Nobody dies for stopping smoking

I was a cigarette addict for 20 years, consuming three packs a day. I tried everything to stop smoking—from gradual withdrawal to candy substitution, but to no avail. I developed smoker’s cough and I thought, pretty soon, I would be having lung cancer, after which would be the start of the journey to “Kingdom Come.”

And I thought to myself if I had to die, let me die trying to stop smoking. I abruptly stopped smoking without precondition. Cold turkey. After 20 smoke-free years, I am still alive and healthy.

Lesson: All that was needed was just plain determination and plenty of strong will. Nobody dies for stopping smoking.

—MANUEL B. JAPZON, General MacArthur, Eastern Samar