In a few days, I will be celebrating my sixth month of not smoking. I have tried to quit in the past, but this is the first time it has stuck. Today, it feels like I haven’t smoked in years, but some days, the cravings are so strong it is as if I only stopped a few days ago.

The best part is that the clock inside my head has finally stopped ticking. I no longer feel bound to a schedule only I am aware of. Hours can pass and I no longer feel the itch to go outside. My days feel longer. I never noticed how much time smoking took up in my day.