ToCreate.Art.blog

Right now I am currently at the threshold of breaking my recent ‘quit smoking’ record of two-and-a-half days. Today is Day Three!

Smoking Cessation Aid

I’ve been on this one prescription medicine to help me quit smoking for a few months now. This is my third time on this medicine (tried over a span of several years), and to be honest, I think each subsequent time I’m on this med, it becomes less and less effective.

I don’t remember if I’ve mentioned the name before, and I don’t know if I can officially mention it without being sued for I-don’t-know-what, but it sort of rhymes with ‘man pits’. Lol, disregard the negative connotation, it really is a great medicine to help with quitting smoking (and possibly quitting alcohol, according to their paperwork).

Past Quit Successes and Failures

The first time I used this medication, it stopped even a lingering smoking habit within two weeks. I stayed off cigarettes for three months that time. It was my own willfulness and stupidity that allowed me to light up again. A beer and a cigarette go together well.

My record time is five years. This was waaay before ‘manpits’. FIVE YEARS. I was FREE!! But then I had a girlfriend who smoked, and I wanted to feel that little rush again when you inhale. I did. I bummed one of her cigarettes – a menthol, my favorite – and it felt sooo good.

As usual, later I lit a second cigarette, then a third, and from there, I was a smoker again.

I had resigned myself to being a smoker this last time. It’s who I am, it’s what I do. I’m not going to fight it anymore.

Third time around on this med – three, four months, it can be used up to 18 weeks – and now I have to want to quit and be proactive within myself to quit the lingering desire.

Those last half-cigarettes did taste good after dinner and before bedtime, sitting outside watching the suburban-conditioned wildlife with a hot tea or decaf as the sun set…. But with the help of this medicine, I can now, at least, go about my daily activities without the constant tap-on-the-shoulder to go sit on the porch to smoke.

Quit Date

As of today, my final official quit-smoking day is October 1, 2017. My first absolute smoke-free day, with today being a consecutive Day Three. The fact that I’ve gone a whole two full days – and-a-half – really inspires me to stay away from the death trap.

If I can get through today, I think I can definitely get through tomorrow. I’ve had a few two-day successes. But today is my first three-day success. Going to bed tonight with this accomplishment under my belt will be even more inspiring for tomorrow.

Unsolicited, but Sincere, Advice

For those of you who are under pressure to try smoking – either your own desire or someone else’s pressure – please understand this: it is a TRUE struggle to stop smoking once you are addicted. And you will become addicted if you continue to smoke.

Every single day, even when I was enjoyably smoking a pack a day, I wished that I would not have started up again. I have come to hate smoking. I’ve hated it for a long time. But I’ve always been under its thumb. I couldn’t quit. I couldn’t even want to quit.

Please please please please don’t start smoking. You will feel better. You will smell better. You will breathe better. And there’s less of a chance of you and/or your loved ones getting cancer if you don’t smoke, or if you really really really try to quit now.

Thank you for reading.