Something to be Excited About
// September 15th, 2008 // No Comments » // exercise, habits, smoking
So, I’ve done it.
I’ve quit smoking.
It’s only been two weeks and I have to say it was very difficult at first, but now I barely think twice about it.
I honestly can’t believe it’s taken me this long. I’ve been smoking for long enough to have forgotten how summer smells like, how the start of fall smells like, how a cool breeze laden with the smell of cut grass smells like, and most of all, how the crisp, low humidity air smells like being blown through your house with the windows open. I honestly feel like, for the first time in five years, I have my sense of smell back.
For the years I’ve been smoking, I have had kind of an “on/off” switch for smell. I knew when things were smelly, or when there wasn’t much of a smell at all. Now the cornucopia of excitement that tantalizes my nose is almost too much to bear! I relish the smell of peeling an orange and the new, almost unfamiliar tastes they give me fill me with an overwhelming sense of happiness. When I eat, I seem to only have to eat half of my usual portion and I feel satisfied. Honestly, my appetite has gone up a lot since quitting, but I don’t feel much like I have to eat more, just the pleasure I get from food has doubled.
You ask how I got through the cravings? Simple! I didn’t have enough money on me or in an accessible bank account to get another pack. I made sure I filled my tank before quitting (gas stations and fill-ups are the worst for me), and never had any cash laying around at home, nor did I take anything but my keys and I.D. to class.
Here’s a suggestion if you think you might have a problem with even leaving your credit cards around for use: freeze them in a block of ice and leave them in the freezer. Now, if that craving hits you, you’ll have to claw your way through a couple inches of ice to get to a money source.
On top of the benefit of quitting, I’ve started working out. That feeling of wellbeing plus my sense of smell returning has been almost too much to bear.
If you or anyone you know wants to quit, now is the time. Give them a couple days and some time outdoors and you’d be hard pressed not to quit with this method. Of course the key is you have to want to quit for it to work.
