Hi everyone! I am doing well with my quit. I did an interview with a magazine today about my troubled past etc. So it went well I think now that Ive turned my life around I gave a strong positive message. I think with smoking and all the other drugs I used to do it was partly because I didnt know myself very well. I let drugs, no good people define me. I was a smoker an drinker and a druggie and that what people would. Thats the problem with people too though just because people do those things that doesnt make them. But people decided that was what made me and I didnt try to change that. I thought it was cool and tried to reinforced it. To tell you the truth alot of people never believed in me, I had a learning disability, was awkward looking, very shy and a loner. People thought ID never be cool always be a loser and that was that. Some people tried to decide my fate and didnt have any hope for me. Thinking I'd never change. I started believing that and never stopped doing bad things for awhile because I too thought well if no one believes I can be better and thats what they expect from me why even bother? I lived down to the reputation they gave me instead of living up to a good reputation. I didnt take much interest in anything where I couldve probably made/ choose friends that were like me. instead I choose drugs/smoking and the so-called "friends" fell in with that. Not all smokers are bad people but definately pretty stressed anxious people I think, sort of insecure Ive always thought. Smoking is one of the biggest changes I have made in my life but definately not the hardest. I thought it would be since I did it more than drinking and drugs and it was easier to do and more acceptable to society than drugs. but those times are changing now thankfully... Not smoking is one of the biggest confidence boosters Ive ever had though. Knowing I can handle stress, insecurity, anger, hurt and even happiness without smoking makes me feel proud. It might be harder but it is always more productive. The biggest reason why I quit was because smoking CAUSED me anxiety. I got panic attacks from smoking. If I couldnt have one, if I wanted one but didnt want to get caught if I had to ait a long time. But also because I felt soo guilty for smoking, gui

Great post, ang. The great thing about soulbaring here is the possibility that someone in the same position as you will identify with it and decide that if you can quit, so can they. Congratulations on 79 smoke-free days. Keep up the good quit. :) Shevie [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 5/23/2005 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 333 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 6,673 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $1265.4 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 62 [B]Hrs:[/B] 4 [B]Mins:[/B] 46 [B]Seconds:[/B] 2