Life Without Smoking

I realized on the drive home from work tonight that I have been smoke-free for at least a year (given brief respites from sobriety where a cigarette was needed). I would say that I have had about 5 of the death sticks in the last year. Given that I used to have that many before lunch, I'm pretty happy about making it this long.

When I talk to people about quitting the habit, they always ask if I breathe better. You know, I really don't. I breathed just fine before, and I'm doing ok with it now. I think the main physiological difference that I enjoy is not having to feed the monkey roughly 20 times a day. It really breaks up whatever you are doing to have to pause, find your smokes, go outside, steer yourself away from all the people that think you maybe could possibly give them cancer if the smoke hits just right, and then pause to enjoy the rich, refreshing taste of North Carolina tobacco. Also having around $70 extra in my pocket every month is pretty sweet.

Overall, I'm amazed by how the habit sticks with me. If I walk by and get a hint of smoke in the air, the back of my brain tells me that it smells really good and that I ought to track down a cig. It's easy enough to push past the impulse at this point, but it is odd the way that it comes back. That being said, I don't think I will ever be able to get drunk without wanting a cigarette. I'm just happy that I'm at the point where I can have a smoke or two and not go out an buy a carton.