by streetlight

Created on: January 17, 2009   Last Updated: January 22, 2009

How I Stop Smoking

I started smoking during my college days. I love smoking after every meal. I smoke before I sleep. I smoke while doing something. I love to smoke while drinking with my friends. And yes! After sex too. Well, that's a typical smoker as we all know. I'm not a chain smoker though but just an average smoker.

When I got older and beginning to see my kids grow, I thought to myself that I want to stop smoking. The main reason is that I don't want them be like me, a smoker. I don't want them to remember me as one. If I want to set an example to them, I will show them what I want them to be. The other reason, of course, is health issue. I want to live longer to see my kids grow. Besides, it's in our family that got heart problems. My uncles died of it, my father got triple by-pass and more. And it's because of smoking. Two of my brothers smoke too. I don't want to be like them. I have to do what is right. And so I did. I stop smoking. How did I do it? It's not really easy but I did it just like waking up a new me.

I said to myself, first, I will reduce my smoking and do it slowly because I heard that it's not good to stop suddenly. So first thing I did is shift to lights. I smoke Malboro so I shift to Malboro Lights. I even try the filtered pipes. Then I said to myself again that I will buy 1 ream of my favorite brand and after I finished it, I will stop. I did finished 1 ream then I said again, one more ream. I did that again and again and still not working.

I said I should stop before year 2000 and that year went by, I'm still smoking. It's really very hard. Then, I met this girl that I kind to like as a friend. Very nice and she really doesn't want a smoker. So whenever I'm with her, I don't smoke. It really felt very easy but whenever she's gone, I'm back smoking. I work with her that's why I reduced my smoking naturally.

But thinking of my kids, I really need to stop. Besides, my doctor advised me to stop because it's bad for my sinusitis. So I said again to myself, I will continue to buy 1 pack of cigarette and when it comes a time that I smoke the last stick of the pack before I sleep, I will not buy or smoke a cigarette when I wake up the next day. Then on February 2000, it happens. I stared at the last stick I was about to smoke before I sleep. I said this is it. I then check again if it's really the last. Well, I enjoy the last stick of my smoking days. Then I went to sleep.

The next morning, I get up just like a regular day and not thinking of smoking. I really did not tell anyone about my plan so it's just me. After meal, I went straight for my work unlike before I'm with friends smoking after meal. I do not want to be tempted so I avoided them for a while. It's been 3 days when some of my friends notice it. It was hard though on the first week, but after that, I don't crave anymore. Only side effect is that eat more. I gain weight so started working out. I then realize that I felt pretty good. I can smell very well too.

After 2 months, 6 of my smoker friends stop too. Now I hate the smell of smoke. I felt good. I tell my kids that I stop smoking because it's bad and I'm proud to tell them that I stop smoking because of them. And I did it.

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