Quit today, everyday

I quit smoking cold turkey over 37 years ago after being a heavy smoker for 12 years.  Why?  Well, I was waiting for my husband to turn up to take my first newborn infant and myself home from hospital.  In those days you could still smoke in hospital, and I had smoked all through that pregnancy.  My mother had died 2 years previously from the effects of continual and heavy smoking, and I was feeling pretty upsest that she wasn't around to applaud me for producing such a spectacular child and being around to welcome her grandson into this world.  As I lit up, it hit me like a bolt of lightning that I may not be around to witness this child grow up if I continued smoking my usual 20 to 40 fags a day.  So I stubbed out my cigarette and threw out my half full pack of cigarettes then and there, as completely contrary to my usual method of quitting, by smoking the last one in the pack and then deciding to quit.  

So I quit cold turkey the day I took my newborn son home from hospital, but I decided I couldln't quit for life.  Life was too long to contemplate.  I knew I'd cave in & start smokeing again, because I'd done that many times before.  Quitting for life had never worked for me.  I decided I would quit smoking just for today, everyday.   That's what I did.  Believe me it wasn't easy.  I craved cigarettes, but I distracted myself when the cravings were intense; times when I most enjoyed smoking I chose to do something different, like making a cup of tea first thing in the morning rather than reaching for my cigarettes as I woke: or I know it's gross, but I deliberately breathed in second hand cigarette smoke from other smokers at times, but here's the kicker, I didn't smoke myself, and I never have since March 26, 1975.  I am still giving up smoking, just for today almost 38 years later, and I feel great for doing so.  Believe me I have been tempted to re-start, even years afterwards, but by then I was proud of myself for doing what had previously been impossible.

Anyone can manage quitting for just one day.  Give it a go.  Tell yourself you can do it just for today.  Go to bed at night knowing you managed not to smoke all that day.  Start the process all over again the next morning with the same commitment as the day before, and maybe you'll give yourself a chance to see your grandchildren grow up.  It's worth it.