Tried a cigarette in high school. A group of us went to the abandoned barn in the fields behind our street. THE perfect place to try all sorts of things in our misspent youth. I was the only one who didn’t get violently ill or cough up a lung. For some bizarre reason, this made me proud. I found it exciting, exhilarating and loved the buzz (which got me in trouble all throughout my life, that damn buzz.)

It is something which most people have to try for themselves, but try it, put it down and walk away. It is so much easier to walk away after your first one than your millionth one.

I get that there is something very sensual about smoking, after all, that and the nicotine are what kept me smoking for 20 some years. I also get that you may think you look better with a smoke. But truly, if you look good with a cigarette, it is only because you look good without one. As far as the social aspect, you can go out with the smokers, but just don’t smoke. I have friends that do that all the time. I anticipate being one of those people myself, once the cigarettes have lost all power to seduce me.

My reasons for quitting aren’t because I no longer want to be a smoker, I still want to be one. A smoker to me is more than someone who smokes. It defines an attitude towards life: laid back, less uptight, less likely to follow the rules, experimental, charismatic, sensual…I could go on. But I am quitting for more personal reasons, and not really health reasons either. But after 7 days, especially after this weekend, I am very glad I haven’t smoked and am more convinced than ever to never smoke again.

So go ahead, try one, drop it and cross it off your list. Do it now while it’s easy. and good luck.