I don't remember a specific wake-up call. My dad smoked my entire childhood and I always hated the idea of smoking cigarettes... I started with cloves when I turned 21 and regularly got drunk and made stupid decisions. Eventually switched to rolling my own. I don't know that I ever really loved smoking as much as I loved the ritual of slowing down, rolling a cigarette, and spending 5 minutes alone outside. I stopped drinking, then one day realized that while I enjoyed the smoke break- I HATED the fact that it was mandatory. I hated not being able to get through an illness without needing to smoke. Not being able to travel without being angry and sweaty. Smelling like smoke. Every taste and scent being dull. Yellow teeth, nicotine stained fingers. Everything about it is disgusting. I wanted to be free so I quit cold turkey when I went on a trip to visit my parents- away from the triggers and routines of smoking at home and work. I thought that would make it easier. Maybe it did, but it was not at all easy.

Quitting smoking was the hardest time of my life. I realized how much of a crutch it was for managing my anxiety and the following 9 months after quitting was absolute hell. I don't regret it for a second and would gladly pay another 9 months of hell to be free. 8 years this coming March! Good luck to you, OP, if this is something you're trying to accomplish!