–verb (used with object)
1. to stop, cease, or discontinue
2. to depart from; leave (a place or person)
3. to give up or resign; let go; relinquish
4. to release one's hold of (something grasped).
5. to acquit or conduct (oneself).
7. to clear (a debt); repay.
(from Dictionary.com)
As children, our parents teach us not to quit. Quitters never win, winners never quit. As parents, we pass this down to our children.
On January 3, 2011 I quit. I am a quitter. And I am very proud to say that.
For almost 20 years, I was a smoker. It started out in my early teens with a cigarette here and there. But, it didn't take long for it to become a pack a day habit. I enjoyed smoking. Stuck in traffic, smoke a cigarette. Frustrated at work, smoke a cigarette. I would sit around in the garage talking with my friends and smoke one after another. At other times, I would sit in the garage with a good book. It was peaceful and quiet in the garage. I would lose track of time and the number of cigarettes I had smoked.
If I went too long between cigarettes I was grumpy. I needed a cigarette. I could associate smoking with every emotion. Angry, smoke a cigarette to calm down. Sad, smoke a cigarette to feel better. Happy, smoke a cigarette to celebrate. And on and on it went. I was a slave to smoking.
In April of 2010, I began taking Martial Arts classes at the studio my children attend. I went from the couch to the dojo. The first few classes were brutal. Did I mention that I have asthma? An asthmatic smoker, running laps and doing jumping jacks. It was not a pretty sight! I couldn't breathe, I didn't think I could make it. I stuck with those classes. I was taught how to breathe properly and how to put my hands above my head to try and help open up my lungs. It was still torture! As the months went by, the instructors constantly told me I needed to quit smoking. They were very encouraging, and firm.
Throughout 2010, my daughter was sick. It started out as constant ear infections/sinus infections. She had her adenoids and tonsils taken out and the infections continued. You can read previous posts to learn about all the testing that she went through. Throughout all this, I learned about a disease called cystic fibrosis. When she was sent for her first test, I didn't even know what it was. I have learned a lot this year. Katie does not have cystic fibrosis. She has a milder syndrome based on the disease. But, as I was learning about this disease I learned that there are people in this world who pray for healthy lungs to be transplanted into their bodies. And here I have a perfectly good set of lungs that I was destroying, and enjoying it. And then I began to think about what I was doing to my daughter's health. I always went outside to smoke, but it still lingered on my clothes when I went in. Was this causing her harm? Yes. Then she started to mimic me. She would put a pencil to her lips and pretend it was a cigarette. It broke my heart.
At the end of 2010, I got sick. No big deal. I got bronchitis and/or pneumonia every year. I accepted it as something that just happened. This year, I decided to ditch CareNow and find a family care doctor. I did, and was told my lungs were not in good shape. I was wheezing. After several rounds of meds, I was still wheezing. It was time to quit. I had tried to quit smoking several times over that last few years. I tried the patch and the gum. But, I never succeeded. I don't think I was ready. I enjoyed smoking.
I asked for Chantix. The quit smoking drug. I was wary, there were several negative side effects. But, in my mind, this was my last resort. Or maybe I was finally ready. Maybe I didn't enjoy smoking anymore. I was at a point in my life when I was thinking about how I want to be around when my children grow up and have families of their own. I was thinking about the example i was setting for my children. I was thinking about the damage I was doing to their health. I was really thinking about all the things we are taught about smoking. As a smoker, I ignored those things. They weren't going to happen to me. When I was in my early 20's I had a doctor tell me that there were two types of people in this world. People with the lungs to smoke, and people without the lungs to smoke. I didn't have the lungs to smoke. I was damaging my lungs. The doctor told me I would be dead by 40 if I didn't quit smoking. I blew her off. But, the closer I get to 40, the more I think about her words. I just hope it's not too late.
I was successful with the Chantix. I haven't had a cigarette in 2 months. I consider myself a non-smoker. I smell better. I no longer spend half of my evening in the garage, I spend it with my family. My lungs and body are healing. I still take Martial Arts classes and they are getting better. I got my Gold belt last month :) It's a slow process, I have 20 years of damage to repair.
I didn't do this by myself. It took a village. I couldn't ask for a better support network. Thank you to all my friends (old and new) who have been there in the last two months, and who have shared encouraging words. It made a difference in my life.
(from Dictionary.com)
As children, our parents teach us not to quit. Quitters never win, winners never quit. As parents, we pass this down to our children.
On January 3, 2011 I quit. I am a quitter. And I am very proud to say that.
For almost 20 years, I was a smoker. It started out in my early teens with a cigarette here and there. But, it didn't take long for it to become a pack a day habit. I enjoyed smoking. Stuck in traffic, smoke a cigarette. Frustrated at work, smoke a cigarette. I would sit around in the garage talking with my friends and smoke one after another. At other times, I would sit in the garage with a good book. It was peaceful and quiet in the garage. I would lose track of time and the number of cigarettes I had smoked.
If I went too long between cigarettes I was grumpy. I needed a cigarette. I could associate smoking with every emotion. Angry, smoke a cigarette to calm down. Sad, smoke a cigarette to feel better. Happy, smoke a cigarette to celebrate. And on and on it went. I was a slave to smoking.
In April of 2010, I began taking Martial Arts classes at the studio my children attend. I went from the couch to the dojo. The first few classes were brutal. Did I mention that I have asthma? An asthmatic smoker, running laps and doing jumping jacks. It was not a pretty sight! I couldn't breathe, I didn't think I could make it. I stuck with those classes. I was taught how to breathe properly and how to put my hands above my head to try and help open up my lungs. It was still torture! As the months went by, the instructors constantly told me I needed to quit smoking. They were very encouraging, and firm.
Throughout 2010, my daughter was sick. It started out as constant ear infections/sinus infections. She had her adenoids and tonsils taken out and the infections continued. You can read previous posts to learn about all the testing that she went through. Throughout all this, I learned about a disease called cystic fibrosis. When she was sent for her first test, I didn't even know what it was. I have learned a lot this year. Katie does not have cystic fibrosis. She has a milder syndrome based on the disease. But, as I was learning about this disease I learned that there are people in this world who pray for healthy lungs to be transplanted into their bodies. And here I have a perfectly good set of lungs that I was destroying, and enjoying it. And then I began to think about what I was doing to my daughter's health. I always went outside to smoke, but it still lingered on my clothes when I went in. Was this causing her harm? Yes. Then she started to mimic me. She would put a pencil to her lips and pretend it was a cigarette. It broke my heart.
At the end of 2010, I got sick. No big deal. I got bronchitis and/or pneumonia every year. I accepted it as something that just happened. This year, I decided to ditch CareNow and find a family care doctor. I did, and was told my lungs were not in good shape. I was wheezing. After several rounds of meds, I was still wheezing. It was time to quit. I had tried to quit smoking several times over that last few years. I tried the patch and the gum. But, I never succeeded. I don't think I was ready. I enjoyed smoking.
I asked for Chantix. The quit smoking drug. I was wary, there were several negative side effects. But, in my mind, this was my last resort. Or maybe I was finally ready. Maybe I didn't enjoy smoking anymore. I was at a point in my life when I was thinking about how I want to be around when my children grow up and have families of their own. I was thinking about the example i was setting for my children. I was thinking about the damage I was doing to their health. I was really thinking about all the things we are taught about smoking. As a smoker, I ignored those things. They weren't going to happen to me. When I was in my early 20's I had a doctor tell me that there were two types of people in this world. People with the lungs to smoke, and people without the lungs to smoke. I didn't have the lungs to smoke. I was damaging my lungs. The doctor told me I would be dead by 40 if I didn't quit smoking. I blew her off. But, the closer I get to 40, the more I think about her words. I just hope it's not too late.
I was successful with the Chantix. I haven't had a cigarette in 2 months. I consider myself a non-smoker. I smell better. I no longer spend half of my evening in the garage, I spend it with my family. My lungs and body are healing. I still take Martial Arts classes and they are getting better. I got my Gold belt last month :) It's a slow process, I have 20 years of damage to repair.
I didn't do this by myself. It took a village. I couldn't ask for a better support network. Thank you to all my friends (old and new) who have been there in the last two months, and who have shared encouraging words. It made a difference in my life.
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