This is a great article, JP. I think this would be very helpful for people who are struggling. I grew up with both of my parents smoking, and they tried to quit a few times. It was never fun for anyone during those times. My mom was a paraplegic, and anytime I’d ask her if she thought about quitting, she’d say, “This is one of my most favorite things.” I used to think that was sad, but as I got older, I realized it was also a big stress reliever for her. She quit about six years before she passed away, cold turkey too. I was really impressed that after all those years, she was able to do it. I’m not sure if that experience also steered me toward respiratory therapy, but I’ve sometimes wondered if it did.
Hey JP. thanks, of all the things I've accomplished in my life, this still stands as one I am most proud of. As you know this addiction is a tough one to beat.
Thanks for sharing, I think it’s important people understand that it’s not a quick fix thing. I pray your messages gives someone a little extra Motivation today
Thanks Antrell. That’s exactly why I wanted to tell the whole story instead of making quitting sound like one decision and done. For me, it was a long process with a lot of trial and error. If somebody who’s struggling with it reads this and decides to keep trying, that’s about the best outcome I could ask for.
I’m not sure I thought about it that way either until I looked back on all the things I had to change just to quit one thing. It really was a whole process.
Well done JP, I am glad not to have ever been a smoker, My parents smoked my kids smoke, but I somehow got lucky. Well done for managing to stop. Glad that you know that the risk is always there. Anyhow good luck and steer clear.
Thanks Claire. Sounds like you dodged one there. With both your parents smoking, it would have been easy to pick it up. And yeah, after all these years I still don’t take that risk lightly. Steering clear has worked pretty well so far.
“I had stopped smoking. Everything around me was still set up for a smoker.”
That feels much bigger than smoking.
Sometimes we think leaving something behind is one decision, when really we also have to slowly rebuild all the little places in our life where it used to belong.
And I appreciate that you didn’t turn 29 years into a neat story about never wanting it again.
That last one percent makes the whole piece feel very human. 🫶
JP, I appreciated hearing about the honest struggle you had with quitting smoking, and how even today it's still something you have to work hard on to steer clear of restarting it.
As I read this, my heart went out to you because you did figure a lot out eventually on your own, but it took a long, hard path to make it happen. Change IS hard for anyone, and tobacco cessation is probably the toughest of all behavior change categories.
I know I never was a fan of coaching it because most of the people who came to me in the employer-enforced programs typically weren't truly ready to make a change. However, those that accepted that they were talking to a Coach anyway, so they might as well see how this might be a possibility for them, often did succeed a lot more easily than they realized as we co-created a plan who fit who they uniquely were.
They had it in them all the time to quit, just like you did JP. Congrats on making it happen for yourself, and knowing yourself well enough to put in place what you need to stay that way.
Thanks Melanie. I really like what you said about creating a plan that fit the person. Looking back, that’s pretty much what I finally had to do for myself. The patch helped, but changing the routines, avoiding certain places, giving up coffee for a while, even changing my drive to work... all of that was me figuring out what I needed to make quitting possible. And you’re right about being ready. I had tried before, but that last time I was finally ready to change more than just the smoking.
Sometimes quitting isn’t just about stopping the thing. It’s about rebuilding the life that was organized around it.
This is such a powerful reminder that lasting change often requires changing the environment, routines, and identity surrounding the habit. Not simply relying on willpower is required.
Quitting smoking really takes a lot of willpower. I have never smoked, but my father has a smoking habit. He once tried to quit, but he only lasted about three months before he failed. He still smokes now, yet he has cut down on the amount.
I think it's the environment you were in that still twinkled you back into that habit. You really tried .. I must acknowledge. quitting smoking for 5 straight months without a going to rehab must be very hard.
But your environment made it easy to come back even when you didn't need to.
I think smoking is like most addictions, and I concur with this perspective: "I feel more like a smoker who doesn’t currently smoke." I feel the same way when I am not smoking. I cannot speak for other addictions, but I have never quit long enough to declare honestly that I am a non-smoker.
I think that’s exactly why that line feels true to me. “Nonsmoker” sounds final in a way I’ve never quite believed. Even after all this time, I know how quickly one cigarette could change the whole thing for me. I appreciate you being so open about where you are with it.
It really says something about how normal smoking was back then. Starting at 12 sounds shocking now. At the time, not so much. Thanks for sharing that.
Tough story, very well told. But given that nicotine is more addictive than cocaine, and given the many happy rituals you had associated with it, it's no wonder it was so tough to stop. The part about how smoking was commonplace in our youth rings so many bells; hard to imagine today, but that's exactly how it was. Smoked as a teenager and quitting was one of the most difficult things I've done, which sounds bizarre to say-but I know the struggle you had. And yet, looking at your tagline about tenacity and reinvention, I know you already win and win keep winning this specific battle. Thank you for sharing this story so candidly, JP.
You clearly know this one from the inside. Hearing you say it was well told and that the honesty came through means a lot. I’m glad it read the way I hoped it would. And I really like that you connected it back to tenacity and reinvention. This was one of the first major reinventions of my life, and it took a hell of a lot of discipline to make it stick. Almost 30 years later, I’m still winning that particular battle by not smoking the next cigarette.
You could definitely call yourself a recovering smoker. Glad you quit. I have two college friends who can’t seem to do it.
I will one day write about my first time taking a hit. I was only seven or eight.
This is a great article, JP. I think this would be very helpful for people who are struggling. I grew up with both of my parents smoking, and they tried to quit a few times. It was never fun for anyone during those times. My mom was a paraplegic, and anytime I’d ask her if she thought about quitting, she’d say, “This is one of my most favorite things.” I used to think that was sad, but as I got older, I realized it was also a big stress reliever for her. She quit about six years before she passed away, cold turkey too. I was really impressed that after all those years, she was able to do it. I’m not sure if that experience also steered me toward respiratory therapy, but I’ve sometimes wondered if it did.
Great article. Boy can I relate. Quit in '95 3 pack a day Camel straights... congrats.
Thanks Bill. Three packs a day of Camel straights... yeah, you definitely know what this was like. Congrats right back at you.
Hey JP. thanks, of all the things I've accomplished in my life, this still stands as one I am most proud of. As you know this addiction is a tough one to beat.
Thanks for sharing, I think it’s important people understand that it’s not a quick fix thing. I pray your messages gives someone a little extra Motivation today
Thanks Antrell. That’s exactly why I wanted to tell the whole story instead of making quitting sound like one decision and done. For me, it was a long process with a lot of trial and error. If somebody who’s struggling with it reads this and decides to keep trying, that’s about the best outcome I could ask for.
I never thought about the journey to quitting an addiction.
I’m not sure I thought about it that way either until I looked back on all the things I had to change just to quit one thing. It really was a whole process.
Well done JP, I am glad not to have ever been a smoker, My parents smoked my kids smoke, but I somehow got lucky. Well done for managing to stop. Glad that you know that the risk is always there. Anyhow good luck and steer clear.
Thanks Claire. Sounds like you dodged one there. With both your parents smoking, it would have been easy to pick it up. And yeah, after all these years I still don’t take that risk lightly. Steering clear has worked pretty well so far.
“I had stopped smoking. Everything around me was still set up for a smoker.”
That feels much bigger than smoking.
Sometimes we think leaving something behind is one decision, when really we also have to slowly rebuild all the little places in our life where it used to belong.
And I appreciate that you didn’t turn 29 years into a neat story about never wanting it again.
That last one percent makes the whole piece feel very human. 🫶
JP, I appreciated hearing about the honest struggle you had with quitting smoking, and how even today it's still something you have to work hard on to steer clear of restarting it.
As I read this, my heart went out to you because you did figure a lot out eventually on your own, but it took a long, hard path to make it happen. Change IS hard for anyone, and tobacco cessation is probably the toughest of all behavior change categories.
I know I never was a fan of coaching it because most of the people who came to me in the employer-enforced programs typically weren't truly ready to make a change. However, those that accepted that they were talking to a Coach anyway, so they might as well see how this might be a possibility for them, often did succeed a lot more easily than they realized as we co-created a plan who fit who they uniquely were.
They had it in them all the time to quit, just like you did JP. Congrats on making it happen for yourself, and knowing yourself well enough to put in place what you need to stay that way.
Thanks Melanie. I really like what you said about creating a plan that fit the person. Looking back, that’s pretty much what I finally had to do for myself. The patch helped, but changing the routines, avoiding certain places, giving up coffee for a while, even changing my drive to work... all of that was me figuring out what I needed to make quitting possible. And you’re right about being ready. I had tried before, but that last time I was finally ready to change more than just the smoking.
Thanks JP. That’s the fundamental thinking behind every successful and lasting change in behavior. You’ve got this!
Even if you sometimes think you might go backwards, it’s ingrained in you enough now that you won’t so believe in that :)
Sometimes quitting isn’t just about stopping the thing. It’s about rebuilding the life that was organized around it.
This is such a powerful reminder that lasting change often requires changing the environment, routines, and identity surrounding the habit. Not simply relying on willpower is required.
Thanks for sharing this personal aspect of your life. It is difficult, but kudos on doing so well.
Quitting smoking really takes a lot of willpower. I have never smoked, but my father has a smoking habit. He once tried to quit, but he only lasted about three months before he failed. He still smokes now, yet he has cut down on the amount.
Thanks for writing this JP - very well written.
I think it's the environment you were in that still twinkled you back into that habit. You really tried .. I must acknowledge. quitting smoking for 5 straight months without a going to rehab must be very hard.
But your environment made it easy to come back even when you didn't need to.
I think smoking is like most addictions, and I concur with this perspective: "I feel more like a smoker who doesn’t currently smoke." I feel the same way when I am not smoking. I cannot speak for other addictions, but I have never quit long enough to declare honestly that I am a non-smoker.
I think that’s exactly why that line feels true to me. “Nonsmoker” sounds final in a way I’ve never quite believed. Even after all this time, I know how quickly one cigarette could change the whole thing for me. I appreciate you being so open about where you are with it.
I started smoking at 12 years old, it was certainly what everyone did. I can relate to so much of this. Thanks for sharing.
It really says something about how normal smoking was back then. Starting at 12 sounds shocking now. At the time, not so much. Thanks for sharing that.
Yeah, it was crazy back then. I remember walking through our mall, and everyone inside smoking. It was truly everywhere you went.
So true. In the mid-eighties, we hung out at the mall on weekends. I remember walking through clothing stores smoking. Definitely a different world.
Tough story, very well told. But given that nicotine is more addictive than cocaine, and given the many happy rituals you had associated with it, it's no wonder it was so tough to stop. The part about how smoking was commonplace in our youth rings so many bells; hard to imagine today, but that's exactly how it was. Smoked as a teenager and quitting was one of the most difficult things I've done, which sounds bizarre to say-but I know the struggle you had. And yet, looking at your tagline about tenacity and reinvention, I know you already win and win keep winning this specific battle. Thank you for sharing this story so candidly, JP.
You clearly know this one from the inside. Hearing you say it was well told and that the honesty came through means a lot. I’m glad it read the way I hoped it would. And I really like that you connected it back to tenacity and reinvention. This was one of the first major reinventions of my life, and it took a hell of a lot of discipline to make it stick. Almost 30 years later, I’m still winning that particular battle by not smoking the next cigarette.