Quitting is the best thing I’ve ever done.

I started smoking when I was 14 years old. One year later, I was smoking a pack per day. Then my mom found out I smoked. She lost her dad to cancer and her husband to a series of strokes that resulted from smoking. So it really hurt her.

I tried to quit maybe 20 times. I was just under two packs a day when I finally made up my mind. At that time, cigarettes were $2.50, and now they’re around $5. The cost is just nuts to me.

For my final quit attempt, I decided to call the Oklahoma Tobacco Helpline. I needed all the support I could get. They gave me a Quit Coach, someone who gave me pointers. For me, quitting without support just wasn’t possible.

Today, I don’t feel out of breath, and I generally feel better. Each February, to celebrate the anniversary of quitting, I take the money I’ve saved on cigarettes and buy myself some new shoes. It’s a reason for me to go out and a give myself little pat on the back. Quitting is the best thing I’ve ever done.