The Benefits Of Quitting Smoking That You Don't Hear About As Often

Discussions about the short and long term effects of smoking cigarettes on the human body and of what changes to expect upon quitting smoking seem to naturally go hand in hand. So sure, after thirty days of quitting I've noticed that I have more energy and more endurance. I know that my blood circulation is getting better, because I don't wake up with numbness in my extremities anymore when I sleep in some strange position.

I expected these things, and am glad to experience them. It's really so much more than all that, though. I'm discovering that, for me, the things that make this quit worth fighting for aren't turning out to be the things the doctors and people in lab coats have been telling us about.

Since I quit smoking, I have more time in the morning. You know, that rush around time where breakfasts and lunches need to be made, and outfits need to get picked out. It sure helps not to be trying to squeeze those things in between cigarette breaks. I actually find that it usually isn't even rushing around anymore, now that I have an extra half hour every morning.

Also since I quit smoking, my time with the kids is no longer interrupted every twenty minutes. We can get into a long match of video games, play a board game or just hang around and talk about whatever and I never have to stop. We can do it all day if we're so inclined, and I never have to break up the party in favor of a cigarette. Party... favor... nevermind. I clearly didn't bring my A-game today.

We were outside much of the day on Saturday, I was planning on doing some yard work. I ended up adjusting the kids' bikes instead (wow, they got bigger over the winter-- again!), and mister eight year old finally started practicing without the training wheels. After everybody was tired of pedaling, we kicked the soccer ball around for awhile (they're both signed up to play this season) and just kind of hung around outside, enjoying the nice weather that's finally starting to grace us with its presence.

So what are the benefits of quitting smoking? There's all the medical and health stuff, yes, but the best benefit is time. Not necessarily the time added onto my lifespan, I don't know if dragging this out for 120 years is really all it's cracked up to be, but the now. Now is what it's really all about, and the only guarantee. Might as well make it count.