Hello Friends,
There comes a time in each of our lives when we become unhappy. If the source of our unhappiness is something we do not like about ourselves, we must seek a reason to change. Not for mom or dad, not for a sibling, not for a spouse, and not for a friend. We must be convinced we must change for our good. Of course, all the above and professional helpers can make a transition smoother. When I gave up smoking and when I gave up alcohol abuse, I became convinced both were harming my health.
Even with strong motivation, achieving the goals took repeated tries and renewed commitments. I kept trying for myself and my betterment. Having children helped, too, but it was primarily only after I was convinced that abandoning the waste of money and risk to my health had finally given me the result I was after.
I quit smoking in 1990 and completed sobriety in 2014. I never want to go back to either. At 76, with detailed health issues emerging, has become an added motivation to stay sober and never smoke again.