Cigarettes are a big "f*ck you" to the world. To smoke is to wordlessly show others that you wish to take a dump upon your own existence. Like, "I didn't ask for this lifetime of slavery to both time & money so you can take this life and shove it up your ass" sort of thing.

However,

To...

take deep breaths

love food

grow more intimate

be vulnerable

acknowledge grief

Is to...

Embrace life.

And for those of us out there/here that don't find the human experience as fantastic as others find it, it can be a rough transition.

Death? I look forward to existing as pure energy and spirit. In the meantime I don't want to feel sick in my physical body. I'm stuck in this thing any way so I should probably make it less painful (and smelly).

In a few hours I will have achieved 5 full days without smokes or nicotine. Aside from a couple anxiety attacks, it has been smooth sailing. As is often said, not smoking is the natural way, after all.