There. I've said it. I've said it before, to many people, but am just going to put it out there here - I just don't "get" the appeal of smoking. I don't understand why people start. I don't understand why they continue. And I mostly don't understand why they don't give up when their health has been jeopardised.
The reason I am now making these statements on a public forum is because my dear old Dad is still sitting up in a hospital ward, waiting for approval to have a triple bypass. He has been smoking for over 55 years. He had a stroke about ten years ago, which obviously wasn't a big enough scare for him to quit - but this week's health problems have him throwing away his tobacco and plastering himself in nicotine patches. But really, isn't it just too late now?
Not only is his heart in dire straights from all the smoking, his kidneys are up shit creek too - which he seems to think is against him being a good candidate for the surgery. Now, obviously I am not in Queensland with him, so getting a clear picture of how things are going is not an easy task. There's only so much the nursing staff can explain over the phone, but the general picture is that they have done all their assessments and sent them to the specialist hospital in the city to await their answer. What happens if they say no?
I was talking to my sister the other day, giving her the run down on where things were at with Dad's condition, when we nearly got in to another philosophical conversation. Only nearly because I was at work, and really couldn't spare the three hours the conversation could have taken! We do like a chat. But basically, the crux of my argument always leads me back to:
Why would you willingly do something to your body that you know will more than likely kill you?
Why? I need people to explain this to me. Yes, I understand it's an addiction. Yes, I understand that kicking a habit is hard work. But why? Why not kick it to the curb?
My sister has been living with half her lung capacity for years now. And I have no doubt that the sorry state of those said lungs will be what takes her from this world. And I don't get it. I hate knowing that she, my brother and my Dad's health has been shot just because of a choice to take up something they KNEW was dangerous. Well, Ok, I'll give my Dad a semi-leave pass because the 50's loved glamorising smoking!
It's not too late. This is my mantra. My Mum gave up smoking years ago and her health has been so much better. My late Nanna gave up at age 80!!!! NEVER. TOO. LATE.
Soooooo......wait a tick whilst I climb down off my soap box.......
Now feel free to bombard me. Tell me WHY? Why do you smoke? Why don't you give up? And if you have given up - what was the catalyst? I really would like to understand!
**** Disclaimer - Ok, so I'm not perfect. I have been known over the years to get wildly drunk and shove a cigarette in my mouth. But I have certainly regretted it every. single. time. Lucky I don't get wildly drunk any more!!
Oh Midge, I completely agree! And yet I was a smoker for years. I was only able to give up because I wanted to have kids and my husband told me he would not have kids with me if I was a smoker. It was very hard to quit. I was only able to stick with it because we moved and no one knew that I was a recent smoker so no one offered me a cigarette. 7 years later I still get cravings and I have no doubt I always will. I'll never have another cigarette though as I know if I have one I'll be hooked again! Evil addictive chemicals! Stay on your soapbox, it's an important point to make!
ReplyDeleteExcellent....climbing back up now! I'm glad your husband gave you the ultimatum :)
DeleteI was in the same situation as you with my dad over 10 years ago. He is miraculously still alive, but at the time I thought he would die in a year or two if he didn't make some changes in his lifestyle. I offered to do *anything* to help him quit smoking and lose weight. I cried and cried when he said he wasn't interested. But then I just told myself that I'd done what I could and he makes his own decisions for himself. I'm not sure how much longer he'll be alive, but he can't even stand by himself anymore, and he's only 62. He smokes and drinks and is extremely overweight, with huge swollen legs and infections that won't heal. I love him, but after that phone call I decided to not interfere anymore. His vices are all addictions and not easily overcome. But if he has no desire to overcome them, then there's nothing another person can do to help. That's just my two cents. One thing I have done is make sure my kids know how gross and disgusting and terrible the smoking habit is. They are very young, but I feel confident that none of them will ever take up the habit. We sneer when we see people smoking and comment audibly how gross it is. Bad manners, perhaps, but I want to make a very clear point to my kids that it's a disgusting habit. I do like those new ads on TV for the anti-smoking campaign and although I'm not sure if it's happened, the hardcore photos on cigarette cartons are a good idea.
ReplyDeleteThanks Jamie Lee.....I hope your Dad hangs in there so you can spend more time with him - in whatever capacity that may be. Must be tough! xx
DeleteI started smoking at school because it was 'cool'. I was 14 and loved smoking from the first puff. By 16 I was on a pack a day with no plans to quit. I tried a few times but never really had the motivation. I quit cold turkey the day I found out I was pregnant. I found it easy because I wanted to give it up. Hubby carried on smoking until about 2 weeks before I was due when I told him enough was enough. He quit the next day, I was so proud of him! I'm the same as Gemma, if I have another cigarette I will be back on a pack of day as I always enjoyed it. But it's not something I will go back to. There are times I want one, but I generally go for a glass of wine or chocolate instead. If I didn't have kids I reckon I would still be a smoker as sad as that sounds!
ReplyDeleteGiving you applause for giving up Jo, and continuing not to take it back up! x
DeleteI started smoking in High School and continued until I knew I was pregnant (way before the Dr could tell me that I was) - my husband still smoked and,of course,I started again when I had finished breast feeding. Then came pregnancy number 2 and the same story. Then they trialled the anti smoking campaign on the local TV - the one where they wring the tar out of the lung- and it only took my child saying "Mummy are you going to die?" for me- I stopped cold turkey. I haven't had a cigarette since 1980 and like you, just don't get it when people still smoke today. (You can have your soap box back now - thanks for sharing!)
ReplyDelete