For some unknown reason, some teenagers think that it's cool to smoke. Why is that? As I recall, I was 14 years old when I smoked my first cigarette. It didn't taste good, or feel good, but for some reason I smoked another and another until I was hooked. I smoked until I was 22 years old. Like so many other teenagers who decide to start smoking, I damaged my lungs for years without any thought of any consequences. Fortunately for me, I was able to quit. Many people who start smoking can never quit.
I tried to quit smoking many times. Mainly because as I grew older, I thought more about the consequences, I matured, and I hated the smell. And for whatever reason, I have always looked down on people who smoked. I know, I know, how hypocritical is that? But that is exactly why I had to quit smoking. I was better than that. No matter what I did though, I couldn't stop. For me smoking was more about the habit than anything else. I smoked when I got in the car, I smoked on my breaks at work, I smoked after I got off work, after eating a meal, and especially when I drank. It didn't help that most of my friends also smoked. When I would try to quit, it wasn't as easy as just not purchasing them so they wouldn't be around when I craved a cigarette because I was always with friends. Friends with cigarettes.
Finally, after years of trying to quit it happened. I had my last cigarette. I moved away from all of my friends; all of my friends that were essentially bad influences on me, or vice-versa. I started over, in a new town with new friends. Now, I didn't move to quit smoking. No, I wouldn't have put that much effort into it. I'd never put that much effort into saving my own life, silly, I know. But nonetheless, I moved away, and I was done. No more influences, no more temptation. I was done. Cold-turkey. I think the hardest part of quitting smoking is your influences and your mindset. You have to be ready, and you have to want to quit. I mean really want to quit. Sure, you still get the urge to quit, but you have to remain strong.
I've been smoke free for 6 years now. I rarely ever think about smoking, but there are times when I see someone in a movie or TV show smoking and all of a sudden the urge returns. I quickly push that aside, because who wants to go through all that again?? Not me! Even one cigarette can get you hooked again, and it's so not worth it! Once you decide you're done, smoke your last cigarette, and be done!
I tried to quit smoking many times. Mainly because as I grew older, I thought more about the consequences, I matured, and I hated the smell. And for whatever reason, I have always looked down on people who smoked. I know, I know, how hypocritical is that? But that is exactly why I had to quit smoking. I was better than that. No matter what I did though, I couldn't stop. For me smoking was more about the habit than anything else. I smoked when I got in the car, I smoked on my breaks at work, I smoked after I got off work, after eating a meal, and especially when I drank. It didn't help that most of my friends also smoked. When I would try to quit, it wasn't as easy as just not purchasing them so they wouldn't be around when I craved a cigarette because I was always with friends. Friends with cigarettes.
Finally, after years of trying to quit it happened. I had my last cigarette. I moved away from all of my friends; all of my friends that were essentially bad influences on me, or vice-versa. I started over, in a new town with new friends. Now, I didn't move to quit smoking. No, I wouldn't have put that much effort into it. I'd never put that much effort into saving my own life, silly, I know. But nonetheless, I moved away, and I was done. No more influences, no more temptation. I was done. Cold-turkey. I think the hardest part of quitting smoking is your influences and your mindset. You have to be ready, and you have to want to quit. I mean really want to quit. Sure, you still get the urge to quit, but you have to remain strong.
I've been smoke free for 6 years now. I rarely ever think about smoking, but there are times when I see someone in a movie or TV show smoking and all of a sudden the urge returns. I quickly push that aside, because who wants to go through all that again?? Not me! Even one cigarette can get you hooked again, and it's so not worth it! Once you decide you're done, smoke your last cigarette, and be done!