pride may be one of the seven deadly sins but, in this case, I hope I am forgiven because I am proud to shout from the rooftops that:
As of today, I have been smoke, tobacco, and nicotine free for three years.
Yaaaaaaaay, me!
Had someone told me three years plus one day ago that I would quit smoking, I would've thought them insane. I'd smoked 2 - 2-1/2 packs a day for the better part of 40 years and the addict within had successfully rationalized/fooled me into believing that, since quitting smoking would be impossible, it would be stupid to even try.
God! I hate the addiction; I detest the nicodemon.
I "accidentally" quit smoking July 15, 2007. I say "accidentally" because I had no intention whatsoever of stopping smoking. In fact, two days before, Friday, July 13, I had just purchased my weekly two cartons of cigarettes at Costco.
I awakened on Saturday with, out of the clear blue, what was one of the worst colds I'd experienced since childhood. Coughing, chest congested, sore throat, fever, aches in body parts I didn't know even existed...
As always when I would get a cold, I'd continue smoking, only less because, a.) they tasted even crappier than usual and, b.) they made me cough and hack. So it was on that Saturday. I coughed and choked my way through probably 6-10 cigarettes over the course of that day and finally just went back to sleep. Woke up Sunday and started the same routine all over again -- light a cigarette, inhale, cough and hack and wheeze. Finally, at about 12:15 that afternoon, I ground out what was to be the last cigarette I would ever smoke. For the rest of the day and into the evening, every time I'd want a cigarette, I'd tell myself, "later," because I was feeling so poorly.
The next day (Monday), even though really sick, I went to work. Took my normal two packs of cigarettes and my lighter in with me and put them in their usual place. Whenever I'd want a cigarette, I'd tell myself, "later," as I had done on Sunday. I got through the work day and both of my packages of cigarettes were still unopened. I marveled that it had been over 28 hours since I'd smoked a cigarette, and half-heartedly thought about "just seeing how long I could go without one." I went home, leaving the cigarettes and lighter in my car.
Maybe God was guiding my thoughts because, when it dawned on me to avail myself of this wonderful resource called "the Internet" regarding smoking cessation, for some reason I searched on the words "nicotine addiction" rather than "quit smoking" or "quitting smoking."
I came across a marvelous informational/educational site called whyquit.com.
One of the first things that I learned there is that nicotine is flushed from the body 72 hours after smoking cessation. Surprised by this, I realized that I was already over one third of the way to being nicotine-free, from a physiological standpoint at least.
Thus began my journey. Education was KEY. Education about the insidious nature of the addiction to nicotine, and how to overcome it; how to defeat it.
I found other great educational resources online, and voraciously read what they had to offer.
Thirty two days into what was still a very shaky "stop" smoking effort (I didn't dare to even think the words "quit smoking," much less say them, because the addict within still had me convinced that my not smoking was just a temporary thing and that, when I ultimately resumed smoking, it would somehow seem less hypocritical for me to be able to rationalize, "...well, it's not like I QUIT or anything; I only STOPPED.") I stumbled upon a wonderful quit smoking support group. I lurked and read there for a couple of weeks and finally registered on September 1, 2007.
One of the first things that an "old-timer" there told me was that, while difficult, quitting smoking was so, SO "doable." I believed her; she was right. Had it not been for this great support group, I have little doubt that I wouldn't be celebrating this marvelous milestone today.
I have had a "quit smoking meter" running on my computer for these years and, as of moments ago it read:
I have been quit for 3 Years, 3 hours, 12 minutes and 50 seconds (1,096 days). I have saved $9,591.16 by not smoking 54,806 cigarettes. I have saved 6 Months, 6 Days, 7 hours and 10 minutes of my life. My Quit Date: 7/15/2007 12:15 PM54,806 cigarettes not smoked... that's disgusting, yet wonderful at the same time
I only wish I would've done this while my Mother was alive. In one of our last conversations before her death, after I'd come back into her house after smoking on the porch, she said, "oh hon, I wish you'd quit smoking." I (typical addict) took offense and replied somewhat testily, "well... YOU taught ME!"
In a hushed, almost little girl voice she said, "I know. We didn't know any better."
I've felt guilty about that exchange ever since. I dedicate my quit to the memory of my dear Mother.
As an aside, if anyone who reads this is a smoker who would like to rid themselves of our shared addiction, just remember...
After smoking 2 - 2-1/2 packs a day for 40 years, if I can do this, certainly you can.
Thank you for indulging me.
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