First off Happy New Year everyone! May it be healthy, prosperous and joyous. I hope all of you enjoyed the festivities. Where I live the roads and stores were unusually quiet today. People must be sleeping in, recovering from too much fun, watching football, etc. I’m not big on resolutions, but I do like some variations on the theme. My church has a service on New Year’s Eve where we right down the things we wish to let go of and the slips of paper are placed in a burning bowl. I also find appealing the idea of intention, thinking and visualizing a happier year, a happier tomorrow.
I have been toying with the idea of stopping smoking. I know! It’s bad! Terrible and no one should do it! Ever! I don’t smoke much at all, one really can’t since there aren’t many places that it’s allowed. I stop and start. In the past I haven’t had any trouble quitting. 
This last stint started when I was spending time overseas in a country where it’s allowed everywhere — even that’s changing. Now it’s time to quit again, but I’m not sure why this time around I feel a mild trepidation. I’m probably overthinking it. One friend, who was never a smoker, and I think privately sees herself as a bit of a psychology expert, asked me in a super serious hushed tone, “Why do you think you smoke?” Because I like it.
It’s that simple! 
Even Freud said sometimes a cigar is just a cigar. I’ve been given an assortment of advice from former smokers: chew nicotine gum (revolting), stop cold turkey, stop gradually (impossible), take Chantix (the side effects are alarming), and so on. Once again my friend Will offers some amusing advice. We were talking about it, and I have to admit that my first reason for quitting was monetary. I calculated how much it costs if I average out how many packs I purchase in a year. I mean it’s a lot of money! Will nodded understandingly and said, “The main reason I stopped smoking was because I could afford to drink more.” (!) His advice was to stop. Just stop. He also suggested getting Trader Joe’s tea tree toothpicks in cinnamon flavor and chew on those. It sounds like a good idea, but how is that going to look? Do I have to do that in private? Otherwise I look like some old guy in a movie about the Mafia. Will’s other advice: crème brulee lattes from Dunkin Donuts. I had one and it was delicious, but it wound me up for hours. My favorite parting words of wisdom from Will were, “You may want to stay away from people for the first few days.”
Clare Irwin