My Quit-life Half Birthday: 6 Months in Review

Six months ago today I quit smoking.

I had smoked for five years, seven months and two days. It started back in college, studying for a test with a friend, a smoker friend. He offered me a smoke to take the edge off and from then on I was hooked.

As with most college students, smoking was the corner stone of my social life. You could always count on conversation with a smoker when you open with the line, “got a light?” My friends were smokers, my colleagues were smokers, and most of my professors were smokers. Smoking was my social crutch.

After school my professional life did nothing but encourage my nasty little habit. I worked for a non-profit in DC right after graduation. They installed a smoking section around back with a couple benches, cemented in stand-up ashtrays, and a lovely little garden for us to admire as we blew our toxins into the air. Smoke breaks were practically mandatory and with the amount of stress we carried working at that place, the nicotine was necessary.

My Life as a college smoker became my life as a professional worker, which lead to my life as a politico smoker. And oh how I loved my life as a smoker. I really and truly did. I loved the relaxation of it. I loved the social aspect of it. I loved the smell, the taste, the feel… I loved a cold beer and a smoke. I loved a hot cup of coffee and a smoke. I loved that after meal smoke and the before you go to bed smoke. The driving with all the windows down smoke was a favorite, as was the post heartbreak cry smoke. I loved smoking.

So I smoked for oh so long. I tried to quit a couple times. A couple weeks here and there, but I always went back. I’m not delusional enough to think that I may never smoke again. I hope I won’t, but you never know.

This time I did the patch, and although it was really, really, hard… seriously the hardest thing I ever did. I’m glad I quit. Because as much as I love my smoke breaks, I realize that I was actually a save to them. I thought I was doing something I enjoyed that helped me relax and really I needed it and I caved to cigarettes whenever a nicotine fit hit me.

Now, I take NSSB (non-smoking smoke breaks) when I feel the need to step away for five minutes and instead of needing the fix to get through the day, I make my days. I don’t smell like a bar anymore, I feel reasonably safe that my breath is alright, and I no longer have to excuse myself to sneak off for a smoke. I have my life back, and it’s truly awesome.

So, in the six months of not smoking I’ve saved over $360. I’ve decided to buy myself a present. Suggestions welcome.

Happy half-birthday to me!