My Reasons for Quitting
I have set the afternoon of Thursday, November 3 as my latest attempt to quit smoking.
Why that date?
Well, really, it was “imposed” on me. It was the first available appointment date.
Indeed, I’ve been thinking for a while (again) about quitting, this time by using soft-laser therapy (click the logo above for Stop Centres’ website), as I know two people personally who’ve had success with this method. Given that I’m a heavy smoker by the Stop Centres’ definition, I will be forking out nearly 800 bucks (taxes included) for the therapy, which currently is a lot more than what I pay for smokes. (Don’t ask, but Montréal-area smokers and former smokers will understand.)
But this is to say my reasons for quitting are not financial. In no particular order…
- My coughing in the morning and the middle of the night has me frightened, so the Number 1 reason is the extent to which I now FEEL my smoking affecting my health.
- My coughing can sneak up on me at the most inopportune times, and I feel embarrassed by it because I know everyone knows why I’m coughing.
- Now that summer is definitely over, I’m less motivated to go out for only coffee because I anticipate (read “dread”) having to step outside in the cold a few times just to have a puff.
- I’ve come to dread travelling because of my smoking:
- I hate having to think, when travelling by air, about the last ciggie before boarding and the first ciggie after deboarding.
- I rarely smoke in my car and, if I do, I make it as uncomfortable as possible in order not to stink up the car.
- Except at one or two friends, smoking must be done outside and I wouldn’t expect it to be otherwise.
- I would prefer if my stuff and I didn’t betray (through smell) that I’m a heavy smoker.
Bottom line, I’m just plain tired of smoking.
The reason I’m more confident with this laser treatment than anything else I tried is because of what I recall from my last attempt. While on the patch the last time, when I would still have a craving, I felt it as what I’d describe as a “hot spot” towards the front of my head. I’m thinking this acupuncture-like laser treatment is more likely to address this particular problem or sensation.
At any rate, we shall see! But here’s to hoping (and another significant change in my life)…