As Ken Wassum discussed recently in his post, "Want to be a Nonsmoker in 2010? Make Plans to Quit Now," the New Year is the most popular time to try to quit tobacco. With just a little less than two weeks to go, many smokers are weighing their options, contemplating what life would be like without tobacco, and thinking about the reasons they may choose to quit tobacco for good. If you are a tobacco user, you may have loved ones who have requested that you quit -- for your health and for theirs. Recently John Mellencamp's son started a campaign on Facebook to try to convince his dad to quit smoking. It's a heartfelt request, and a noble cause, but is a request from a loved one enough to make a quit stick?

It really depends on the individual. In order to successfully quit tobacco, it's important to find a reason to quit that that strongly, personally resonates with you. Quitting tobacco can be difficult, and having a personalized goal of better health, better finances, or better relationships with others will help you maintain focus and give you meaning during the quitting process. 

What is your reason? If you're uncertain, it may help to ask yourself the following questions:

• What are some things I used to do that I no longer can because I have to make sure my smokes are with me?
• What kind of damage am I doing to my body? How will this affect me in 10 years?
• How much money do I spend on tobacco products each year? What else could I be doing with that money?
• When I quit smoking, how will my loved ones benefit?

Of course, these are just a few questions to help get you started. If you are interested in discovering other great reasons to quit, consider downloading our brand new 2010 Reasons to Quit Facebook application. With it you can read about why others have decided to become tobacco free and you can also let the world know about your own reason for quitting. And while you're on Facebook, don't forget to become a fan of the Quit For Life Program! Building a community full of support is one of the most helpful steps in the process of quitting for life.

Best of luck to you in the New Year! And remember, we are here for you and ready to give you the support you need, when you need it.