The importance of quitting smoking for our health, beauty and life itself can’t be overestimated. Other than sun damage, smoking is the greatest cause of skin breakdown in most women’s lives. Your doctor’s probably already told you about the more serious medical concerns, as did mine. So, I’m extremely grateful to everyone who’s been supportive of ending tobacco’s stinky presence in my life, especially my partner who never let me smoke inside or in her car, even once, my children who’ve not only lectured me intelligently but give me two great reasons to stay alive, and my dog, who’s just awesome, gives me another great reason to stay alive, but really kind of liked it when I went outside to smoke because he went out with me. But don’t worry that I’m neglecting him, I still go out, only now I practice my tree pose, downward facing dog, or t’ai chi “hands like clouds.” Putting more time and energy into my yoga practice, adding more bhakti and japa yoga to the hatha and dhyana I’ve practiced since the 80s, somehow helped turn the key for me; I hope anyone who’s reading this who’s still smoking finds something that will help them turn that key for themselves this year. You queer girls are all just so amazing beautiful awesome cute delicious funny surprising splendid I want you to see all that in yourselves, and do everything possible to celebrate, support, affirm, nourish and delight in who you are!