Quitting is very hard, I know. I did it several times before it finally took. It might be one of the hardest things I ever did in my life.

But you know, I take care of my dad now who is disabled and has little quality of life because he smoked for his entire life. His advanced COPD, which didn’t begin to kick in until he was about 65 years old, has robbed him of happy retirement years.

He has little independence or mobility, and struggles with frequent illness that lands him in the hospital a handful of times every year.

I’m sure you’ve already heard all the scary stories and I’m not really wanting to add to that.

I would like to say that I know quitting is hard, gut-wrenching hard. Been there, done that. I get it.

I also know you can do it. Do it for your son. Do it for everybody you love. And do it for you. You’re worth it.