My name is Sam, and my health, my friends, my family, and my future is my story. My smoking history began when I was 18 and I first started going out. I didn’t have a second thought about how healthy it might or might not be.
My father and grandfather were really heavy smokers. My dad was in the navy, and I’m sure my grandfather was doing it from a young age, so I used that as a motivation when they quit their smoking to not get into it myself.
When I made the decision to quit, I reflected on my father’s decision to stop smoking for himself, and his choices that he made to have a better quality of life and be around for our family a lot longer. I do remember friends probably not approving the idea of me being a smoker. That part of it also influenced my decision. I didn’t want my friends to see me as a smoker. I didn’t want my family to see me as a smoker.
The benefits of quitting smoking for me are hugely to do with my health. Sport is really important to me. It’s beneficial for my health and for my well‑being and also my social networks and to build friends.
I’m really happy I quit smoking, and I’m really happy that it’s not a part of my life now and I didn’t follow through with that and making that a part of my life.
If you’re thinking of taking up smoking, don’t make smokes your story.