I'm 23 and for the past five years of my life I lived to smoke.
I enjoyed it so much I made sure I always had packs and cartons. A lot of my life revolved around smoking.
I went to the dentist and they told me I had severe gingivitis from smoking and nicotine stains starting to set in. They told me if I didn't stop smoking I would eventually lose my teeth. I was 23, how could that happen? I was overall healthy and to hear that - total shock!
I kinda blew it off but I remember one day I was at a supermarket buying my weekly carton and the guy checking me out was my age, nice-looking and I felt embarrassed! I was buying a carton of cigarettes and felt stupid and, depending on the week, I could be back for a second carton. That's when I knew it was time. I never felt stupid for smoking before that, but I did then and it wasn't a good feeling. I made a vow this carton would be my last. And it was!
I had the most terrible first week. I was moving, everyone was stressed and nothing went right. I even had a rude friend continue to smoke right in front of me in the car no less! It was her car or else I would of dumped her on the road.
But I kept telling myself, "you do this ONCE, you won't have to feel this way again".
That was a year ago and I've been completely smoke-free since. I've even given others courage to quit smoking because they knew how much it was part of my life and I could do it!
I love my life smoke-free. I don't have to stand out in the cold, have smoker's breath, have smoky clothes and I save a ton of money. I don't have to inconvenience friends and family with smoke breaks, and the most important thing, I don't depend on anything anymore - it's all me.
A tough day? So what! I don't run for my crutch cigarette, I just deal with it. I'm no longer a slave to tobacco. And I'm proud I was strong enough to do it and you can too.
