I don’t think I ever believed I would be quitting smoking. I had been a smoker for 26 years. I smoked 20 to 30 a day or 40 if life was more exciting, conversation was intense, or during panic situations. I loved my cigarette breaks and the social side that accompanied them.

The how to quit smoking course I went on gave me the tools to fight my battle: staying in the present time helped stop panic about even the next 10 minutes. I worked hard at stopping smoking, and every time I talked myself through a desire to smoke and gave myself the choices, I felt stronger, more proud of myself and totally surprised that I was doing it. I still am. I still have the original cigarettes in my desk with access to more If I want, but I have not had so much as one puff since I stopped two and a half years ago. And, because I don’t feel that I am depriving myself of anything, I have not joined the angry mob of ex-smokers.

I was amazed to find myself having a desire to smoke recently: I went through my ‘talk’ and made my choice to accept the desire. I feel I have been empowered by the course and that I have given myself a huge gift by stopping smoking.

Tags: angry mob, how to quit smoking, present time, quitting smoking, stopping smoking, two and a half years