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Today marks two full weeks smoke-free, and I took a longer walk than usual. Mom gave me some money and a letter to mail to my older brother, so I walked to the post office. On the way back, I passed the 7-Eleven—the same one where I used to buy my cigarettes. That familiar glow of the sign might as well have read “Temptation.” It hit hard. That quick thought—just one pack, just one puff—flashed through my mind like a reflex. But I kept walking. It’s strange how much effort it takes to not do something that used to feel...

Almost two weeks smoke-free! The celebrations, the pats on the back, and the endless “You did it!” are all great, but now it’s time to move on to the next chapter. My little brother has decided I’ve had enough of my victory lap and is pushing me toward diet and exercise. Now, I’m not trying to become Mr. Atlas here. I quit smoking mainly to make sure the cancer is gone and stays gone—not to sculpt a marble statue of myself. But I’ll admit, the little cynic may have a point. Usually, I’d question how he thinks he knows so...

There’s no doubt about it—the cravings are the worst in the morning. The minute I wake up, they hit me like an old, unwelcome friend at the door. Sometimes I even oversleep, hoping to snooze them away. Of course, they’re still there when I open my eyes, whispering that all it takes is a short walk to the 7-Eleven for a pack of cigarettes and I’m right back where I started. Two things I’ve noticed: Now that I’ve quit, smoking almost feels too easy to quit again—like I could just pick up where I left off. But I know that’s...

I’m on day 11, and the cravings are still coming strong. This morning I woke up with that old familiar itch, the one that whispers, “Just one won’t hurt.” Instead, I grabbed a cup of coffee and went to Costco with Mom. It turns out deep breathing can be overdone — I caught myself hyperventilating from doing it too fast or too often. Quitting smoking really does teach you new things about yourself, even how to breathe properly. Honestly, I’m not surprised that the cravings haven’t vanished. When I quit for eight years before, they still popped up from time...

I’ve always been a night person, not a morning one. The early bird may get the worm, but this bird prefers the moonlight. I’m learning that quitting smoking isn’t about changing everything all at once — it’s about making the hard stuff easier, not harder. Jumping into early gym routines or major lifestyle overhauls overnight would just set me up for failure, and failure can lead right back to cigarettes. I’m sharing my progress not to brag or prove something, but for support. Quitting is tough. Ten smoke-free days may not sound like much to some, but to me it’s...