Every day I am amazed I no longer smoke. I had my first cigarette at 13 and I was addicted by 15. I was on average a pack a day smoker and I couldn't walk outside without lighting a cigarette. I literally couldn't walk in NYC unless I had a cigarette in my hand. How crazy is that? But I was an addict and couldn't give it up. Or so I thought. I did a program that started on Jan. 4, 2009 and ended on Jan. 8, 2009. And at the end of the program I no longer smoked. I wanted a cigarette very, very badly, but I was also motivated by everything I had learned during the program; over the many, many quit attempts; and of course, my mother. The program no longer exists, but like every other quitting smoking program, not everyone quit. I think that 30% of us were successful, but we all still keep in touch and encourage each other every year (and all of us in the 30% has gained at least 20+ lb..; so now we have to figure out how to lose that next).
And even though I've been smoke-free for 3 years, I still want a cigarette. But I know in my heart (and my lungs) that one cigarette is too many. I can never smoke again because I have absolutely no control over it. I am a nicotine addict.
But it's been three freaking years! YAHOOOOO!!!!!