by Skylar Majesta King

Created on: August 29, 2010

Quitting smoking is certainly difficult, as I discovered for myself. Although I have never been a heavy smoker, I did not like the cravings that seemed to have control over me. I also did not like the way I felt as a smoker and desired a truly healthy body, something my habit contributed nothing positive to. In addition, the thought that my father had died of lung cancer was never far from my mind.

But try as I might, my desire to quit smoking did not carry over into long-term action. I tried so many different methods, including nicotine patches, nicotine gum, and hypnosis, but never seemed to be able to stay the course. I am, however, not suggesting that these methods do not work but am only indicating that they did not work for me.Time and time again, I would try and fail. Sometimes I would quit for up to three weeks but then I would light up again. Although all these serious attempts that I made repeatedly over several years did not leave me smoke-free, and my faith and confidence in my own ability to ever stop smoking was badly shaken, I would not give up.

One day, after another failed attempt, an acquaintance told me her story of how she had quit. After trying and failing "everything", she decided to try one last time, using a method that had worked as a last resort for someone she knew. This method involved a slow progression of cutting down at least one cigarette a week until she reached her goal. Eventually she was smoke-free and had remained smoke-free for over nine years.

I decided to try her method. I had nothing to lose, and while her strategy wasn't quite as speedy as I would have liked, I wasn't working on any deadline. I also realized that winning with a "turtle approach" was better than not winning at all. I created a plan for myself that I would further develop and modify or change as needed, along the way. Much of it involved maintaining the motivation and self-discipline to continue one step at a time, despite my ongoing urge to go faster and get quicker results.

Part of the plan also involved developing my interests and needs. I found other activities, for example, to do with my hands, including pampering myself with manicures and a night of beauty each week and reading some books of interest that I had never seemed to be able to find the time to read. I also took the money I saved by not smoking and

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