How I quit smoking

    Well, I really didn’t quit, but I have not had a cigarette in over two months. I didn’t have any withdraw issues either. Bet you want me to explain that one don’t you. I found a way to eliminate the guilt for me. That was the biggest obstacle for me, the guilt factor. I’ve quit many times before, and always started smoking again. I once made it eleven months, but yes started again. I’d go along, not smoking for awhile, doing OK. Then I’d break down and have a smoke. That was all it took, I would start smoking all over again.

   With all the sin taxes and the other increases in the price of cigarettes, I just couldn’t justify the increased money I was spending on them. It was the first time that I can remember that I had to choose between cigarettes and necessary items for living. Like food, drink, clothing. That was the proverbial straw that broke the camels back. What was I doing, choosing between food and cigarettes. I’m not talking extra food. I’m talking not eating for a day or two to have cigarettes.

    Like I said above, it was the guilt that was my biggest obstacle. I had to overcome the guilt if I was going to succeed. Then, it came to me. Why, do I have to quite. Why not treat cigarettes like a luxury item. I mean would you eat twenty to forty pieces of cheesecake a day. Every day. Or, would you drink twenty to forty Starbucks espresso drinks each and every day. I mean, do you feel guilty enough when you have a rich desert to start only eating desert for all your meals. No, that would be stupid.

    So, why do smokers treat smoking differently. Maybe, it’s an addiction. Maybe, not. There maybe a physical/mental addiction factor there. But, come on, it is still a choice. Every smoker has their own personal reason that they smoke so much. I’m not going to go there. I’m going to keep this about how I changed my life.

    I simply made a contract with myself.

• I couldn’t buy more then a single cigarette at a time.
• I couldn’t have more then a single cigarette in my possession at a time.
• I could ask/bum a cigarette from another smoker.

    Believe it are not, this simple contract eliminated the guilt factor for me. Immediately I was only having one cigarette a day. Within a week I was down to one cigarette in four days. Then I was not smoking. It was so simple it was to easy. I can’t believe it is working.

    The fact that I can have a cigarette when ever I want is what is helping me. The thing is, I’m not having a cigarette. I don’t and didn’t from the beginning have any withdrawal issues. I’m not a new smoker. I started when I was eleven years old. I’m turning 39 this year. Yep 28 years of smoking. Two packs a day. For about five years I was smoking non-filters. Toasty! LOL.

    Well, that’s how I did it. Hope it helps.