Thank You Cigarette Tax Hikes

Yesterday, I hit my two month milestone of being smoke-free. I had finally had it with the Cook County cigarette taxes being raised every 2 days (at least that's what it felt like) and decided to quit on April 1st, the same day a pack of cigarettes went up in price to $10 a pack in Chicago. So, today I would like to share with you some of the things I have noticed in the past two months since I have quit smoking.
1. Although I am using the nicotine patch, I did at first find myself having some nicotine cravings. However, I did not break down in tears unlike the last time I tried to quit smoking, cold turkey!
2. I was not able to drink coffee until about a month after quitting. It used to be impossible for me to start my day without first having my two cups of coffee, which were accompanied by at least two to three cigarettes. I knew that if I continued with my coffee routine, sans cigarettes, I would want to punch someone in the face! I am proud to say that I am now back on the coffee and am not experiencing violent urges.
3. Smokers do not want you to succeed at quitting. Whether I was stressed out at work or under the influence of alcohol, certain friends, who will remain nameless, were very quick to offer a cigarette as comfort. However, my determination to remain smoke-free was too strong for their sabotage!
4. 7-Eleven employees are still trying to get me back on the Marlboros. No matter how many times I tell my beloved local 7-Eleven pals, that I will no longer be needing my daily pack of Marlboro Ultra Lights, they continue to offer them every time I patron their store.
5. I am still jealous of smokers. I can't help but feel pangs of jealous anger when I am around smokers. While, I quietly enjoy the second hand smoke I am still pissed that I am not smoking with you.
6. I find it funny that I'm grateful they raised the taxes on cigarettes, because it was the final push I needed to quit. I was well aware that my smoking was a disgusting, unattractive habit, but I loved it. I had been wanting to quit for a while, because I was scared of the damage I was doing to my lungs. Once I heard of the tax hike, I knew I could no longer justify spending my hard-earned money on such a harmful habit. Thank you Crook County!