Since I was seventeen, I smoked cigarettes. I don't remember why I started. I think it was so I could get regular breaks in my insanely busy after school kitchen job. Unless you smoked, or died, there was no chance of getting a breather. And I felt cool smoking. It made me feel mysterious, or some such crap. No matter what the reasons for starting, the fact is I did start, and after a time I couldn't stop. For years, I told folks that I was not addicted; that I just enjoyed smoking, and could quit at any time. I was, of course, lying to everybody, myself included.

Now I am thirty-nine, and have been smoking for 22 years. I've "quit" three times, at least. Once I even managed to stay smoke-free for six months. I suppose that was my chance to stay quit, but the truth is, during that half year, I thought about smoking constantly. To me that means I never really kicked it. I was free of the nicotine addiction, to be sure, but the pleasurable memories, and positive association was still there. Every time I finished a good meal, or took a break at work, or had a beer on a patio, or some amazing sex, I wanted to enjoy a relaxing cigarette afterwards. And finally, one day, I gave in.

Smoking cigarettes again seemed great at first. However, I didn't realize how much healthier I was not smoking, until I started getting unhealthy again. But what could I do? I had failed to quit time and time again. The truth is, I do enjoy smoking. I just don't like the effects it has on my lungs, my libido, and my teeth. Not to mention, my wallet.

Not too long ago, I met a girl who changed my life. I was standing on the sidewalk outside a bar, smoking of course, when a cute girl emerged from within puffing on her cigarette. "They wouldn't let me smoke this inside," she said.

"I know," I replied. "These smoking laws are getting out of hand."

"You don't understand," she giggled, "This is perfectly legal to smoke inside."

She went on to explain that it was an electronic cigarette, which emits vapor, not smoke, and is non-combustible. The Ecig runs on a battery, and has 99.9% less crap in it than regular cigarettes. She gave me a drag, and WOW! it felt real. It tasted like apple, which I wasn't 100% sold on, but it felt real. Easy drag, good amount of nice thick smoke-like vapor. The cherry lit up when I inhaled! I couldn't believe it. Here was the answer to quitting smoking. Don't quit at all. Keep smoking! Just smoke electronic cigarettes instead.

Now, thanks to electronic cigarettes, I can keep smoking, and have a healthier, happier life. And it's easier on my wallet, too. I spend on e-cigs less than half of what I spent on tobacco sticks. And just in case anyone cares, I'm engaged to that cute girl from the bar.

If you smoke cigarettes, and plan to keep smoking , do yourself a huge favor, and switch to electronic cigarettes. Electronic cigarettes will improve the quality of your life, and the lives of the people closest to you.

Be well.