My name is Meghan.
I smoked from the time I was 13 to the time I was 30. For the first few years it was just to fit in and "relax" but by the time I became a momma at 18 I was a hard core addict to nicotine. The only time I quit was the nine months I was pregnant. I had asthma with it and didn't care. It affected me in so many ways. It affected my singing, being able to chase my child around, places I felt confident in being due to smelling like smoke, or not being able to smoke.
But when I hit 30, there came a day I wanted to smell like really girlie. I showered, put on all the good smelling stuff, fresh clothes and I immediately smelled like an ashtray- it was very disappointing and all I could do was cry.
Mind you at this point I was smoking 3 packs a day.
I chose right then that was it. I was done.
My husband and I quit smoking March 17th 2010. It was hard. But I am now 16 years free of smoking and going to try and get my facilitator's certification for Freedom from Smoking this March in celebration of it. I breathe much better, and don't fear the repercussions such as emphysema, worse asthma attacks due to me smoking, or the bigger chances of lung cancer that a smoker has as much now.
Quitting was hard, but worth it. Life is fuller, and less complicated. Now I chase my three grandbabies around, sing with better breath, and am able to go to many more places without feeling anxious or judged. I hope to spread the encouragement of quitting to help others in their journey to better their lives.
