A lot has changed in five years.
Five years ago, on October 1, 2006, I started a little nonprofit organization and hired people I knew to work with me. Of the six original employees, five of them were smokers. We used to have staff meetings outside on patio furniture and oh boy how cool was that, because we could all smoke. Cool for everyone but that one non-smoker! Then on December 31 of that year I decided to quit smoking. Four days later another staff member quit. A couple months later, my husband quit. Two years later, another employee quit. And finally seven months ago, my Assistant Director quit. Now we have the same employees but only one of us smokes. And she's talking about quitting.
My life has totally changed since quitting smoking. I am no longer a slave to my addiction, and I thank God for that every single day. I am also thankful because:
- I don't stink anymore.
- I can hug my children and they aren't assaulted by rank smoke smell.
- I got a clean bill of health - the doctor was impressed by my lung function after 30+ years of smoking.
- I feel better, can breathe better.
- I don't wake up in the morning with a sore throat and that horrible hacking cough.
- I hardly ever get sick (used to get sick all the time).
- I can watch a whole movie without jonesing and feeling miserable.
It's been 1801 days since I quit smoking and if it wasn't for finding THIS online community, I would probably still be a smoker. So I'm very thankful to the wonderful people here who shared their information and inspiration, I owe y'all my life.
Hugs from Florida,
SammiJo
