When I began smoking at the age of eighteen, it was the coolest thing a girl could do. Thanks to good advertising and lobbying efforts from tobacco companies, smoking was a common occurrence at every party, ball game and workplace. The most beautiful girls in the world were always photographed with a cigarette in hand. Wispy smoke floated around their body like a spiral halo creating an ethereal appearance. A smoker never had to make excuses or be embarrassed or ashamed of this hazardous unhealthy habit. What's more, everyone on TV said it was acceptable. L.S.M.F.T. (Lucky Strikes Mean Fine Tobacco) Winston Tastes Good Like A Cigarette Should. Why would a smoker consider quitting when they shared this habit with their very own doctor?

As my friends and family began to quit I became the outlaw; sole smoke polluter; enemy to children; callous and uncaring about second hand smoke. This led me to the proverbial closet. I became a disgrace in my own home. I conceded to stop smoking in the car but I would not quit smoking in my own home. However, I did choose a single location by a window and tried to only smoke when no one was home. But no matter how hard I tried I could not cook without smoking. But in my defense the ashtray was on the open window ledge. Smoking is not only addictive physically, it is addictive mentally. Mental addiction is the hardest habit to break. In order to quit smoking a person must make the decision.

It became increasingly difficult to carry on a smoker's existence at work when all smoking was banned within twenty feet of my office building. My car was parked a five minute walk away and my break was only fifteen minutes. A bright idea came to me. I would smoke one cigarette while walking to my car and smoke one walking back to my office. I read some where once that if a person exercised and smoked that the exercise negated the harmful effects of smoking. It was akin to killing two birds with one stone. Once the neuron receptors in my brain took control, there was no rhyme or reason to my actions as a smoker. They would do anything for a smoke.

There is no magic involved in quitting any addiction. What worked for me was a combination of desire to set a good example to my children, stop smoking aids, and hypnosis. However, none of these and I repeat none of these methods prevented the little neuron receptor monsters in my head, who were used to being fed nicotine, from trying to pull me back into the smoking habit. This is the hardest obstacle to overcome.

I am not going to tell you that "If I can do it you can too," because I don't know that. I do know that the desire to change a habit will be the deciding factor. I smoked my last cigarette almost two years ago. Now when I smell a cigarette instead of craving a drag I smile to myself and give thanks that I am free. I no longer need to hide away in a closet and live a lie in front of my children. Smoking has become a big issue for young children. It is time to help them withstand peer pressure.

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