When our parents were young, people could buy cigarettes and smoke pretty much anywhere — even in hospitals! Ads for cigarettes were all over the place...Comparing with us today, we're more aware about how bad smoking is for our health. Smoking is restricted or banned in a lot of public places and cigarette companies are no longer allowed to advertise on TV, radio, and in many magazines.
Almost everyone knows that smoking causes cancer, emphysema, and heart disease; that it can shorten your life by 10 years or more! Not to mention that the habit can cost a smoker thousands of dollars a year! So why would people still light up? They love to burn their lives off? They want to test out their healthy lungs? I really dont understand!
I may get quite emotional when I continue writing this, so please bare with me...
I recently found out that my dad is smoking AGAIN. He was a smoker since I was very young but he quitted many years ago since he had serious hypertension, high cholesterol, minor altery blockage and single kidney failure problem. Many studies detail the evidence that cigarette smoking is the major cause of coronary heart disease, which leads to heart attack. So we constantly remind him that his move to quit smoking was the right thing to do.When I accidentally saw him holding the cigarette smoking away in the coffee shop, I almost fainted and I didnt know what to say! Should I confront & scold him for not loving himself & not loving us coz he will make us worry? Should I keep quiet & not do anything about it since it's his choice to burn out his lungs & lead more health issues to himself? I was definitely upset about this, but not sure what I should do or what can I do....
On another note, I have a loving, caring & romantic bro-in-law who loves his wife (my sister) and his 2 pretty daughters a lot. He's a business man and made quite alot of money (I guess), so they are staying in bungalow house and sis is a housewife. Everyone thinks that he's the best husband & best daddy, but I really dont think so. Why? Simple - He's a heavy smoker!
See...he's the only son in the family and sis is a housewife. His 2 daughters are 14 & 10 years old this year which I think they are still pretty young. So what happens if, one day bro got a heart attack or stroke? Who's gonna take care of the family finance? Who's gonna provide TLC (tender-loving-care) to sis & their 2 girls?
Well, many smokers will give all kinds of excuses for staying in the habit - Stressed out with work, it's already a habit, it's cool, whatever...But have these smokers thought of their family & their love ones?Who doesnt know smoking is bad for health? But why these smokers are still giving those excuses? Why would they treat their lungs as the ashtray?
15 comments:
Some people take to smoking like some others take to pornography; they just can't give it up. And it all began with one stick; just one stick.
In my opinion its becos they get a sense of relief from smoking. Some of them may have thought of quitting but are not strong enuf to do so by themselves. Love ones have to play a part as to constantly remind them. Not only for them but for the ppl around. Second hand somke is more harmful.
One way to help both ur father and bro-in-law would be to challenge them to quit together. But I believe for a business man like your bro-in-law it would be harder. Socializing with client normally have drinking and smoking.
i dont think smoking is a sin. people can smoke all they want but pls take into consideration few things
- their family
- the people around them
true, you smoke...maybe syok...but what if u get lung cancer and die one day leaving your family behind?
worse...normally first hand smoker wont die so soon. 2nd hand smoker will. the toxic waste that smokers gave away to the people around them......those will actually shorten other people's life...their family...their friends.
tats why i dont mind if my friends smoke. i don mind if they smoke in front of me provided i dont get their toxic waste. if they don respect, sorry la, i'm not going to sit with them again in the future.
Ok, I confess. I used to be a light smoker for the passed few years. I quit it when I realized my skin became not nice if I continue to smoke.
I proud of myself to be determined in this case~ muahahahh~~
Great post. I can't stand smokey bars.
fishtail - but i still believe in one thing : when there's a will, there's a way!
dio - Yet to speak to my dad for him to quit smoking coz until now i din know how to start the conversation with him about this. As for my BIL, words from my sis oso cant convince him, u think i can? I tried nagging on him each time we meet up, but he just wont bother listening to me...
alvin - my dad smokes 'secretly' now, and my BIL doesnt smoke infront of his kids...I just dont understand why would he continue to smoke if he loves the family so much...
sean - congrats! u've done the best thing for quitting it!
kelly - thx for dropping by...I dont mind if my friends are smokers, but I still do my part of reminding them that smoking is bad for their health...
sharlydia, i am glad that i managed to quit smoking after many years.. kiasi.. hahaha
Smoking is a filthy habit that really stinks. I don't think people should be allowed to smoke anywhere in public, not even outside, because it's inconsiderate to non-smokers who have to breathe that garbage in and have their own lungs effected.
I know it's hard, but you need to tell your dad how you feel about him smoking again. Gently tell him that you and the rest of your family love him and want him to stay on this earth as long as possible. He listened to you once, I'm sure he'll listen again once he realizes what a big mistake he's making, and how much it hurts his family to see him smoking again.
daniel - u made the right choice dude! Congrats!
sakura - thx for the advice. but dad doesnt know that we already found out that he's back to smoking, so i really dont know how to crack the conversation with him on this matter...
i guess it is a habit... that is difficult but yet easy to beat. i am sure u have read it in my blog before... one just need to find something worth giving up smoking for.
zewt - yes read that post b4...but still dont know what to do. I thought to my BIL who loves his family so much, family will be somehting worth giving up smoking for, but i was wrong i guess...As for my dad, who always wanted to enjoy life & not do anything, I thought his own health is something worth giving up smoking for, but i guess i was wrong too!
You'll have to tell him sooner or later, right? It's always better to do it sooner than later. It'll be hard, but worth it. It's such an important matter, and it really needs to be discussed. Maybe he won't react as bad as you thought. He'll realize that you just care about him and want him to preserve his health.
sakura - thx for the advice, but my dad is really not as thoughtful as u think he is...anyhow will still speak to him.
In December 2004, a study was published by the Nicotine & Tobacco Research Journal that alarmed physicians. This U.S survey suggests that despite years of consumer education in print and TV ads and in-office patient education, the great majority of smokers are misinformed about the health risks of their habit. http://www.chantixhome.com/
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