People are a curious lot. They smoke a cigarette because they are curious to see what lies next, whether it will de-stress them or make them feel any better. While some try smoking on their own, others are forced into it because of peer pressure. In India, smoking is a major health issue with approximately 1.35 million people dying every year because of it, as reported by the World Health Organization. Many smokers want to quit but they struggle with addiction and relapse and eventually give up.
However, some are determined to break free from this harmful habit. With persistence, support, and the right strategies, these individuals succeed in quitting smoking. Their lives improve significantly, leading to better health, more energy, and a renewed sense of well-being. Here is an example.
A man named Rohit Kulkarni took to X to share how he had been smoking 10 cigarettes a day for the past 24 years. However, on Janmashtami 2024, he decided to quit and he hasn’t touched a cigarette since then.
I have been smoking 10 cigarettes a day for the last 24 years daily.
Don’t want to do the math and arrive at a total, it’s scary !
On the day of Janmashtami this year, I decided to quit and it’s been 17 days since I touched a cigarette.
So happy for myself !!!
— Rohit Kulkarni (@RohitKoolkarni) September 10, 2024
Rohit’s post inspired several other people to share their stories about quitting smoking. They shared that despite smoking for years, one day they decided to quit, and they did – leading to a much healthier life now. Have a look:
Rohit, I smoked average 15-18 cigarettes everyday from 1982 to 1996.
On 04 Jan 1996 I crushed my Wills packet and threw it away.
I haven’t touched a cigarette since then. TWENTY NINE YEARS.
Be strong. Just fight one day at a time. In two months the desire to smoke would die.
— Col Sanjay Pande (@ColSanjayPande) September 11, 2024
When you get the urge, sip lukewarm water and roll it around your gums. It helps. I used to smoke 40 a day till 1994. Then I quit overnight and never smoked again. I was recommended the lukewarm water method and it helped.
— Mohan Sinha 🇮🇳 (@Mohansinha) September 11, 2024
Keep going!! I smoked for 32 years before I quit. Been 2+ years now. You can do it
— peekay (@pankajkanal) September 11, 2024
I am a biker and Ladakh ride is every biker’s dream, I quit smoking 2 months before my 8500 km dream solo Ride, it’s been 5 months now since I quit, and I never find the urge to smoke now. 🚭 🏁
— Visit Udupi (@VisitUdupi) September 11, 2024
Well done
It’s a great feeling
I quit 19 years ago, had touched 3 packs a day.
Not once since quitting— Nitin Welde (@nitinwelde) September 11, 2024
As a former smoker…. I still miss it. That is kind of scary.
But it will get easier and easier with passing time.
Get into some other healthy habit. That would help a lot.
— Pitox Momambo (@PitoxZomambo) September 11, 2024
Huge congratulations! I am a former smoker too! Almost 2 years at this point, but I know the struggle. Keep it up, you can do it! 🙂
— Desdinova (@JanneDaArc135) September 11, 2024
I was not a heavy smoker like you but I did smoke about 2 cigarettes a day.
I left smoking in May 2023 and haven’t smoked since. I generally don’t get that urge to smoke on normal days but when I see someone smoking in movies it hits back.
— Contrarian Capital (@InvestorDiy) September 11, 2024
My #MilitaryDad was same way. We were lil and he use to be smoker and then Quit one day. You need to have strong willpower to do that. Great going Rohit.
— Buie/Rakhee ਰਾਖੀ 🇺🇸|🇮🇳 (@BuieBedi12) September 11, 2024
Quitting smoking is challenging, but the rewards are worth the effort!