Stomp out the cigarette today for you, your kids, and at the very least for you wallet.

I've said this before, but it always bears repeating, I grew up with both my parents being heavy smokers, and I hated every moment of it.

Today is a day for cigarette smokers to strongly concentrate on kicking their addiction to tobacco. Time to focus on kicking the habit. First started in 1996, Kick Butts Day is organized by the non-profit Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids.

While we all know that every day, if you're a smoker you should work to stop smoking, but kickbuttsday.org uses March 15 every year as a day to help people all across the country, with an emphasis on young people, find ways to lead tobacco-free lives.

Let's face it, a lot of kids pick up the habit because of adults. I'm not trying to preach, I saw how hard it was for my parents to quit, and even though it wasn't the heavy smoking that ultimately caused my parent's deaths, I know it certainly contributed to it. I grew up hating the smell of cigarette smoke and consider myself incredibly lucky that I never was sucked into the habit. Until smoking was banned in places like music venues, clubs, and bars, I would take a shower before going to bed after being out. The smell would keep me awake if I didn't.

This is a grass roots movement that puts it's focus on young people advocating for world tobacco control and kickbutts.org has plenty of tools and resources that encourage them.

With that in mind, if you smoke, please try very hard to put that butt out now. Do it for you, do it for your kids. Don't let big tobacco companies win.

Listen to Pam Brooks weekdays from 10-3PM on 95.1 FM, online at i95rock.com/listen-live/ or by downloading the radioPup app for your mobile device.

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