My Top Nine

When you are trying to quit smoking it is often recommended that you write a list of reasons you want to stop. Then you can refer back to them when you feel like lighting up. Hopefully, when I am having a-lack-of- nicotine induced fit, I will remember to read this!

9. I want to be physically fit. It would be nice not to be out of breath while climbing a flight of stairs. Or while vacuuming.

8.Cost. I’ve always found those claims that if you quit smoking you will save enough money to take a nice vacation, a bit lame. What good is a vacation if you can’t celebrate it with a smoke?  Cost is relative. You can afford what you want to afford. But, it is expensive.

7. I want to strengthen my singing voice. I love to sing, In the car, while cleaning the house, while writing. I don’t know where I would be without music. I don’t sing badly, but I know my singing voice will be even better without the cigarettes.

6. I stink. I know it’s true. My clothes stink, my breath stinks, my hair stinks!  Smoking does a funny thing to your nose. It stops smelling the nasty cigarette smell. It’s your bodies way of adapting. Makes it easier to continue though. I don’t think I would want to quit so badly if cigarettes didn’t make you stink like a million asses.

5. It’s not cool.  I don’t want to be my mother!! It used to be cool to smoke. Not so anymore. Damn, you can’t even smoke in a bar anymore! I started smoking as a way of rebelling against my mother whose motto was, “Do as I say, not as I do”. Oh yeah, watch this mother!

4. I want to be a good example. Especially for my daughter. When you smoke it sends the message, “I don’t care about myself” to those around you. At least thats what I’ve read. I think it sends the message: ‘I’m an addict. If you don’t like it, go away.’ So there!

3.I don’t want to die of cancer. I’ve always thought that if I got lung cancer from smoking cigarettes, I wouldn’t seek treatment. But that is a bit martyrish. Especially since I am a mom. Chemo and a smoke anyone? Honestly, it is a horrible way to die.

2. Straight up vanity. I have lip wrinkles. I am 33 and I have lip wrinkles!!

1. Just to say I did it. Maybe I will make myself a nice gold badge that says “Reformed Smoker” when I reach six months of not smoking.