Quitting For the Day

            November 15^th is The Great American Smokeout. The designation by the American Cancer Society is a great way to get the word out about smoking cessation. It encourages smokers to use the date to make a plan to quit, or plant to quit in advance and stop lighting up on that day. The idea is that by quitting smoking, even for one day, smokers are taking an important step toward a healthier life.

            I used to be a light smoker. It was mostly just social smoking when I was in college and a few years after. One year in college my Resident Assistant said she would bake me an apple pie if I quit for the day. I took her up on that offer. It wasn’t hard to avoid lighting up since my habit was only about eight cigarettes a day and it helped that the Smokeout was in the middle of the week so I wasn’t tempted like I would be on a weekend. My apple pie was delicious. I continued smoking the next day and for a few years afterward. I finally quit five years ago, cold turkey. It was hard and there were many temptations, but I haven’t looked back and I now appreciate the benefits of not being a smoker. I am not smelly and I have more stamina. I also appreciate that bars are now smoke free in my city. With the Libertarian culture in Indiana I didn’t think a ban would be passed for many years. It’s progress!