Community Forum

This Earth Day, Let’s Breathe Easier – Together 🌎

We often talk about the personal benefits of quitting smoking—better health, more energy, saving money. But today, on Earth Day, I want to shine a light on another powerful reason to quit: our planet.

Cigarette butts are the most littered item on Earth. They’re toxic, non-biodegradable, and pollute our water, soil, and ecosystems. Every cigarette not smoked is one less pollutant entering the environment. It's easy to overlook, but when someone quits, the impact goes far beyond their lungs—it's a win for the air we breathe, the oceans and surrounding lakes we love, and the future we’re building.

To those of you who’ve quit: you’re already part of this positive change. And to anyone still in the process,keep going. Every craving you get through, every cigarette you skip, matters. Not just to your body, but to the Earth we all share.

This Earth Day, let’s keep showing up—for ourselves and for the world around us.

Started smoking at 13. I’m approaching 45. We hid smoking from our kids. They have never seen us smoke. Recently our eldest caught me in the act and it was a nightmare. I’ve quit many times. Once for a year but I told myself I could have a few while on vacation. Nope. Just leads me back. Hosting Easter dinner today made me feel a little stressed and want to smoke. It’s 24 days. I feel good and this is my first time with quit now. When I was a smoker, I was always ashamed of it. The smell, the fact that it’s restricted so much now in many areas. I don’t miss having to have the next cigarette. I’m using the nicotine patch. My child is happy that I stopped and knows that I have had a couple slips here and there but so far, 24 days no slips :) Feeling confident and hopeful for a smoke free future.

It's been a nice Easter weekend for me because lots of relatives came to visit my mom. Most of them don't smoke. I was shocked to realized how little I smoke when I'm not alone. Living alone makes me a chainsmoker.

I'm still going to the weight room, taking it super slow. I'm doing 6 reps at 0 resistence on three machines. And I took the great advice from people on the forum to keep playing pool. Today, I played a couple games of pool with my nephew. It was fun.

I'm inspired by how little I'm smoking when I have good company to find more companionship when my relatives are not around. I have no idea how to do this, but. it's worth working on it.

Can’t believe it’s already 4 months!!

Hello folks. I am a 60 yr old woman, and I have been smoking (first pot, then cigarettes) since I was 11 or 12, so 48 years. I've only ever quit once when I was 17, and only for 3 months.
I have picked a date as medical conditions have made me take stock.
Tomorrow will be my first attempt at going a day without smoking. Good luck to all, and thanks for being here.

Holidays like Easter can be full of joy… but also full of stress. Family gatherings, disrupted routines, extra sugar, and emotional triggers can make it really hard to think about quitting ,or staying quit.

If you're feeling the urge to smoke or vape again… or you’re thinking about quitting but don’t know where to start, especially right now, that’s okay. The pressure of “doing it perfectly” can feel overwhelming.

Here’s the truth:
You don’t have to quit today.
You don’t have to quit perfectly.
You just have to keep thinking about it. Keep trying. Keep showing up for yourself.

You’re doing something good for yourself. Even just reading this means something inside you wants change—and that’s a powerful thing.

So if Easter feels like a tough time to quit, it’s okay to pause, breathe, and remind yourself:
There’s no “right” time. There’s just the time you choose to take one small step.

You’ve got this. Even if it’s messy. Even if it’s slow! Your doing great!

I really feel ready, after so many years and time spent ignoring the burden in my hand. I wouldn't wish this addiction on any one , and sad to say its a little motivation doing it now cause i would hate to be the last out of my friends to quit, but i wold love if we all quit together , which is always easy to say and want but almost impossible to do. All i know is i can say Im Ready. Not i think im ready , I’M READY!

Hello fellow quitters, friends and quit coaches, just want to wish everyone a Happy Easter. I'm still smoke free after 9 years and then some. I have to admit it's still on my mind occasionally but not to the point where I would take it up again. So happy to see all those familiar people that I have come to know over the years, many of whom are still on the forum helping those who are trying to leave this nasty habit behind. Never let it be said that you forget those who helped you throughout one of the hardest points in your life, quitting smoking. It's a difficult journey but one that's worth it's weight in gold as they say. Don't let stress, anxiety and obstacles get in the way, just do the best you can and remember you're worth it. Everyone one of you inspire each other to be smoke free and that's what this forum is all about, friends helping friends and they are the cornerstone of everything you value. You're never alone and they will have your back for as long as you need them. It's not going to be easy but each step you take will get you closer and closer to the freedom you so deserve. I have not forgotten what it took to get me this far and through it all, I have to say I've gained a lot of insight into this addiction. It can be beaten and it will be achieved through hard work and determination. To all of you just starting out, good on you for trying, you're going to succeed and you'll be happy you did. To everyone I've come to meet over these nine years, on the forum, thank you for listening, I appreciate you more than you know. I'll never forget any of you. Hugs to all, Lucille.

I have a few aids up up my sleeve (so to speak) including this forum, a fairly decent quit smoking app, and I am now creating a playlist with songs that will inspire me to stay smoke free.

I am hoping for song suggestions! I hope it is okay to list song titles and artists. Can’t see any reason I cannot do so, but let me know if I am wrong! So far, I have included the following songs:

Good to be alive by Andy Grammer
Today is your day by Shania Twain
Best day of my life by America Authors
Right now by Van Halen
Keep your head up by Andy Grammer
I can see clearly now by Jimmy Cliff
Freedom by Jon Batiste
Feeling good by the Sheepdogs
Sweet victory by David Easley and Bob Kulick
Cannonball by Lea Michele
It’s all happening by Saint Motel
It feels good to be me by Andy Grammer

Any other song suggestions are very welcome and much appreciated!

I had a drink last night. I decided not to drink for the first few weeks, But one of my colleges came back to the city after some months and he invited everyone for a drink. I told him I quit nicotine and don't want to drink to reduce craving. He congratulated me and told me "drink and don't smoke. simple as that".
I had a beer and after that I went home and drank a few shots of Brandy. But I didn't smoke. I distracted myself each time I had a craving and it worked and it was easy I guess. The worse craving was this morning. Especially after I talked for an hour to an old friend of mine. I think it was the highest craving that I had so far. and I'm proud of myself I didn't relapse.

But It's surprising that I find my highest cravings in the most unexpected ways. For example I thought while drinking alcohol is the hardest moment, But next morning is harder.
I thought while working and taking a break is one of the hardest while after talking on phone I was dying to have a puff.

I wasn't aware of my true cravings and it's really amazing to know them and plan what to do about them,

Hello all,

I have smoked for over 30 years and I have quit several times over the last 3 years. The longest I have been smoke free was a little over 5 months - that was about 2 years ago and I am still frustrated with myself for starting back up after being a nonsmoker for that long. Since then, I have smoked on and off.

I am ready to rid myself of this habit. Tomorrow is my wedding anniversary, so I thought a good day to start fresh and quit for good!

I am hoping that being a part of this community will help me achieve my goal of being a true nonsmoker!

I quit for 8 years once, remember NOPE.

Good morning. I’m going through a first experience trying to stay smoke free. A family member passed away on Monday. He died well before his time due to addiction.
I really really wanted to have a cigarette to numb the sadness. This is where I usually go to when I get emotional. Instead I used the coping skills that I have been practicing the last month. Yes a month has passed since my last cigarette. This is the longest I have ever been smoke free.
I will be going to the Smoking Cessation Clinic today so will be able to talk about what I am going through and receive the encouragement that I need to stay smoke free.
I am also referring to the 4 D’s to help me stay focused.
Delay, Distract, Deep Breathing, and De-catastrophizing.
To all of you doing your best to be Free of this strong addiction I wish you all the best. Remember that craving will pass. Reach out and talk to someone or write down what you are going through. Think positive. Remember that we are not alone.

Reducing smoking for me is getting at my issues and resolving them rather than willpower which I have so little of. I had some more thoughts this morning. My dad's passing, while its not what I wanted, it has freed me. He abused me every day all my life and now that my dad is gone I'm safe.

Because my dad was so hard on me I kept myself a little safer by repressing my needs. All my life, I've been afraid to let myself feel happiness because that is something my dad abused me on. With him gone I can relax and stop smoking to repress my needs. One sign that I'm healing is that I'm letting myself have fun by playing pool every day.

I need to get in the habit of letting myself feel happy and have fun instead of smoking. This is hard after a lifetime of repressing my feelings with cigarettes. I'll work on this today.