Quit Smoking

Author: Kyle Loesch

Nicotine addiction is like death; it stalks you around every corner. You never know when a nicotine fit will jump out and surprise you, like the cheap scares in a horror film.

I started smoking when I was in the seventh grade, so that puts me at twelve. I’m seventeen now, and I am proud to say that I kicked the habit. Compared to some people, five years of cigarette smoking is amateur talk, but I am just happy I did quit before I was one of the “Pro’s”.

Now I know what comes next, “How did you do it?” Well, all I can say to that is “It’s mind over matter. Just like when you get poison ivy and the itch is so excruciating, one thinks it’s impossible not to scratch. But, somehow you resist. The only difference is that nicotine addiction is like poison ivy in the physical disturbance way. It haunts you day and night, whispering in your ear “Just one drag. Come on, you know you want it.” Poison ivy doesn’t exactly tempt people as fiercely as cigarettes.

I’m not going to lie now, temptation has almost overcome my wanting to quit a few times in the past few months. Almost does count in more than horseshoes and hand grenades. When it was all beginning, I had an ulterior motive for quitting - which was my Dad. You see, my Dad is Forty-Two, and the twenty six years of two packs a day he has under his belt, wasn’t getting any smaller. I decided to try and get him to quit by quitting myself. This attempt seemed to be working well the first month. Once again, my Dad was returning from work with the reek of cigarette smoke hovering in a cloud over his head.

Why didn’t I pick up another butt myself? I can’t tell you. Maybe it has something to do with my Mom, but I’m not sure. I was very tempted to reach for my Dad’s pack, pull one out and light it up. Then take another sweet puff of cancer stick I’ve been longing for quite sometime. I mean, once I knew my Dad was smoking again, my ambition kind of drifted off as sporadically as it sprung up. The fact that no one believed I would be able to quit pushed me to the point where I am now. Just the idea of giving all the negative thinkers the big middle finger made me want to - no scratch that- NEED to stay quit.

The path to being cigarette free has been a hard and maturing experience. It almost seemed like every minute or so , there was a “mister addict” pointing me in another direction away from my “true wanted route”. Nowadays, I’m the one in the group telling everybody to quit like me. After all, all of my friends, but one, still smoke. The journey is still not over. For I am sure that addiction will say “Hi” not long from now. But, thanks to mind power, I can give the addiction the “Big Middle Finger” along with the negative thinkers.

Blog Owners Note:

My son Kyle had to write a story about something that was hard for him to do for an English Comp class, and chose to write it about his fight to Quit Smoking. I read over his essay and thought this would maybe be a good incentive for other young kids out there to try and kick the habit. I have been a smoker for 26 years and just recently decided to quit myself, after many times of trying my son and I decided to try and quit smoking together. Unfortunately he has had a lot more success than I have had, I am down to 3-5 cigarettes a day which is a great deal better than the 2 packs a day I was smoking before. I am going on the patch to see if I can nip this in the bud once and for all.

I thought it might be a good idea to get readers to give us their top reasons for wanting to quit smoking. We all know or think we know of the various health risks that are involved in smoking, but do we all know the real cost of smoking. I am not talking about a dollar figure here, I am talking about the lost hours at work, the smell of smoke on our clothes, in our hair, on our body, the taste of our food just to name a few. By talking about what is most important to us and what is the most important reason for quitting for each of us, maybe, just maybe that will spark a fire in some of us to go the extra mile to quit.

My number one reason for wanting to quit is pure and simple, my kids. I have four children who I love with all my heart, and it saddens me that two of them have taken up smoking. If I could totally quit smoking then I would be leading by example and I think that is the best way to teach your children. My middle boy Kyle used to cough up a storm and yell at me whenever I lit up around him and guess what, he now smokes. I am sure he was influenced by me as well as his peers, it probably would have been a lot easier to say no when offered his first cigarette if I did not smoke at home.

So folks that is my number one reason for wanting to quit smoking, whats yours? Please comment and share your reasons for wanting to quit smoking and maybe one of your reason might hit home with someone and give them the reason they are looking for to finally quit smoking.

There are many different reasons why people start smoking initially but more often than not it is because of the image that is created in their minds through the use of the clever advertising campaigns of the tobacco companies.Most people get started smoking with their first cigarettes from older friends or family. Part of the reason they smoke is to be a part of the crowd that they admire or people they aspire to emulate.

It is about image more than anything else as most people would agree that the first cigarette is certainly not pleasant. If food tasted that bad we would surely never eat it again.

The majority of people find that smoking tastes bad and makes them feel bad and it is only after they get accustomed to the taste that those feelings disappear. By that time they can’t give up due to their smoking addiction and a new problem presents itself.

Statistics also show that the majority of people who smoke wished they had never started and if they could wind back the clock they would certainly never do so again.

It is only the addictive nature of tobacco that makes so many people continue to smoke long after they realize the way it is affecting their health and encroaching on their lifestyle.

Throughout history the tobacco companies have marketed their products well and the images of Hollywood stars and musicians smoking have had an influence on people’s decisions to start smoking.

When cigarette companies were allowed to advertise everywhere, the ads often depicted good looking women and men smoking and having a good time, which would sublimely tell you that you would have a good time if you smoked.

If something is seen to be cool or fashionable then there will be many people who will do it simply to be accepted by their peers.

Fortunately as more and more people see the dangers that smoking brings with it to their health and longevity it is becoming a more unacceptable practice and not seen as fashionable in many areas of society.

I found these three commercials on YouTube, they are hilarious. Using comedy to help people get the idea to quit smoking is a great idea that should be shown on a more regular basis. Watch them and please vote for the one you like the most.

A commercial by the makers of Nicoderm..

This one is from the makers of Zyban…

and last but not least from Smokenders…

Please cast your vote for the funniest Quit Smoking Commercial, and as always please feel free to leave your comments as they are always welcome.