To my cigarette:
Well my better half says he can picture peace in the Middle East and a lasting truce in Northern Ireland more easily than he can picture me without my marlboro cigarettes. The truth is that no one can picture me without my cigarettes at all. Everyone thought that was funny and laughed heartily, but my little grandson didn’t. That night he asked me to stop smoking so the world would be at peace.

Well I can’t bring peace to the world, but I sure would like my grandson to believe that I somehow hold an important key to things. Somehow, my cigarettes are not as appealing any more. So old buddy, when I light my last one on Friday, I won’t look back. We’re through. I may miss you now and then, but I have to do this for me, and to show my family that I care more for them than I do for you. Simona from the UK

Dear “Friend”
In the beginning, I sought an escape from a bothersome college professor who would not let me enter the students’ smoking lounge because I wasn’t a smoker. So I took up smoking. What a smart move that was. I got away from the professor and felt so free. I was eighteen then.

Over the years, I could count on you to be there whenever I felt pressure and stress, which was on most days. I could count on you to be a constant companion and it was fun to feel part of the smoking gang. That fun became expensive and I began to resent paying more and more for you. I decided to quit, but somehow could not. I realized then what a hold you had on me. I hated not being in control of myself. I used to think you were a friend, but a friend would not hold me hostage, control me, and enslave me as you do, nor endanger my health. I have come to depend on you, but I will overcome this. I really don’t want you in my life any more. Annie

Tim says
“I never thought much about it before. I’ve been smoking all my life except for the first ten years, as has my wife almost. As people around us gave it up and asked us why we continued to blow money on cigarettes, we gave weaker and weaker answers. When I learned about all the cr*p that’s added to smokes, and find out that I’m supposedly an addict, I’m not so interested anymore.

We caught our kids lighting one up behind the cottage and I almost snapped. So we’re going to attend a quitting program together. I don’t want my kids to face what I’m going through. It’s time to stop the cycle. So to our cigarettes, I say enough! You’ve had us in your clutches for too long. You’re just not cool any more.”