Good wishes going your way.

Hugs,
Erin

You will indeed be healthier. I've determined that being able to quit, no matter the method, requires a reason that means something to you. I was successful the third time I tried. The first time was almost effortless. I was sick with the flu and while smoking my last cigarette from my last pack it just tasted foul. I put it out half way through. By the time I was well, I had kicked the habit.

About six months later, I met my wife. She was a smoker. No big deal really, but some times, she didn't want to carry her purse and asked me to carry her smokes. From there, I started being a gentleman and lighting her cigarettes for her. The third time I did that I was a smoker.

The second time was about a year after we were married. We both tried to quit at the same time. About a week after we started, we sat down to dinner, had three arguments and never did finish dinner. I went out and bought us cigarettes.

But the third time was a charm. I had two reasons. My wife was pregnant with our first and I didn't want my kids to smoke. My father tried to convince me not to smoke while he was a smoker... didn't work, so I knew if I was going to convince my kids not to smoke I had to set the example. While that sounds a bit noble, I'm convince the second reason was more important to me. The price of cigarettes went up. OK, here's where you get to see just how strong my Scots blood is. $2.05 was just too much for a carton of cigarettes.

So the September before my oldest was born, I quit. Remembering the previous time when not having any around contributed to the uneasiness I quit with a half a pack in my shirt pocket and three packs in the cupboard. I was comforted by the idea that if I really, really needed a cigarette I had one right there. I carried that half pack around until it was so dry I was afraid of spontaneous combustion. That and it began to smell.

I've been nicotine free fifty-one years, next month. BTW, convincing my kids not to smoke was 50% successful. We had two an one took up smoking the other didn't. I attribute that to the fact that my wife waited another 20 years to quit smoking. So, my kids had both examples. Wouldn't you know it was the older one who took up smoking.

Five years ago, she was homeless in Arizona. I paid her airfare and brought her home. Summer time in Arizona is deadly if you can't get out of the heat. When she got home, she asked to "borrow" money for cigarettes. I acquiesced and was appalled by the price. When I quit I could have bought two cartons for the price of one pack. The second time she wanted to "borrow" money for cigarettes, I told her I wouldn't finance her habit, but I would finance her effort to quit. She was without for about a week when she gave in and asked for the help. I bought the Nicorette patch for her. It took three steps of four weeks each. 12 weeks in all. But she's a non-smoker now and has never looked back.

As to health... you bet you'll be healthier. Doctors tell me that when you've not smoked for the same period that you smoked, it's as if you never smoked. For me that happened at 30 years old. For my wife, it was only three years ago. The good news is that you don't have to wait that long to see the health benefits. Within the first month you'll notice a better appetite. People say that quitting smoking makes you gain weight. What really happens is food just tastes better without all that burnt tobacco slime coating your taste buds so you tend to eat more. It does wonders for the cardio/vascular system. You'll notice that your stamina picks up and you breathing will be easier while doing strenuous tasks. You'll sleep better, waking up more refreshed. Best of all, later in life, you'll just have less problems to deal with health-wise and as you've notice, more money in your pocket.

and beggar the tobacco barons - Go Catherine! There are better and less lethal things to spend your income on than those.