Posted on January 8, 2019 at 2:28 PM by Blog Committee
I am often asked why and how I quit smoking. The story is different for each person, but I am proof it can be done.
I was raised by my grandparents. My grandfather was my best friend and a heavy smoker. At the age of about 9, I watched him become very sick and lost him when I was 11. You would think that would have been enough to make me not want to smoke. Well, I'm a little slow to learn and started smoking at the age of 16.
Over the last 10 years, I quit smoking a few times only to start back up. One day, I was driving down the road talking to my oldest daughter on the phone and she was telling me about a conversation between herself and my oldest grandson, Robert. My relationship with my children and grandchildren is closer than any friends I have in this world. She told me that Robert had asked her if I and his MawMaw were healthy because he didn’t want to lose either of us. That was my “brick to the back of the head”! I almost had to stop the truck right there. That’s when I decided I had enough and smoked my last cigarette on September 21, 2017. I still have the pack today just my way of saying I did it.
Since that day my relationship with my wife has gotten even better. Cindy and I now enjoy things we never could before because of the smell of smoke. I even enjoy food that I would never have touched. You may not realize it, but if you smoke you also stink.
Some will stop smoking because of the money. How much have you spent on your smoking habit? According to my math, in my lifetime I have wasted about $125,000 on smoking. That is probably a low estimate. My next $125,000 will be spent on taking Cindy and our family on vacations and having fun. We already have a good start on enjoying new adventures!
There are many resources to assist you with your goal to quit smoking. Talk to your doctor, your health insurance provider, or the human resource department to find out about all of the options available. It will not be the easiest thing you've ever done, but it will be one of the best.
One last thing. There is an old man with a funny looking hat that you can find walking around the yard at Don Hummer Trucking. He will drop little hints from time to time when he sees someone out having a smoke. Thanks Don, we do listen but sometimes it just takes a while.
Thank you for reading my story and I hope this helps someone stop smoking!
Resources:
Tim Anderson, Don Hummer Trucking Team Driver since 2010