I Know Why You Can't Stop Smoking AND I Know How You Can!

A long time ago I saw a joke in the newspaper. It went like his.

There was a picture of a little boy walking by a tall building with his mom. It was a cold and snowy day.

Huddled together in the corner of this building were a small group of people. The little boy exclaimed, "Look ma, there are some homeless people over there." The mom said, "Sh! They aren’t homeless, they are smoking."

Well, yes, you guess it, I was one of them; when the government decided no more smoking in public places, that was the end result.

Today, every time I go to the grocer, a department store, or, wherever, and I see someone there having their smoke, I smile and think of that joke (and me).

First, let me ask you two questions:

1. Did you ever start a cigarette and realize one was already burning?
2. Did you ever light a cigarette and not remember lighting it?

First and foremost, this method that I have developed for myself, and for you, is only for those who really want to stop, and also for those who really don’t! But, if you are still reading, this is for you. Because you are probably thinking, this lady knows where I’m coming from.

Before I get into this, let me ask you to please, please, please have the patience to keep reading on, it will probably sound like gobbly goo; but if you hang on and read this through, it will all start to make sense.

Most likely, many of you have tried many times to stop smoking, (like me) and have not been successful. I have listened to all those claims. Pills, patches, hypnosis, anti-depressants, etc., etc., etc. NOT FOR ME! I’d rather smoke than worry about the side effects of their cures.

I have gathered up all the different sources of reasons why they say you should quit. The cancer, the wrinkles, and the Bla! Bla! Bla! You know what? They just don’t get it. We know all that, we are not stupid, we just know how much we will miss it. Because after so many years, it has become a part of us.

I really don’t know where to start on how I discovered this incredibly easy solution as to how to lick this thing.

First of all, let me tell you (yes I am going to admit) I’m 75 years old, and have been smoking since I was seventeen. Very glamorous in those days, after all, most movie stars did it. So, I know where you’re coming from. A habit? You betcha! A bad one? Unfortunately yes.

Here I was, miss smarty, reading health books, cooking healthy foods, taking vitamins, and yet, kept right on smoking. Smoking was part of my being. After all, how can I not smoke when I’m on the phone? Or, how can my car start without just lighting up? Right?

One day I heard this therapist on a talk show telling people with an anxiety problem that they have to learn how to do a certain breathing exercise, and in doing so, they will go into a calm state. Breathe in, hold, and then breathe out slowly. Its called "square breathing." Well, well, well, what do you know? That is exactly what I do when I am smoking. Take a deep drag in, hold, then slowly blow out! Yes! The power to calm and relax. She was absolutely right. I know and you know she would have a fit if she knew how I rationalized her method to mine.

Because when I thought about it, that was all I needed. That moment of total relaxation of that of that first drag. I promised myself so many times to stop. Forget about it, it was too intrusive a habit and besides, I enjoyed the process, taking out that cigarette, lighting up, inhaling, and watching the smoke drift away. PROCESS! Remember that works forever, "the process."

Blame this habit on your automatic reflexes and emotional habit patterns. This is called "conditioned reflex."

One time I really did quit for nine years. NINE YEARS! Then went back to it, and smoked more that I ever did. And you know what? I can remember the exact day and moment I started.

I was a widow for nine years, someone introduced me to this fine widower (my husband now thank you). Our first date was so romantic, a fine place to dine, soft music, wine, etc. He alas, was a smoker. He lit two cigarettes and handed me one (just like in a movie scene). Hey! Why spoil the moment? Yeah! You guess it. I was out of control, practically eating them. Like being on a diet, than one day going off, and eating anything and everything in sight. Or, like being a recovered alcoholic and taking that first drink. Can you believe that? Of course you can. I wish I had derived my method then when I went for that first cigarette.

As I am trying to get this whole act together for you, days, weeks, months, go by. More and more new methods to stop smoking are coming on the market.

The tranquilizers, the gum, the tapes, they are all claiming to satisfy your desire for a smoke. Come on now people, a smoker is a person with a deep-rooted habit. For die hards like me and you, it does not solve the problem. WE DON’T WANT THAT!

In essence the theory behind this stop smoking, is to find an easy, livable way to finally be successful (our own way). We have all tried, and some haven’t tried anything at all, because they know they can’t. Smoking has come to be second nature to them. No matter how they try to convince you to be nicotine free, they don’t realize it has to be "habit free."

And sometimes I can’t believe what I am hearing. Like some of these side effects. One of them being "may have a risk of seizures." Are they really serious? No, thank you!