I quit smoking TWO YEARS AGO TODAY. If you smoke, please stop now!

Today's blog entry isn't fancy and it doesn't have a gimmick. The entry today is entirely for me, by me, and because of me. It is my birthday and it is also the second anniversary of the day when I quit smoking. Because this entry isn't full of recipes or cute, little gimmicks, no one may find it or read it except for me, but that's OK because right now, this very minute, the pride I feel when the reality hits me that two years have gone by without one, single cigarette in my home is immense. So, me, I am happy and I am thrilled and I am content and I am healthier and I am pleased that I DID IT. I STOPPED SMOKING ON MY BIRTHDAY TWO YEARS AGO.

If anyone does happen to stumble across this entry and you are still smoking, here's my list of absolute MUSTS to have in your house on the day you quit.

• cinnamon chewing gum
• cinnamon candies. I used Jolly Rancher.
• Listerine cinnamon breath strips. Cinnamon has some properties that will zap the urge to smoke ASAP and keep it away for about 45 minutes. Long enough for you to get a grip on your urge and your emotions.
• Grapefruit juice, which will also take away the desire to smoke and it's good for you, too.
• baby carrots
• low calorie veggie dip
• I used Chantix to help me quit smoking. I never in my life thought that anything would work for me, but this stopped me in my tracks and worked like a charm. I had smoked for 40 years, so if this works on me, it will work for you, too.
• water, and lots of it

Most of all, you have to want to quit. Not desire to quit or hope to quit or wish you could quit. YOU NEED TO KNOW THAT THE LAST CIGARETTE IS YOUR LAST CIGARETTE. The one, real "key" to stop smoking and to stay that way is to never light up again under any circumstances and at no time for no reason! There will be times when you are stressed and think that lighting up will help, but all it will do is lead you right back into smoking full time and, it will make you want to shoot yourself because all of your hard work during your quit will be lost.


How do I know? Not from personal experience but from listening to, and believing, what the experts, those that quit, told me and from what I have read on the web. Another excellent tool is a web site Why Quit. If that place doesn't shed some light on what those cigarettes are doing to you, nothing will. People who are literally in their hospital bed...dying...share their stories with you, pleading with your to stop smoking. All have passed away now, but please honor their last wish and put that cigarette out...forever.

I began this entry thinking no one would read it or care but now I am hoping that just one person finds this blog of mine and stops smoking. That would be so wonderful, wouldn't it?