Three to Four weeks smoke free- A mix of progress and challenges 

It's been about three to four weeks since I stopped smoking, and I've noticed that I think about cigarettes less and less. There are moments of realization where it's noon, and I catch myself feeling proud because i haven't thought about smoking all morning. Ironically, the pride is often followed by disappointment because now, I am thinking about it again.

One habit I've noticed fading in the automatic reach for my pocket to grab a cigarette pack after work. That muscle memory is slowly disappearing, and with it, i feel a small sense of freedom as James Clear puts it in Atomic Habits: "you do not rise to the level of your goals. You fall to the level of your systems," this has really resonated with me because it's not just about quitting smoking, it's about crating a new system and set of habits to replace the old ones.

My friends at work still tease me about quitting, calling me "lame", but i honestly dont mind. A big plus is that i no longer smell like smoke. Which feels like a small but significant victory.

what's even more surprising is how much better i feel physically. It's almost crazy to think about how quickly me body has responded. Stopping smoking has triggered this domino effect where i want to make healthier choices overall. I've been going to Pilates, the gym, and walking more. I've also started eating healthier (my all or nothing personality coming through again). 

That said, I'm nervous about next week. My sister is visiting, and she's a smoker. We'll be going out a lot, and I know it will be hard to stay strong in that environment. Still, I'm reminding myself of how far I've come and how much better i feel already. I don't want to go backward, no matter how tempting it might be.