34 years a smoker

I can't believe today is day 78. I have smoked for 34 years straight. I finally had to give up, basically because I could no longer afford to smoke. I had one cigarette left on the morning I had planned to quit. Valentines day. So I wrote the date on that last smoke & put it in the cupboard. I decided to use the nicotine gum as it seemed the most affordable. I was surprised how easy I found it. I love a challenge but didn't think I would enjoy this one. Strangely I did. One hour turned into two, six, twelve. Then a whole day, two, three a week. At two weeks I cut down on the gum & by three I had stopped it all together. I was finding all of my old habits, of going outside to read, feed the birds or talk on the phone AND of course have multiple cigarettes had stopped. I only ever smoked outside at home. So as long as I didn't keep going outside, sitting on my veranda I didn't overly crave a smoke. Playing poker at my local club was a bit harder, as all the people I had associated with were smokers. But that was just another challenge. My friends there were great, supporting & congratulating me on my progress each week. Before I new it it was one month & then two. Sadly I have put on some weight, but have already started to try & lose it. Maybe I can lose a lot more ( I need to) If I can quit smoking, surely I can lose weight too. Now here I am approaching three months! Well it's my Birthday next week 11th May. And I'm going to buy myself something nice to celebrate. I would see those adds that said "If I can give up smoking, so can you" But I did not believe them. I used to say I can't give up smoking, I thought I was addicted. But I have found, that even after 34 years, it was more of a habit than an addiction. So....... "If I can give up smoking, so can YOU"