It is hard but I quit smoking after 30 years
Smoking is a harmful habit that can damage the body in many ways, and quitting smoking is one of the hardest things I’ve ever done. Despite all the warnings, many people still start, myself included. When I was 12 years old, I started smoking without paying attention to any of it. I was only interested in the advertisements that made smoking look cool. My first cigarette made me sick, but that didn’t stop me. I quickly became addicted. I wish I had quit after that very first one.
For over 30 years, I struggled to quit smoking. One of the reasons I finally quit was my father. He died from chronic smoking, (that was actually on his death certificate), and it made me realize just how powerful the addiction in cigarettes really is, and how much damage it was doing to my own body. Smoking harms nearly every organ in the body and remains the leading cause of preventable disease and death in the U.S., according to the CDC. Even though I was physically fit and able to run miles in the Army, smoking had been silently taking a toll on me the whole time. As I got older, simple things like climbing a flight of stairs became difficult.
I knew I had to quit smoking
The turning point for me came when I was helping a friend repair his roof. I was carrying shingles up a ladder and onto the roof, something I had done many times before. But this time, each trip up the ladder left me more winded. Eventually, I was standing on the roof, gasping for air. I couldn’t breathe, I was dizzy, and nauseous. That’s when I realized it was time to quit smoking.
Quitting smoking is not easy. I know that from personal experience. I struggled with it for nearly a year. My approach was to quit cold turkey, stopping all at once. It was hard, especially when I was around other smokers. I’d often give in and smoke just one cigarette, but that would lead to another, and another. Eventually I’d smoke too many in a short period, and that would make me ill and remind me of standing on that roof, gasping for air. But I was able to overcome it, and it’s been years since I’ve had a cigarette.
What made me successful in quitting smoking? For me, it was the moment I truly decided I wanted to stop. Until I made that decision wholeheartedly, I wasn’t going to be able to quit. I’ve known many smokers who tried different methods, medication, nicotine gum, patches, hypnotism. But only the ones who truly wanted to quit were able to do it. No matter what method you use, if the desire isn’t there in your heart, it won’t happen.
The Method that Worked for Me
The method I used to quit smoking was changing my thinking about cigarettes. I focused on everything negative about smoking, how bad they tasted, the unpleasant smell, how it affected my breath around others, all of it. By constantly thinking about those things, I was able to turn away from the addiction. Gradually I grew to dislike everything about smoking, and eventually I hated cigarettes enough to give them up for good. It was like setting a goal and working toward it every day. My desire to quit smoking grew stronger and stronger, until finally, I quit for good.
I am happy to be smoke-free. I can exercise, walk up a flight of stairs, and even run a couple of miles without feeling winded. I feel much better than I did when I was smoking. Being free of that addiction is a great feeling.
My final thoughts on smoking are simple. It’s not good for anyone. If you want to quit smoking, the first step is to take action. Start by making a list of all the negative effects of smoking that you know of. Read that list every day, and remind yourself why you want to quit. When you’re around smokers, think about how bad their clothes smell. When you get a craving, remind yourself of the unpleasant taste and smell of cigarettes on your hands. Use any thought that helps push you away from smoking.
Once you’ve done that, make a list of all the positive things about being a non-smoker. It’ll help you build the willpower you need to quit smoking for good. Quitting smoking is one of the best choices you can make for your health, and it’s proof that real change is possible no matter how long a habit has held on. If you’re working on other health goals too, I wrote about how eating three meals a day helped me lose 30 pounds, another example of small, consistent choices adding up over time.