I started smoking when I was 13 years old.  Not because of peer pressure, not to look tough, not to feel grown up, but as an act of rebellion.   To rebel against life.  It was like staring in the face of danger and saying you won't catch me.  It's been 30 years and I'm still playing the "you won't catch me" game.  I enjoy smoking.   Truly I do.

Anyway, I've decided to quit.  At my last visit to the doctor she said "when you're younger you can afford to indulge a little, but when you get older, well, you just can't".   That, and the fact that smoking is a socially despicable thing to do, made me start thinking about quitting.  Oh, and the vision of me walking through the mall sporting an oxygen tank...that made me think too.   I do love smoking though.  It's an awesome social crutch, it's a soul soother, it's a best friend, it's always there when you need it.

All that was 2-1/2 weeks ago.  I started taking Zyban pills the week leading up to April 1, 1999, the date that I quit.  I chose April 1 because it was a long weekend.  I figured I'd hole myself up in the house for 3 days of hell.   Surprise, it wasn't all that bad you know. 

It's April 11th now and I am still clean.  Those pills really work.  I can't say it was the easiest thing in the world to do, but it wasn't all that bad.  The pills seem to dull your cravings.  They are not nicotine replacements, they are anti-depressants.  They say that it has an effect on the part of the brain that causes obsessive-compulsive behaviour.   Strange, but it works.

Okay...now that I've told you how easy it is, and hopefully given you some inspiration I gotta go.  All this thinking about smoking is making me crave again :-) BUT...

I DID IT
AND SO CAN YOU!!!!

A few more things, quickly, I haven't had an increase in appetite so I haven't put on any weight yet, I can breathe when I wake up in the morning, I hardly ever have to stop at the store any more, and I'm not a social misfit :-)

DO IT BABY!  DO IT!  YOU CAN QUIT!