I grew up in North Carolina where everyone smoked. I began smoking when I was 14. I quit for 3 years when I was about 29 using nicotine patches and force of will. I went back to smoking after several major life events happened in a short period of time. Over the next 19 years I tried several different things to quit smoking (patches, gum, chantix, zyban) but none lasted long after the quitting period. I had previously learned that stress was my main trigger. When the stress became too much I would smoke. I switched to making my own cigarettes using pipe4 tobacco and pre-made tubes to save money and because I felt it was healthier (less additives). Then I discovered vaping. I had tried cigarette looking ecigarettes before but all they did was make me want a cigarette. The latest gadgets though hit the spot. Almost immediately I preferred the ecigarette and went from about 1.5 packs a day to 2 cigarettes a day. Over the course of 2 weeks I gave up those too. It has now been over 5 months since I have had a cigarette. I have been lowering my nicotine level on a regular basis but haven’t decided yet if I will eventually go to zero nicotine or just low nicotine. I began at 24 mgs per ml and am now at 6 mgs per ml. I feel better, can breathe better, and taste things better. I can see vaping for the rest of my life. I have stopped smoking but the actions of vaping and visual of vapor tell my brain it’s okay. There has been stress but I reach for the ecig and I’m fine. I have a tobacco flavor for those times and between the hand to mouth, visual, and taste, there is no temptation to pick up a tobacco cigarette. Initially I had some issues with back pain but soon determined my nicotine level was too high. Once I lowered it the pain went away. I have inspired others to turn to vaping as an alternative to smoking and they too are now smoke free. I wish society would be more accepting and stop banning something they don’t understand simply because it looks like something else tho.