This is my story, I’m no writer, I was a Criminal Justice major so bear with me. I started smoking at the age of 16. Being from small town West Virginia in a coal mining town, we had little in the way of entertainment, so sneaking smokes and beer from our parents was the thing to do. By age 17 I was a pack a day smoker. By 20, juggling college and work I was a 2 pack a day smoker. Most of the males in my family smoked as well, as did a fair majority of the women. So you could say it was in my blood. My grandfather had black lung from a combination of smoking and working in the mines. He continued to smoke a pack a day till the day he passed away. I wish with everything in my heart and soul vaping was around for my grandfather. I started vaping nearly a year ago, I stared on a little ego battery with a Vivi Nova clearomizer. But I quickly moved up to regulated box mods, and mechnicals. Using a variety of devices to go with them from Subohm tanks, dripping atomizers, and rebuildable Clearomizers. I started out at 24g nicotine strength, I now use 6mg and plan on cutting that to 3mg soon. And eventually 0mg, but will continue to vape 0mg because I enjoy the hobby aspect of building intricate coils (claptons, spiral, and helix are my specialties) and I love the community. An example of how great this community is, I took a friend to buy his first vape, but he forgot to calculate that he would need a battery, and I hadn’t brought any spares because I was using my dual battery box which I can vape on for 2 days before I need a charge. Well a guy who hadn’t ever met him before gives him a battery. Never ever met him before but was so happy to see another person give up the stink sticks (as we call them) he gave him a battery. Not a cheap one either, a Sony VTC5. And told him to keep it and vape on. This community is like a family, from all walks of life and religions and races, we are one big family looking out for each other. That’s my story and it’s a little rambling and jumbled but that’s how I got into vaping and how much I love the community. In fact my way of giving back (as I’m not to we’ll off financially ) is to go and chill at local vape shops and offer free builds to anyone who wants one. Wether it’s in a new Rda or RTA or they just want something a little fancier. This is with the store owners permission of course :), I’m not trying to take their business, plus I do it absolutely free, and use my own wire and cotton! Oh I almost forgot, the health changes are huge for me, I was in a bad car accident that limited my mobility, and add smoking on top of that I smoked, so a trip around the grocery store nearly had me gasping for air and sweating bullets. I now breathe normally, and can do my shopping without feeling like I’m dying. It still hurts due to my injuries but no shortness of breath , wheezing or sweating. No more morning cough, and I can taste food again. White chocolate mocha has never tasted so good lol. Vape it forward when you can guys. Vape hard. Vape Strong. Live hard. Live long.