I smoked off and on, mostly off, for a few years during a time whilst extremely busy at work. I found that an early morning coffee and cigarette was better than that same coffee with a buttery pastry. And going from one meeting ending at 9am into another starting at 9:15am was efficiently bolstered with another coffee and a 2nd, oft-times 3rd cigarette. And so on throughout the day.., you get the drift. That process was all well and good until I found myself waking up at the usual 4:45am rise time, and thinking about smoking a cigarette. What?! This has got to be a problem!
So recognizing that I was riding too close to the rails of addiction, I forced myself to not have any cigs for a few days. That’s better. When I found myself not tasting cigarettes when I wasn’t smoking, I figured it okay to have another. And so the cycle continued for a few years until the work pace slowed and I recognized, forever that this is a dangerous path. I can see how so many folks get hooked, and want to quit but cannot.
I still enjoy a few cigs – per year, and applaud loudly and give huge credits to those hooked, who are able to quit. All told, I’d recommend a greasy, buttery pastry as a much better alternative, every time!