I am an Ex-smoker. It has been over five weeks since I had my last cigarette. At this point in my life, I feel more accomplished than I did just two short months ago on my college graduation. Smoking has been a habit for almost four years of my adult life. Oh how I thank you, college!
I put my first cigarette to my lips in high school. It wasn't, however, until my freshmen year at OU that I truly inhaled and my habit began. My friends and I were always there for one another and submerged in such a stressful life; nicotine helped us to avoid the food cravings of the freshman 15.
Smoking friends are people who we can depend on to bum us a smoke, ironically even when one is making a valiant effort to quit. Constantly offering less than encouraging words, these friends suggest here
have a smoke. The underlying truth is that your friends' discouragement springs from their own addiction guilt.
As a graduate student still residing in Athens, I admire the newbies walking our campus and recall my own crazy binge-drinking days. I have discovered that I am capable of growing out of my immature habits and seriously regret that I had not done it sooner.
A good friend motivated me to call the Quit Now hotline. I receive a phone call checking up on my progress every couple of weeks and they hook me up with a stop smoking aid ' the patch. I think of this encouraging phone call as one less friend to annoy with my complaints when I work out my frustrations and gladly display my patch at Ping University center.
Each day is still a struggle ' something this life-altering should be ' and I am OK with it. I see myself as an accomplished, intelligent female and there is no reason why I should be held down by such an unappealing, money-hungry addiction.
So please seriously consider all of this and stop smoking. Save the money for this year's spring break, and more importantly to help your and others' health. If now is the time and you are ready to quit, go for it. Smoking is a drug and it is killing people. With others' support and calling 1-800 QUIT-NOW, you can end the addiction.'Haley McDonough writes from Athens. 17
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