Smoking… Why Do It?

Recently, the topic of smoking has sprung up far too often… I personally HATE the habit of smoking (Sorry to the people who do smoke)… But it really does upset, or is it annoy me, when they just don’t understand the consequences… Is it becos they don’t know the real facts? Is it becos they are addicted? Is it becos they care only for the enjoyment of now?

I may not understand how they feel.. I certainly don’t understand when they describe the feeling of “relaxation” or “high” after a ciggy! All I know are facts… and they are hard and supported facts!

I used to think I could “force” someone to give up smoking… But I realise that only themselves can do it, and they must want to do it… You can scare them as much as possible, you can threaten them with death, you can show them a gross picture of the after-effects of smoking.. But all this is useless, when they don’t listen, or is even half-hearted….

I must say, it’s sad to see customers come into where I work, who have been smoking (maybe for only a short period of time, or for years) and suddenly be told that they have cancer or some other disease caused by smoking… And then they start to feel sorry for themselves! I am angry with these people because they are so “selfish”…. I feel sorry for their loved ones – who have to look after, worry and care for those who had the bad news and suddenly have their world turned upside down, if the unfortunate event of death happens….

For over 30 years, my Dad used to smoke more than 20 cigarretes a day… None of us in the family smoked… He was selfish and smoked in the house (so technically, we, as a family, were inhaling the 2nd hand smoke)… No matter, how we persuaded him to give up, he never listened… He had 2 scares which could have taken his life, with my eldest sister working in a top London hospital in the research section to help treat lung cancer and all of us nagging him… he quitted!

I am thankful that he has quit, but then I think to myself… Why is it only when your life is in danger, do you then think about how important your own life and loved ones are… and then do something about it?

This is all I can say and will say to anybody who chooses to continue or start smoking….

The facts are there.. read them and when I say read them – take it in… Then, if you choose to continue – pls take the responsibility to accept all the consequences and don’t ever feel sad about it nor complain… Also, harm only yourself – if you want to smoke – smoke somewhere else cos passive smoking kills those around you…. Just remember, whilst you’re having a “good time” puffing away at each ciggy – your family may be the one to suffer in the future….

Happy reading:
-Patient information leaflet on smoking
-Quit4life