Your Smoking Affects Me Too

I am not a smoker. Never was and never will be. The smell disgusts me. It makes me nauseas. It gives me headaches. It makes you age faster and your teeth yellow. It can cause cancer and other health problems. I do not think it looks cool. I think it is far from cool. Therefore, really, I don't see any reason to smoke, but different things appeal to different people.

We know the dangers of smoking. We know it causes aging and yellow teeth, cancer and heart related problems too. It can lead to death. These dangers are made known to the public; there is even a warning on the box. So, honestly, I have to say either people don't care about their lives or they aren't very smart. I am not trying to insult people by this, but smoking is dangerous to those who smoke and those who are around smokers; it's a fact! Why do it? Yes, it is addicting but you can quit. There are many ways to stop smoking, to quit. There are patches and gum, quitting cold turkey and many other methods. So, there is really no excuse not to do it. You can live longer if you quit.

I am sure most people know about Facebook. I was checking it out one day and found a group called "You were sexy until I saw that cigarette in your hand." That is exactly how I feel. Smoking is a big turn off for me. But as I was checking out this group people were posting comments about how the people in the group are judging them because of smoking, etc., etc. I found this a little outrageous, and I still do. I don't think people are necessarily judging in this group; it is their preference, what they find attractive, and it's a place for people who are against smoking to talk to others about it. People are attracted to different things. I do not find smoking sexy for many reasons. First, the smell makes me feel sick. Why would I want to feel sick? Second, if people smoke and know the dangers of it how much do they really care about themselves? That's a turn off for me too. I think it is very important for people to care about themselves. Third, smoking can be just as harmful to those around the smoker - second hand smoke. I do not want jeopardize my health. Just because I find smoking unattractive and not sexy does not mean I am judging someone. It just means that I do not find that attractive. We are all attracted to certain things and not other things.

Second hand smoke is a big issue for me. It can be just as dangerous as smoking. Why would I want to put myself at that kind of risk? Why would I wan to expose myself to those kinds of dangers? I do not want to get cancer, or have lung and heart problems, especially if I can help prevent it. Sometimes I do not think people realize that smoking does not only affect you, but everyone around you too. People's actions can affect others. Say you have little kids and you smoke, just imagine the damage that is being done to them; it will affect them almost the same way it affects the smoker. An innocent child, who did not decide to smoke, will have to live the rest of their life suffering the side effects of smoking even if they made the choice not to smoke. It is sad to think about that, since smoking can cause serious health problem and parents want the best for the children, yet they could be the ones harming them. Secondhand smoke can also be a problem for people who already have medical issues, like respiratory problems and heart problems.

What about the money spent on cigarettes? Cigarettes aren't exactly cheap. Some people can go through a pack or two a day, maybe more, who knows. That is a lot of money that can be saved up over one year. Money spend on cigarettes is money that could go to paying the bills, buying food, paying off a mortgage, or even money towards a vacation instead. Even smoking a few cigarettes a day, that is still quite a bit of money spent over a year. The money could go towards something better.

I think there needs to be more places that have smoking-free restaurants and smoking-free areas, because I don't want secondhand smoke, and I know I'm not the only one. For restaurants, I think there needs to be completely separate rooms if there is a smoking zone, not just one end of the room or small divider. Preferably, though, I would prefer no smoking in restaurants at all. None. It kills appetite. Plus, you can't taste as well with that smell lingering around. Why go to a restaurant, if you can't fully enjoy the food? Why go to a restaurant and smoke, and not only ruin your enjoyment of the food, but other people around you who do not smoke? I do not want to have health problems because someone else is smoking. And how about when someone is smoking right outside the entrance to a building? People have to walk through the smoke to get in the building, and some of it gets in the building. Why should none smokers have to walk through that? I don't want to. I don't want to smell like smoke the rest of the day. I don't want to have a headache or feel sick because I didn't have a choice but to walk through the smoke. If there are designated smoking areas, or something saying if you are going to smoke you have to do it so far away from the entrance, it would be much better for those of us who do not like cigarette smoke; it would help prevent us from suffering any of the effects of secondhand smoking.

I want to breathe clean air. I don't want to suffer the effects of secondhand smoke.

The best thing for smokers is to quit. It will make you healthier and everyone else too. However, if smokers still choose to continue smoking, please be more considerate of those of us who do not.