Quit Smoking for Yourself

I don't know why it is that so many smokers say they are quitting for their kids of for their spouse or for their parakeet or whatever but it isn't true - when you quit, you are quitting for yourself. It is okay to be selfish about your health and your life. sheesh. I guarantee you, when you die of lung cancer or emphysema, you'll be dying alone, you'll be put in your casket alone, and you'll be put into that cold, cold grave alone as well.

I think that when people say, "I'm quitting for <insert name here>" they are just trying to be melodramatic about giving up a filthy habit. They need to feel like they are doing something more than just quitting smoking, as if that alone wasn't a big enough accomplishment. Unfortunately, if you are quitting because of someone, you weaken your desire to quit and you can easily be tempted to light up. Let me explain...

When I was quitting, it seemed like everyone and everything around me was trying to aggravate me to the point where I had to smoke or die. This wasn't true of course, it just seemed like it. I remember thinking to myself that I should smoke just to get back at my wife... but then... I remembered... I wasn't quitting because of her or for her - I was quitting for me - and nothing she could do could take that away from me. I turned it around and empowered myself to not smoke despite what everyone around me did. That helped me through a lot of bad nic fits, let me tell you.

So yes, while everyone around you will benefit once you quit smoking, if you do it for yourself and purely for selfish reasons, you will likely increase your chances of success. Remember, it is okay to be selfish where your health is concerned.