Wow. This is absolutely great to read about how many non-smokers there are taking charge and getting their health back. I think that if there were one thing I had power to change in this world it would be to somehow get my mother to quit before it kills her. She has been a "closet" smoker for over 30 years now and confronting her only makes her resentful and angry--although I do it anyway since "resentful and angry" is still a better set-up than "dead." What makes this so difficult is the fact that my father-in-law was diagnosed with advanced emphysema after years of chain-smoking and now it's easy to envision my mom in the same situation: hooked to plastic tubing and oxygen 24/7 and fighting for every breath. She has heard my stories about the things my FIL has to go through ...how even a simple cold could kill him.
What does it take? Now when I see someone smoking, I just want to rip it out of their mouths and stomp it. I don't hate the smoker, I hate the cigarrette themselves.

These stories are a real source of encouragement.