Nearly 18 months

I had smoked for about 50 yrs. And on May 2nd 2016 at 1425 I took my last drag.

I found the magic way to not give in to my cravings (which I still get but only mildly). Shortly after stopping smoking, I spent the day through my work, with a chap who is about 20 years younger than me.

He needed a smoke about once an hour like I used to. (We were training all day in my car). I obliged by stopping the car every hour to allow him a cig. I stood with him chatting by the car. He coughed like a dying old man. I remembered it was only a couple of weeks prior to this that I coughed like that too.

Since then, when I have a craving, I just think back to how this younger man by 20 years was coughing (and smelling). I have not touched a cig (or a vape) since May 2nd 2016 because of the vision of that young man coughing.

I suggest you make your own vision in your mind's eye whenever you feel like giving in to the filthy and smelly habit.

Just a thought and I hope it helps someone. Take care.

[Hercu Valued Contributor]

John.... Well done.....Isn't it a Pity that we must see visions like that to come to our sences...But very glad we did...My quality of life got so much better over the past 2 years that I want to shake younger people smoking ...but we know to try and tell someone it is bad is easy but to get them to listen is another story...!!

My vision was seeing myself on the garden bench tucked under a lap blanket with a trolley carrying an oxygen bottle connected with pipes to my nose...!!!!!

[AlexandriaUK Valued Contributor]

Hi john well done, I know 18 months is a really good quit milestone but as you admit not quite out of the woods yet, there will be days when that split second thought catches us unawares, you know you have excellent reasons to stay an X smoker, notice I say X its because even after 8 years I'm never going to be a none smoker am I because I was a smoker, the same as an alcoholic can never even consider one tiny sip we cannot consider one puff, you keep walking this lovely road, fresh air and fresh clothes is great, how my other half put up with the gross smell I will never know, I had to replace so much that I could smell smoke on even though I didn't smoke in the house, so keep on keeping on

[RoisinO1 Administrator 3 Years Smoke Free]

Hey Hidden - it is so good to hear from you and delighted all is still going well for you. Just passed 2 years there myself. My vision was me waking up in the middle of the night coughing and gasping for breath, never ever want to go through that again and all the coughing up of rotten stuff. Thank you for sharing - very inspiring and everyone should have a vision of never going back down the smoking road again - continue to keep that guard up and keep in touch