SMOKERS PARADISE or SUCKERS HELL

Category: Repeat 

Inspiration 4 this post came from my hangout in "Smokers Paradise" corner few months ago - d only place @ d airport where u can light a cigarette. Even if it looked nice & tidy from d outside, d real picture was sth totally different - it's actually smelly glass box full of grey ppl who cough like crazy & look like every inhaled smoke drains a bit of happiness from them. Entering it was d final wake up call I was waiting 4 & I said 2 myself - "u're better than that". 

We all know cigarettes r bad 4 us. Most of us know some studies suggest every smoked cigarette decreases your life expectancy for 7 minutes, but few of us r aware that they actually contain more than 200 scientifically proven toxins. Among them r arsenic (AKA rat poison) or urea, which r added 2 enhance "d captivating flavor" smokers tend 2 love so much.

  

Regardless of d obvious facts (btw, both actors from famous Marlboro commercials actually died from lung cancer), many ppl still find creative excuses 2 continue smoking. Here r few common 1s, together with  some 1st hand eye openers:

• We all die of sth & smoking kills d slowest - Yap, silent killers usually cause agonizing ends.
• Every1 around me smokes - take a better look.  Actually, in d developed world most of d smokers who rigidly stick 2 their "passion" r: homeless or hopeless ppl who have nothing 2 lose,  uneducated ppl or various wannabees. With all d restrictions  & social stigma today smokers r literally considered "3rd world" citizens. Clever ones decided 2 quit & real friends will encourage u 2 do so.  
• I'm not addicted, I can stop whenever I want - Of course u can! U also never tough of begging or stealing a cigarette from some1 when u ended up without, or tough of lighting d 1 that just fell on d floor... of course NOT!
• In general I live & eat healthy so I can afford 2 smoke - smoking will actually destroy most of d vitamins & minerals u put in your system, will fill your body with toxins, slowly depriving it of oxygen. 
• It makes me feel cool / grown-up / thin - in fact it will make u feel & look like shit. Especially after having a pack of cigarettes or more on a night out, next day u'll feel restless or full of disgust. Lovely!
• I'll gain weight if I stop - since smoking speeds up your metabolism it might contribute 2 keeping u thin, but in any case it won't keep u in shape. It will drastically decrease your lung capacity & stamina. U'll gain weight only if u replace physical addiction with eating junk food 4 example, but if u switch it with other healthy habits u shouldn't gain much extra weight. 
• Quitting is hard & long process - it is a process but it's not that long - after only a week all d nicotine should be washed out of your system and your brain will no longer crave 4 it. Physical addiction takes longer 2 overcome.
• How will I enjoy my daily rituals or night-outs without a smoke - u'll simply change your routine 4 d better. Shortly after quitting your be able 2 taste new flavors much better again, experience new odors etc. U might also cut down your coffee intake & replace it with sth healthier.  And 4 d night outs when most ex-smokers feel d urge 2 smoke, u might try 2 smoke a cigar, cigarillo or an electric cigarette - it's really a different story since associated risk & smoking frequency is incomparably lower. 

                   

After several unsuccessful attempt of quitting in d past years & only 3 months after my last & final goodbye 2 cigarettes, it might seem hypocritical from my side 2 write things like this. Never say never, but I'm quite confident that a "switch" in my head that recently occurred will prevent me from reviving such awful habit once again. Especially when I remind myself of all d benefits & how good it feels 2 breathe freely again. 

So, next time u plan 2 light another cigarette think 4 yourself if it helps u create a Smokers Paradise or Suckers Hell of your life & think again.