With Mayo Clinic behavioral counselor Jennifer A. Kern, M.S., C.T.T.S.

Hallmark season returns. It's that time of year when we start to turn our attention to the hype of the holidays. In the United States, we kick off the season with a couple of distinctive fetes that are unique to our country. The 3rd and 4th Thursdays of November we celebrate the Great American Smokeout and our Thanksgiving holiday, respectively. These are days worth recognizing and honoring — particularly for those of us working in, or coping with, tobacco dependence.

The Great American Smokeout, established by the American Cancer Society, was first observed in 1977. It is a day that many smokers use to kick off their quit and say "no thanks" to tobacco. Being that Thanksgiving closely follows, I think it's particularly important and meaningful to then shift focus to giving "thanks" for all the benefits and blessings of being smoke-free.

Some of the health benefits seen within the first week of being quit that your body may be grateful for include:

• Blood pressure and heart rate drop to normal
• Levels of oxygen in the blood increase
• The chance of a heart attack decreases
• Sense of taste and smell improve (just in time for turkey!)

Other things you might be thankful for are:

• Nice smelling hair, clothing, and breath
• Having more time to spend with family and loved ones
• Breathing better and feeling more energetic
• Saving money, especially during the holiday season

What are some of the other blessings in your life that could be a result of quitting smoking?

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