"To cease smoking is the easiest thing I ever did. I ought to know because I've done it a thousand times." ~Mark Twain, attributed

Karla Carrington Photo: Charisse Beamon

I used to smoke. And I was good at it. Ironically enough, I was not a teen smoker, nor did I start out as a youngster. I started smoking when I was 26 years old. I know, dumb, right? I had friends who were smokers and would complain incessantly about the nastiness of the habit and how they were killing us all with second-hand smoke. You've never seen a louder non-smoker on a soapbox than me. I'm the perfect example of how things change.

Ten days before Christmas and shortly after my 25th birthday, my mother died. I was extremely depressed and began drinking heavily. Because I hated the taste, I would take a few pulls from a friend's cigarette to offset the taste of the alcohol. A few pulls turned into buying single cigarettes, then eventually packs. Before I knew, it I was a full-blown smoker.

I can't say I ever really enjoyed it, but how many people stop to examine whether they enjoy a habit or not? It's a habit! I must admit, I was surprised at how easily I slipped into the role of smoker with such little resistance. In spite of all my complaining and vowing that I would never smoke, I had fallen prey. Some would say it was in the cards, having parents who smoked, but I honestly never thought it would be me.

Upon realizing that I was addicted, I kept setting milestones for quit dates that came and went. I bought my first brand new car and promised that would be it. It wasn't. I moved into a new house with the same promise, that it would be smoke-free. Nobody said I couldn't smoke outside, but eventually, I was smoking in my new home. I moved from North Carolina to Virginia and again swore, this is the big day! However, another date came and went with the same results. I'd love to say that I overcame smoking as easily as I got involved with it, but I did not. I tried gum, patches and all sorts of quit-smoking gimmicks. How did I finally quit? I'm glad you asked.

I started exercising. Yes, that's the truth. I started power walking and was embarrassed at how winded I would get so quickly. There was nothing attractive about coughing and wheezing when others seemed to move with ease. I loved being outside and taking in the fresh air, because quite simply, it felt cleansing. It seemed idiotic to smoke after a brisk walk, but I did it anyway.

I started to consider how much more I could do physically if I didn't smoke. I made up my mind and set a date to quit with nicotine patches in tow. This time was different. I really was sick and tired of smoking, not to mention cigarettes were nearing $10 a pack in New York. Want me to quit? Cost me money! Exercising gave me a goal. I knew that I felt good after doing it, but I was also aware that if I didn't smoke at all I'd feel much better. So I quit. Aside from exercise itself, it's the smartest thing I've ever done.

I encourage those of you who still smoke to get off the wagon. Not because I did, but because you can. I don't have to list the thousands of reasons to quit smoking or the diseases that can occur from smoking -- you just should. Smoking is a nasty habit and very hard to overcome, but people do it every day. No matter how many times you try to quit, eventually you will. Not smoking is liberating, I've got more money, and I just plain feel good. Won't you join me?

"Cigarettes are killers that travel in packs." ~Author Unknown

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