I never though this day would ever come. I am so proud of myself. You may wonder why.Well to-day marks the Anniversary of  me not SMOKING for ONE WHOLE MONTH!! While that may not sound like a big deal to you, it certainly is for me.I have been smoking constantly & consistently since i was 16 years old. I am now 63 years young (ha ha) so the mathematics tell me I have been doing that 47 years. A lo..ooong time to pollute your body with all those poisonous & Harmful chemicals. I have tried to give it up before,but didn't,cause my intention was only half-hearted. Smoking at least 40 to 50 buree's a day. Man think of not only the damage I may have caused to my body especially my lungs, but how about the fortune I blew away, it all went up in smoke literally,excuse the pun.The most surprising feat of all is that I went cold turkey. No withdrawal symptoms at all, not fidgety,nervous, irritable, frustrated, shakes, nothing at all. Thank you dear Lord. With each passing day I feel a whole lot better. I Have always played a lot of sport when I was young. Rugby league ,Basketball, Athletics, Swimming & Surfing etc; So although I was smoking I was fitter than most who didn't have the Habit. All the exercise would expel the pollutants & not store them. But as you get on in years you don't get the opportunity to play sport as you did in your youth. Needless to say because of lack of exercise etc; your Lungs can become clogged. Just like a car when the Air filter is clogged & restricts the Air flow. Which in turn alters the fuel to air mixture (ratio) & so the car splutters or can just conk out I certainly crave once aday for one ,but that feeling soon passes. I know of people who have given up for 25 years & they say they still crave for one now & then.I don't miss the bad breath & the furry tongue syndrome at all. So I hope this journal will inspire the persons who are still smoking to quit. I never ever though this was a possibility for me, but it's turned out that way & I am extremely overjoyed.So If can quit after all these years, I am sure all the younger generation can,as they have only been smoking for a very brief time in comparison to myself. My advice is "Nike".JUST DO  IT!

Good for you!!

I am, seriously, proud of you. My dad used to be a smoker when I was 5 and I tried to do everything to make him stop. He did, fortunately.

I really admire those who can fight any kind of addiction .. it needs a lot of hard work and dedication. Welcome to the healthy world, Dekka : )

Kerry2004....thanks

Dr Sassy my favourite Physician...Many thanks. If I do happen to require a DR's services I will look you up. ha ha

My Mum lived to age 80 years , she was a smoker. My Dad smoked on & off for years & He lived till he was 89years. Hopefully with my Parents Genes I can Still look forward to many years of Living. Let's Party on! No not yet! You never know what is around the corner & what the future has in store for us.That is just the uncertainty of life. Take each day as it comes & try to enjoy it to it's full,potential, that's as much as one can do. Have a great day.

Good luck to you, and hope that you will quit for good!

My dad died of lung cancer(smoking) when I was 8. I asked my mother when I was still a kid, why don't you stop smoking? She in turn, told me that she would have died a long time ago, if she had stopped smoking? She lived till 85. I started smoking as a teenager, but it was just a fad thing and never really got hooked to the nicotine habit and stopped a long time ago......

It's just a bad habit, and not good for your health and your wallet, it's like burning money now, foolish!

Very good of you to be able to and actually to quite smoking. And I think it will do marvels with your health. As a scuba diver we have seen that a smoke before diving makes you use 20-25 % more air than if the same person don?t smoke that day. So smoking has a big impact on performance of the body.

Excellent!

My dad still smokes like a chimney at 76 years old.

He quit drinking 25 years ago and took up smoking.

He needs to stop.

I want him to live a long life.

I quit for 10 years, then started again in an emotional turmoil.

It was easy to quit the first time.

I just can't do it now.

I smoke at least 3 packs per day.

I wish I could turn back the clock of time!

Good for you Dekka!

Keep on going!

If you have made a month, the rest of the harder part is all downhill!

Eddie... Thank you

Blowing in the Wind... Thanks for the Congrats. Don't know if I want to hang on for another 63 year stint. But 20 would suit me. Who knows?

Emanger... Thanks for your Comment & your fantastic E-Mail . I will reply in a couple of days Ok.

Don't panic. I always deliver, trust me.

Vacant1373 ....My good man thanks for all your sentiments & Kindness you have shown towards me. Mate I mean it when I say "I really do Appreciate it. As I promised Emanager to write I make the same promise to you. As time goes on their is one important thing in my character you will recognize. I never break a promise, my conscience doesn't allow me that privilege. Also my promises are my bond. I don't need any fancy paper written contracts to bind me up.What I promise I always deliver. That's how I am & that's the old school values. Take care mate & hope you are Coping A Okay cheers.

wow, good for you!!! be healthy is sexy!!!

Anyway, i'm 23.... started smoking 2 years ago.....is this a serious problem to quit yet???

it's so great derek i'm so proud of you too hope i will hear that you could stop smoking the whole 2 months, 3 months,..... etc.

I am really happy for you ,probably reading your journal will give me more stregnth to try I want to quit also , a little tip dont ever smoke another cigarette saying to yourself only this one Thanks

Josie It should be a lot easier for you.

It's only 2 years, that is nothing.

Compared to the length of time I have been smoking

Yours is like 5 minutes.

You can do it.

Why abuse the body that Buddha/ god gave us.it's perfect

so why would you want to destroy Perfection?