@merpreb I quit smoking after many tries to quit. I can't remember them all, but once there w as man who came to town once or twice every month and would hypnotize a group of people for either weight loss, or stopping smoking. I went to both and the quit smoking group was really helpful. I stopped fro a good four months. that was a record for me. Of course we all flocked around after an bought up all his tapes. It helped. Some sort of stressful situation came up--really tough--I think my daughter had once of her five scoliosis surgeries and I though I'd smoke just to get me through the ordeal. Like any addition, I just smoked more from then on. I tried flat out cold turkey after that and didn't last long. There were other attempts and then I just thought the heck with it. Was back in graduate school getting a masters in counseling psychology and it was toward the end of the course and we were having the written exams for all the years of study. I developed. With my heavy smoking I was an easy mark for bronchitis, strep throat, and other such things. So, for the first time during these exams I developed severe pleurisy. Went to the exams still smoking and when they were over was about to light up. I recall the pack was almost empty and I put the cigarette back in and threw the whole thing out. That was my last cigarette. i of course used Nicorette which helped with the nicotine withdrawal. It was tough, but I haven't smoked since 1995.I think what helped was visualizing who much better I felt NOT smoking--things tasted better, smell returned, and I had much better lung function. There were a number of attempts, but those are the main ones I recall. As a smoker I had a heavy cough especially int he morning and evening and it took a bunch of tries to get my throat cleared before sleep an upon waking up--a heavy smoker's cough--it was gross and bothersome. Then as all you know this year i was diagnosed with Adenocarcinoma in my right lung. Wasn't even being tested for that, but fortunately a CT scan for heart was read by the radiologist who discovered a suspicious suspicious small spot on that right lung. Had a biopsy and it was a very small spot. Had a lobectomy in March 2019 and mercifully there was no spread to the lymph nodes, or any areas related. In September I go for a follow up CT scan. The CT scan looms if I think about it, but try and focus on other things. Sometimes that is easy adn sometimes not. I love what your Rabbi's wife said--prayer is anything we say. I think it is the meaning behind what we say. I certainly during all this have become more spiritual. We all need something greater than ourselves upon which to rely in difficult times. Now I try and be grateful for just about anything--not easy, but everyday i give thanks just for having waked up to another day and anything else that comes to mind. So there is my giving up smoking story. I inhaled deeply, had a severe smoker's cough, etc. I though it was cool when i started at 18. Now, if I am around smokers I do not like the smell. Funny I don't remember the smell of cigarette smoke being a bother while smoking. Now it is most unpleasant and has been for a good number of years. It is a tough habit to break and Nicotine is supposed to be more difficult to give up than heroine is. Anyway, I am glad to be a non-smoker and can't see every returning to the thing. I believe the basic change agent is something that wakes us up to the damage that cigarettes do us. For me it was smoking during pleurisy and I certainly can see how a lung cancer diagnosis would really be reason to stop as you did. Loved reading your story and thank you fro sharing ti with us.