The thing about achievements is
that when I actually have an achievement to celebrate, I suddenly come over all
British and self deprecating.
One of unspoken rules of bring
British is “don’t flaunt yourself, be modest”.
Well today, Britain, my modesty is being thrown to the winds and I’m
flaunting like a showgirl at the Folies Bergere. Take that British reserve!
Today is one year to the day that
I decided to quit smoking. It has been a
long and sometimes onerous process, but the benefits make it worth it.
I am, believe it or not, a cheerier
person in the morning now. I’ll never be
a “morning person” but now at least I am safe for people to be around before
10.30am. Also, the coughing my guts up
in the morning isn’t something I miss.
There are also obviously the
financial gains. I don’t even want to
think about how much I spent on cigarettes previously. Around 18 years of 20 a day. But I’m not a believer in looking at where
you have been; I like to concentrate on the road ahead.
www.Cancer.org
tells me that I am now at 50% less at risk of having heart disease after this
first year and the benefits will only increase from here.
If you are reading this and want
to quit smoking, I would highly recommend Allen Carr’s “The Easy Way to Quit
Smoking”. It is the method that I used
and for me, it worked.
I am also happy to inform you
that I haven’t turned into one of those evangelical ex smokers. You know the kind. The kind that when I was a smoker, I wanted
to poke in the eye. In fact, I still do. I loved smoking and yes, I still miss
it.
All the diseased lungs
photographs and health warnings and cost statistics in the world could not have
convinced me to quit until I was ready.
The only way you will ever quit is if you truly want to. I reached that point, and I have.
So today I have reached my one
year anniversary and it’s something I am truly proud of. The journey isn’t over, but I think I am can
safely say that I can pin on an ex smoker badge.
I couldn’t have done it without
the support of my friends and family.
You need a support system around you, and thankfully mine are absolutely
fantastic. To say thank you for the help
I am taking my mum and step dad out for a lovely Italian meal and my best
friends to a restaurant for lunch and wine.
Now that’s a better use of my money ;)
