I started to smoke when I was 15----wanted to "appear" older!!! Other friends I knew smoked so it seemed the thing to do. Then I met my now "other half" who HATED smoking! Thought it looked cheap and implored me to quit. I then balked, dug in my heels and thought "who are YOU to dictate to me what to do!" I then smoked off and on into my mid-30's. I was more of a "situational" smoker but had the habit non-the-less. This was the early '80's when the cigs began to rise in price. Soon my "situations" ceased to be and the prices got higher. It was then I decided I needed to quit. Not so much for the health reasons. I'm so glad I did this. Since I know of a handful of folks who've died from lung cancer and it was a hard death as dying goes.
I will say now, that the 2nd hand smoke is horrible for me (and my dad smoked when I was growing up)...it gags me and makes it hard to breathe! That being said...even passing by a smoker whose body reeks of stale smoke too is sickening! ALL this being said....noone will be convinced by another! ONLY they will be able to convince themselves.
Want to share one more thing! My father in law was a smoker when in his 50's was diagnosed with emphasema. His doctor told him he needed to quit. The man would take his cigs into the bathroom, turn on the fan and puff. He thought he was kidding his family! THEN he "graduated" to needed those "puffer" things to help his breathing, later to an oxygen tank. Soon he couldn't walk 10 steps without stopping and gasping. His final year(s) were spent on the couch, then bed before he died. His final 15 years were horrible for him, his wife and of course his family!!! The hole that was left when he passed couldn't be filled. Just something to think about!!!
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