I began smoking as most do at a young age. It started as a way to fit in, be cool. Adults that I loved and respected smoked, and so it began. I started stealing a cigarette here and there from those around me that smoked. Then I got older kids to get my own, as I was only 14 years old, when I started smoking every day. I almost quit entirely right away, but chose to continue as my friends were doing it too. It naturally progressed and I soon became addicted to smoking. I continued to smoke more and more and by the time I was 18 I was at a pack or more a day. The years passed and soon I found myself married and a father at 29 years old. I now had been smoking for longer than I had not been at that point. I woke up in the morning feeling terrible. I coughed and wheezed. My stamina was low. In my job we do some strenuous work, and I often had to take breaks to catch my breath. I couldnƒ??t smell much anymore unless it was a very strong odor. I had tried quite a few times at this point to quit. I could cut down, but never seemed to be able to quit. After a while, a stressful day or some other trigger would occur and then I was back to smoking full time, pack a day. I tried the patch, but that worked for all of 4 days before I broke down and started smoking with it on. I tried gum, which lasted a week. Then sunflower seeds, but my mouth got so raw I could hardly eat after a few days. Smokeless tobacco worked for a few months, but the grossness of the spitting got to be too much. They all worked for a time, but eventually I was right back where I started. A guy I worked with turned me on to electronic cigarettes. I started researching them, the different configurations, what the claims were, and I went out and bought a starter kit online. I was pleased immediately with the results. I was able to quit smoking traditional cigarettes almost immediately. I have been smoke free since Nov 23, 2011 and havenƒ??t had a desire to go back. I am pleased that I can smell and taste again. I am able to mow my lawn without taking a break. My wife doesnƒ??t complain about me smelling like an ash tray. Things are much better since I switched to electronic cigarettes. The whole thing has become a hobby that I enjoy very much. I also enjoy helping others to switch to a healthier alternative to smoking. The whole thing has been very rewarding to me and I am a much healthier person because of it.