Quit Smoking Diary Entry 1

Update: Fast forward 6 months - I stopped smoking!

This is an update to the article below. Just about 6 months after I wrote this I can proudly say that I succeeded in my efforts to stop smoking. After I wrote this hub I smoked I continued to smoke for about 1 month. Then one day I was looking at my throat in the mirror and saw that it was a dark gray color. So, I bought some nicotine gum and put myself through the withdrawal process. Six months later I would not accept $1,000 to smoke a cigarette as I never want to go through the process of quitting smoking again!

It's ironic I started smoking when I hated my parents smoking as a kid

I'm now approaching my mid-30s and just started smoking four years ago. Most people think it's absolutely outrageous that I started smoking as an adult and never smoked as a kid. In fact, I used to hate it when my parents smoked. We grew up in a cold winter climate and I used to roll the car windows down driving in the bitter cold when my dad lit up a smoke in the front seat. I will never forget the sound of the dashboard cigarette light popping out when it was ready to fire up dad's cigarette. And, during the summer I used to put bug spray in my mom's cigarettes. Actually, she never would let me have it as she knew I was trying to help her quit. Anyways, at the age of 10 my parents went to a Freedom From Smoking class and kicked the habit for good. It has been over 20 years and neither of them have smoked ever since. What's ironic is that they both credit me for helping them to stop smoking due to my constant nagging.

Nicotine is a very dangerous and addictive drug found in cigarettes

So let's bring it to the present. How could a kid who absolutely hated smoking end up a smoker today? The reason: Nicotine. One of the most powerful drugs in the universe. Once you get sucked in its black hole it's very hard if not impossible to escape. How did I get sucked into nicotine? The easy way: "Hey, let's have a smoke." "OK, but I'm not a smoker". No problem, try it just once, I got a light." It was that simple just hanging out with friends sitting on the balcony and shooting the breeze. Eventually one or two a night became three or four, then 10, then it sky-rocked up to about 1.5 packs a day. That's way too much. Actually one cigarette per day is way too much.

I'd like to reach out to people who are trying to stop smoking

I'm here to stop smoking myself and to make friends who are also trying to quit the habit or who have quit the habit. Also, if possible I'd like to reach out to young people who are smoking already or who are tempted to smoke. Actually about 2 years ago I managed to quit for six months. My dad taught me a wonderful technique: Just don't smoke for next 15 minutes and don' worry about saying "I'll never smoke again". So, for the next 15 minutes it's no smoking for me!

Dawei888