Only you will know when the time is right ...

My story is a bit of a long one.

My older sister introduced me to cigarettes in 1979 when I was 12. At that time we were living in a suburb that was full of negativity and we were also living with parents that were polar opposites of each other. Neither of our parents smoked.

Our Dad was however over the top religious and made us kids feel worthless as I guess his religion made him also feel.

I suppose we felt smoking was a way to rebel and feel important? (as adults)

Anyway, I gave-up in 1983 cold turkey - and it was hard. This lasted for 12 months until I decided I couldn't take the wonderful smell of burning cigarettes any longer. I remember sneaking a smoke for the first time after 12 months of being smoke free and how bad it tasted. I subsequently convinced myself that if I kept trying, they would eventually taste the same old way; and although I eventually got used to the taste, the more I would smoke, the worse I felt.

In around 1989 my wife at the time (a non-smoker) convinced me it was time to quit. Again I eventually went cold turkey and this time lasted for around 6 months. Again it was the lure of the burning cigarette scent..

In 2000 I decided to get healthy and give it up for good. By this stage I was smoking more than ever. You see, when you give them up and start again, you smoke even more than before.

Because I was smoking so much I needed help this time, so I started on the patches. Again I was successful, however only lasted 18 months. The old smell of a burning cigarette got me again.

Each time I got back on the smokes, I tried harder and harder to smoke more so as to get the old familiar taste and sensation back. Once I achieved this, I was obviously hooked again... And smoking more than ever..

Fast forward to 2012.

I am now divorced from my first wife and married to my soul mate and we both have a wonderful 10 year old that happens to be an exceptional cricketer.

Fast forward to 2015.

Our son is now 13, he plays 1st division for our area, representative cricket for our region and plays for NSW indoor cricket.

I have to take this power house to the nets almost everyday and he expects me to be a real Dad and perform (I am 47 and relatively young) i.e., bowl to him, run after balls, bat well etc...

I realised as a smoker, that I cannot live-up to his expectations. We have been going to the nets for 2 years now and he continually puts crap on me around my ability to keep up with him and "why are you so tired Dad"..

I started taking Champix on 2nd February 2015. I stopped smoking on 10th February 2015. This time is for good, for life.

I printed the following and stuck it on my study wall to remind me why I no longer need to smoke. I hope this helps my fellow quitters...

THERE ARE NO POSITIVES FOR ME TO CONTINUE SMOKING… NONE WHAT SO EVER!

THERE ARE MANY POSITIVES TO BECOMING SMOKE FREE; THE MOST IMPORTANT FOR ME ARE:

1. I can breathe normally for a change and stop sweating all the time ( I am 179cm tall and weigh 79kg)

2. I can tryout to play cricket with Camden in August and be fit enough to qualify

3. I can bowl more pace balls at Jarrod without becoming too tired after the first ball

4. I can save around $30 per day and $10,950 per year – “a very good holiday” – maybe even a cruise?

5. I can live long enough to enjoy a wonderful life with my Wife, Son and family and possibly even get to meet my Grandchildren one day.