Well, I guess that is not entirely true.. I had my last smoke Feb, 16th, but I can really say, knowing I was free for 8 months :)
I had not given any real thought to quitting.. At times over the years, I would cut back down, always trying not to go over a pack a day. But, one day, I saw a young couple lighting up, just outside a restaurant, and thought,, How stupid do you have to be to pick up one of those, knowing what we know now !?! Then, I looked at the one in my hand, that I was smoking, and the thought hit me,, How stupid do you have to be to keep smoking ???
Now, I don't claim to be a genius, but when I asked myself why I was smoking, and had no answer.. It hit me... SMOKING MAKES YOU STUPID.. An otherwise intelligent person, would not spend good money, waste all the time we waste just to have a smoke, and shove poison into our body. Right ?
Naturally, the nicodemon tried to argue.. You are 67 years old, why quit now ? BECAUSE i HAVE BEEN YOUR SLAVE FOR 45 YEARS... I AM NOT GOING TO DIE A SMOKER !!
Now, the point of all this rambling, In my mind, smoking became something I just could not do. I made up my mind.. I WANTED to quit. Not that I needed to quit, or I should quit, I wanted it.. I did not want to be a smoker. I did not want to be that slave to a cigarette. So, I had 3 packs at the time, and made myself a promise, to never buy another one.. Surprisingly, it only took 2.. I still have the last, unopened pack, and I guess at my one year mark, I'll bury, or burn it.. LOL
Ok, enough rambling. What I want to share, and I say it often, whatever method you choose to quit, first make it something you want. Don't think you are giving up anything, or you are quitting for this reason, or that reason.. You have to want it.. Take the time to really see how foolish, stupid, disgusting, and useless smoking is. I have heard, Allen Carr's book, The easy way to quit smoking can help with that.. Sure, there will be withdrawal. 3 really miserable weeks for me, but you don't have to crave, or want for that smoke.. Make it something you do NOT WANT, not something you can't have. That is much more powerful than it sounds. Other than the few weeks of withdrawal, I have not had to suffer with cravings.. Learn to think like a non smoker, not a smoker that can't have one.. Take joy in the fact that you no longer smoke. Be proud. You have earned it.. Don't look back. You left nothing good behind.
It can be that easy.. I know. We let smoking control our brain for too long. You are not a passenger. Take back control of your own mind. You can do it too :)