Quitting Smoking — Day 30

Finally, I've arrived at 30 days since my last cigarette. This has been a huge mental milestone for me since I've never gone longer than one month without a smoke. From this day forward, every day I choose not to smoke feels like a new achievement.

I couldn't wait to reach this day and I was determined to celebrate somehow. What better way to herald this milestone than by sharing an amazing story with you related to my efforts to quit smoking?

Teia DeWoody decided not only to join me and put her cigarettes down, but she inspired four others to join her as well. Her story's below.

I am a quitter and I am proud of it. I've been smoking for 13 years and wanting to quit for about 5 months. I would put cigarettes down and say no more, I’m done. Then at the first sign of aggravation I would pick them right back up. I never went more than a couple of HOURS.  On January 15th I was headed to work with my husband and decided right then, I'M DONE.

I prayed out loud at that very moment on my way to work. “Lord please help me to help myself. I can’t do this alone, I don’t think I’m strong enough. Please give me the strength to quit.”

I arrived at work around 7:00 still smoke-free. I asked a co-worker, who is also a Minister, to  say a prayer for me. I was fine until later that morning about 9:30 when I experienced an intense craving. 'I can’t take it anymore. It’s not my time. I am not ready for this' I thought as I waited for another co-worker to return to their desk so I could take a smoke break.

I didn't want to be done and just thinking about giving up was enough to make me feel like a failure. To take my mind off my wait, I scanned my Facebook feed and saw a post by Kimberly Madison. The article she linked to promised to share a secret she'd been hiding for 25 years and, instead of scrolling past which was my usual habit, I clicked on it.

As I began to read the first few sentences, my eyes filled with tears. I had the biggest lump in my throat and my heart kinda beat hard once or twice when I read the words that were, by the grace of God, right in front of me: Kimberly was a closet smoker but she'd decided to quit.

It was 10:00 when I finished reading her story and when I realized that I'd survived 30 minutes without smoking I knew I had to quit. God couldn’t have sent me any clearer sign other than if He'd come down and slapped me!

The first day was rough and it was ALL DAY. I was ill and grumpy with a bad attitude to boot. Day 2 was a struggle but I kept reminding myself that I could do this and I did.

I've been smoke-free since January 12, 2015 and I REFUSE to let anything have control over me like smoking did. I'm stronger than that.

I'm married to a man who will move the Earth for me if asked and I've asked him to quit smoking with me so many times. He said, 'I’ll do anything for you but I am not quitting'. I gave up asking him and decided to quit on my own. Now, he's on Day 14 of quitting! You can't tell me God didn’t hear my cries!

If you're wanting to quit, you CAN DO IT. I promise. But you have to be READY. I wish you all the luck in the world but remember: quitting smoking won't kill you but not quitting might.

-Teia DeWoody

Teia DeWoody is an inspiration to me and on days when my struggle was particularly tough, I found myself reaching out to her for an update. She always lifted my spirits and got me back in focus.

Thank you for sharing your story, Teia! What you've done since you decided to quit and who you've inspired to join you is nothing short of AMAZING.

WHO'S NEXT?