I chose the name “The Happy Quitter” because I started out as a smoking cessation blog. I gave up smoking after 35 years and I gave it up with ease. What I experienced was the contrary from what I had been told. I didn’t fly into a rage, I didn’t feel the need to use medication or other things to help me quit. I put my last cigarette out and walked away.
Nicotine addicts aka smokers can get a lot of help these days. There are numerous free webpages available with lots of information, tips and tricks on how to quit smoking. Books, videos and pamphlets are available for free, to everybody who is serious about quitting. Almost every country offers free government pages and help as well, you would think we covered all the bases.
I listened to all of them and I was just in awe. The stories they shared touched my heart, left me speechless and I admired so many of them. They stood in front of the microphone and shared their darkest moments with all of us.
Lately, I seem to have encounters with people who have never heard of common sense, so it’s time to publish the following obituary. It was printed in the London times a few years back.
Lawmakers passed the final reading and Senate Bill 1030 is now on the Governors desk. This bill would make it illegal for anyone under the age of 21 to sell, possess, consume or purchase tobacco products, including electronic cigarettes and other smoking devices. Hawaii would be the first state to take this drastic step and the law would take effect on January 1st of 2016.
The National Youth Tobacco Survey 2014 is shocking on so many levels. You would think that our lawmakers might find the need to react now, but then who am I kidding. I watched TV last night and I couldn’t believe it, there was an e-cigarette commercial, right at prime time. Haven’t we learned anything? So we don’t allow tobacco commercials anymore, but now we allow the advertisement of electronic cigarettes?
A year has passed, since I decided to give up smoking. All of you who follow my journey know, that it was a fairly easy transition for me. Smoking was no pleasure anymore toward the end. I felt short of breath when I tried to run while playing with the dogs. I felt nervous all the time, called it anxiety (smoking doesn’t relax…that’s a fairy tale) and then there was my cough and my constant throat clearing every morning and even so I didn’t admit it…I knew it came from smoking.
I remember all the crazy things I did and only smokers or ex-smokers will be able to understand this post. The terrifying moment, when we realize we are almost out of cigarettes and it’s close to midnight and time for bed. Every smoker and every ex-smoker knows how that feels when the panic starts…
Do not drink or eat when you read this post, because you will have to clean your monitor -or desk 🙂