I was a pack-a-day smoker for 25 years. For the last three years or so, my husband and I had been rolling our own to save money and avoid the excess carcinogens found in manufactured cigarettes. About a month ago, I received an e-cig kit via a free offer. It was garbage, but still a bit better than those we had tried back in 2009. I sent it back immediately, but I decided that there may well be better options out there these days. Upon further research, I settled on a Halo G6 cigalike kit and 18mg nicotine. What a difference a good product makes! After a few days, my husband got curious–and was so shocked that I hadn’t smoked–that we went to a local brick and mortar shop. The two of us walked out of there with some eGo passthrough batteries, several clearomizers, and three juice flavors to share…this time, in 24mg nicotine. I am coming up on one month of being smoke-free, and I will NEVER go back! My husband has given our remaining tobacco/tube stash to a brother-in-law who just refuses to try the e-cigs. Neither of us has smoked at all since we each got our gear, and we have no plans to do so. We have actually become hobbyists at this point, each of us having added significantly to our gear and juice collections as our enthusiasm rises and our taste buds heal! I had used nicotine patches in the past, and I made it as long as 9 months (during a pregnancy), but it was always with the idea of someday being able to smoke again. And of course, I DID. I went back on the patches about 7 years later during a trip to Disney World, but I didn’t even make it to the end of the week that time. I have made smaller attempts at cold turkey as well, but I simply didn’t have the willpower, much to the chagrin of non-smoking family members as well as younger friends– they feared that by the time we were all retired, my husband and I would be six feet under. I am simply amazed at the difference in my quality of life over this month! I can breathe, walk up and down stairs and all over my very large school without the least concern. I did cough up a LOT of funk when I first quit smoking, and I now can sleep all night without waking…something I hadn’t done in 15 years. My taste has come back, too (though I’m disappointed that I don’t seem to enjoy drinking milk as much as I used to), as has my sense of smell. Most importantly, I feel more confident–I don’t feel like I’m hiding behind a wall of stinky, stale smoke. As a high school teacher, I don’t feel so removed from my kids anymore…I can stand around with them, talking with and engaging them, without fear they’ll smell cigarettes! This is hands-down the BEST THING I HAVE EVER DONE, for myself, my daughters, my friends, my family and my students. I am ever so grateful to have discovered this wonderful electronic option…it is perfect for me!