I'm a recovering smoker. I haven't had a cigarette in several years and never plan to have another one because I know I'm an addict and just one cigarette will get me started all over again. I know this because I once quit for five years, then in the process of having a really bad day, I allowed myself to have ONE cigarette and then continued to smoke over a pack daily for the next eight years.

Yes, it is really,really hard to quit. For any of you out there who want to quit, I recommend the following.

1. Don't kid yourself by saying that you are "quitting smoking". Either smoke or don't smoke.

2. Pick a day, and when you wake up that morning, throw out any remaining cigarettes. Don't quit in the middle of the day.

3. Quit because YOU are determined to quit. Not because of pressure from others.

4. If you feel the need to use the patch or medication, do what ever works for you. Just remember that these are only helpers. You still have to have the personal resolve to quit because a year, five years, ten years down the road, when you get a surprise craving (that doesn't last long, trust me ), you'll only have your resolve to get you through the moment.

5. Quitting is terribly hard, but the rewards are so worth it.

Good luck