Anyone who has ever tried quitting for a long enough period of time will know that it takes a lot of self-determination to manage their way through the ups and downs of quitting.
From the initial doubts through the changes of habit, fighting off the naysayers (friends and family?) and embracing a new way of living (avoiding smokers and places to smoke?), there is a minefield of situations to overcome, and unexpected circumstances will be thrown your way.
No matter how well you think you are prepared to give up smoking, something or many things will happen to help you give up giving up, or to help you back on track to where your underlying nicodemon (addiction) wants you to be.
If you want help to justify why you can't help smoking, there will always be a friend to help you. If you need to be excused for having had just a few, you will always find a sympathetic ear. After all, a few here and there don't really count, right?
Don't be fooled! There will always be someone to help you feel better about yourself, no matter how badly you think you failed against your own personal goals.
Think about it for a moment... Have I truly made an effort, or am I just whining and moaning in an effort to justify having smoked one or several?
Alex.