Today marks day #7. It has been tough but I am feeling optimistic!
I have been smoking for almost twenty three years. How could I have been so stupid?!?!
I have tried to quit smoking cigarettes many times in the past and for whatever reason, I have always ended up going back to smoking. Why?
The health risks are evident. Everyone knows how bad it is for you so why have I smoked for so long?
The cost of smoking is outlandish. All the money that I have spent on cigarettes is probably in the hundreds of thousands of dollars.
However, these two reasons are not what has made me try to quit again even though they are good reasons.
The real reason for me quitting for good this time is the realization that I am being a selfish twat.
I always thought that my health would be the only one effected. In a sense this is true but I got to thinking about if I died or got cancer and what kind of effect this would have on my two boys. I could not imagine losing my dad at the age they are now and how that would mess with their lives. So it is time to finally do something about it for good and quit being a selfish piece of shit.
Today marks one full week without smoking and I can honestly say that I think it is going to take this time. The urge to smoke is constant especially during stressful times. I do have a vape pen that is helping curb the cravings and doing some deep breathing exercises helps to get through the strong urges for a smoke.
I'm feeling good about it though and hopefully with time, these craving won't be as strong. I figure If I can go a week then I can go two weeks and so forth.
What is different this time is that instead of telling myself "I'm not going to ever smoke again." I told myself "I'm never buying a pack of cigarettes again." I'm not going to bum smokes but i'm sure I may have one down the road. Giving myself this leeway eliminates the feeling of instant failure if I ever do have a smoke. I just need to stick with never buying any more smokes and I am sure it will get easier as time goes on.
Thanks for reading. If you are trying to quit too, just remember that people do it everyday and it is an achievable goal!
And as always...
Keep being Cool Steemit!
3 photos is nice
thank yoyu for sharing this publication
I AM A NEW FOLLOWER for you
resteemid
Great post, simple but true and effective, I have been pondering this very idea, especially so, over the last month or 2, and your post has just reminded me that I need and want to also give up smoking.
I do not have kids to consider, but I do run and for a long time thought about how much better my running would be if I just stopped smoking. I too have realised just how stupid it is in this day and age to still be voluntarily poisoning ones body, with all the glaringly obvious disadvantages. More so the glaringly obvious advantages.
Aside from the obvious health benefits, I too realised just how wasteful it is to be burning up cash day after day in the pursuit of an early Death. The fact that your health improves, breathing is better your senses are all enhanced and brought back to what they should be, taste, smell, etc. should be reason enough.
So I would like to thank you for this post, however short it may be, it has managed to remind me of the promise I made to myself and I am actually going to start that journey right now :-)
Best of luck with your endeavour.
Keep us posted :-)
stay blessed, and blessing to you and your family.
I will keep ya posted. You as well.
I always felt envious of folks who could just quit. But the fact is, people do it all the time. So why not you and why not me? Good luck!
I'm here for any sort of support. :)
I did it once for 2 years........went a tad crazy the first 3 days........then every day got easier but I could not read books anymore because when I did I wanted to smoke so I taught myself to knit....I kit a lot LOLLL
Very proud of you and remember one leads to 2.......... so one is not an option :D
YOU will do it. Those 2 young boys are the perfect reason!!!
Thank you @snook!! :)
Mate... you got this!
Ya for some reason I can feel it this time. I got this :)
Good Luck,
I like your mind set of .. never buying another pack. The price of cigarettes has sky rocketed over the years. Have you thought of taking the money you usually spend on a pack of cigarettes and putting it into a Jar / piggy bank and then in a months time go count it ? The visual effect of seeing the money you saved might help you with your goal of quitting smoking.
Yes, I should start doing the jar fund. Good Idea!
Such a great reason to stop. I too have been a nicotine addict since about age 13 or so, and am almost 35. It has been a struggle. But a recent bout with a bi-pulmonary embolism--blood clots in both lungs--I've finally been "scared" into stopping. (We could have a philosophical discussion here on the metaphysics of selfhood, the ethics of "selfishness" lol, but, that seems a bit irrelevant to the over-arching point--which is, the "pain" of continuing to smoke outweighs any "benefits" we derived from the act.) .
It has been, let's see... probably close to two weeks since I had even ONE puff on a cigarette. I have been utilizing the "gum." So, in a sense, I suppose I am not free from nicotine--just the smoking lol. Although I'll tell ya--it's a step in the right direction... The symptoms of severe chest pain and coughing up blood practically ceased within days of stopping. I have also "quit" twice in the past--once for literally one year to the day--I smoked on day 366; and another time for around 7 months.
So yeah--I don't mean to turn this into a "cautionary tale," but, at not even 35 years of age, I can tell you: I never thought I'd be dealing with that. Almost a week in the hospital.. scared me half to death lol. (I will also add here: I was also "vaping" THC during this time, too; which I definitely believe had something to do with it, fyi.) Either way, smoking is pretty raunchy. Not to mention the fact that I was such a hypocrite that I couldn't stand the smell of it on others hahah now that I've stopped I know how invasive and in many ways, just plain rude going around smelling up the world like that is lol. (Damn, I want a cigarette now... Old habits die hard, eh?)
But I'm just gonna pop a piece of my 2 mg gum (down from 4 mg pieces--yay!!), and continue breathing better. Thanks for the reminder, @doctorcrypto, and good luck to you. I know you can stop. Oh, one more piece of "advice"--if you do happen to smoke--Do not let that deter you!! (Do NOT use as excuse to slip, tho :(( . But, it's about "progress, not perfection." We can let our own guilt and everything weigh us down unnecessarily, and use it as an excuse to become even worse--or at least I can ;)! Stay strong :)
Dang! Sorry to hear about the hospital visit.
And thanks for the thoughtful reply.
That is most of the battle for me. We just have to retrain ourselves with better habits. I still go outside on my breaks at work but it's for some fresh air now. :)
Yes.. the ol "cigarette break.." lol. During times of being quit, I could then see why non-smokers on-the-job sometimes could grow resentful at the smokers who basically got "extra" breaks lol. And seriously though, a warning about those vape pens, man.. I seriously cannot say they are better than a cigarette... but that's me. I can say the patch worked REALLY well--in fact, I rarely even thought about smoking when I had them. the gum isn't as good, imo--then again, I am cutting my dose so that ight have something to do w it lol
Good Luck in all sincerity! It is a tough one. My vape helped me to do it. You do have fantastic motivation in the realization of your "selfish twatishness".
Wait till your sense of smell comes back, the cig stink is a strong lingerer on clothing. It is really gross!
Thanks!
My lungs already feel 10 times better!
Also here :
Keep going and be my role model
Join the club!
I'm using a vape pen and the transition has been pretty stress free. You can then turn down your juice until you have weened yourself off of nicotine.
You know...better late than never. Everytime you think of smoking again think of all the money you will save with quitting smoke and the overall improvement of your health and life.
If you can't do it on your own, ask for medical health, most people think they are supposed to quite smoking alone and that its a sign of strenght but there is no shame on going to the doctor :)
I think I got this! 10 days now...Things are looking up :)
We all know cigarettes are not good for their health. But few are aware of how it is destroying your body.
I think it is pretty common knowledge these days.
Yes, but you know, Vietnam is the number one country in the world for tobacco consumption. They are not aware of the effects of it and they view smoking as their daily routine
Spread the word my friend :)