Sunday, January 8, 2012

SMOKE-FREE FOR THREE YEARS

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!!!!!

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