To all of the non-smokers of the world, I offer you my most sincere apologies. To the former smokers of the world, I thank you for your tolerance.
I quit smoking last summer. I started smoking when I was 17 – my mom was a smoker, my man was a smoker, I was always around the smell. I quit when I was pregnant, I started again later. We always smoked outdoors, so that our kids didn’t bathe in a cloud of stink. We knew it wasn’t good for them. We knew it wasn’t good for us. We just didn’t know how bad it was until our little one kept having sinus infections every Monday after hubby would leave for work. He was still smoking.
See, even though he was smoking outside, it still affected her. He’s quit now, doesn’t smoke around the house at all, but I’m sure in the occasional stressful situation while he’s at work, he’s got them handy. That’s okay, because he’s around other smokers, I’m sure. Chick, on the other hand, still gets yicky sinus infections when she’s around a lot of smoke. We finally connected the dots – her runny nose always started on Friday nights, and was a full blown infection by Monday morning. It went away by Wednesday and was back on Friday night. When he quit smoking, her infections quit, too.
Last weekend, she went to a birthday party. There was a group of smokers. She came home with a sinus infection.
Now that I’ve been a “non smoker” for about a year, I can relate. I cannot believe I was so oblivious to other people as a smoker. I thought I was doing okay, being very conscientious when we were out, around other people, around our children. Oh. my. goodness. I was so wrong.
There is no good place to smoke when you’re a smoker unless you’re in your own home, behind closed doors, around people who are willing to tolerate it for you.
I had no idea. Truly, I had no idea.
- For all the times you were driving behind me, and I had my lit cig hanging out the window on a summer day and you had your window open, too – I apologize. I didn’t know it would make you want to throw up while you were sitting there in your car waiting for the light to change.
- For all the times you were walking past the “smoking section” of anywhere, and I was standing there thinking I was being polite, I’m sorry. I had no idea that the cloud of smoke I exhaled would follow you everywhere, permeate your clothing and make you want to gag.
- For all the times I put my cig out halfway and it laid there burning as you walked past it going into the store or out to your car, I’m sorry. That’s one of the worst smells, and there’s no one around to even blame. Thanks for stepping on it so that other people didn’t have to tolerate it, too.
- For all the times I exposed your children to my toxicity, I apologize. I thought if I stood over on the other side of the yard, or went outside, that they’d be safe from it. I didn’t know that it didn’t matter where you smoked or how far away you thought was safe, it’s never safe. There’s no safe place, I’ve learned, it’s carried through the air and everyone around has to deal with it on their next inhale. It was on my clothing, it was there, and it was disgusting, and I’m sorry.
- For all the times I walked around anywhere with a cig in my hand, thinking I was outside and it would be diluted and blown away in the wind and that I was the only person who could smell it, I apologize. What a misconception.
- For every other time I generally offended your nose and lungs, I am sorry. I can only tell you that I’m getting a dose of my own medicine now, if that gives you any satisfaction. I can smell it a mile away now, it seems, and it’s not a happy smell.
I do know without a doubt that if you see someone lighting up, they don’t know any of this stuff, either. I hope someday they do.
{9 Comments}
Wow Leanne, I had no idea that you were a once smoker. I’m glad you understand. I start coughing when an active smoker comes within 5 feet of me. You’re right, I don’t think a lot of smokers understand but I thought they were just being insensitive. I didn’t think about the fact that their senses (smell mostly) have been dulled by their habit.
My uncle was a chain cigar smoker…it was awful. Every fiber of clothing, my hair, everything, smelled like his smoke. When they mailed something to our house, gave us gifts, that stuff smelled like the smoke. Ugh.
Good for you and hubby that you quit. It’s not only good for your kids, but YOU too. You’re allowing your lungs, heart and senses to heal. You’re lengthening the span of your lives too.
i’ve never smoked, i grew up in a home where my dad smoked. my husband doesn’t smoke and hopefully, none of my kids will smoke. it’s such a filthy habit, i can’t understand why anyone would start in the first place.
it’s such a filthy habit, i can’t understand why anyone would start in the first place
i used to smoke, even though no one in my family does or did…your statement to me suggests the way most non-smokers think…i have not smoked in 6 years, but
it stilll makes me want to defend the “filthy habit” when someone say something like that…I’m not sure exactly why. maybe becuase it is such a judgemental statement, even though it is a bad habit. People start smoking for some really different reasons….and some poeple like myself have such a hook placed around them by those cigarettes! So even though it is a filthy habit….(cringe)…maybe it’s not a nice thing to say to non-smokers, or even smokers…they are people too. :thanku:
Cherrie, with all due respect, this is my blog, and she’s as free to comment and speak her mind as you have – but I will not have anyone attacking anyone else here. Knowing BSTS, she wasn’t speaking to “all non smokers”, she was speaking to me. I appreciate her taking the time to share her history with me. I am not the least bit offended by her opinion of smoking.
Thank you for respecting my space. :cheerful:
((((Leanne))))) You are a class act. It takes alot to admit when something you do is harmful (and though I’ve never smoked, we all have our own bad habits).
I’ve tried to be polite when asking someone to stop smoking around myself or my kids. But it does drive me nuts when someone throws out butts or lights up around us.
I grew up around smokers which always convinced me I’d never smoke (is that weird?) Most of them quit, but my dad has used chewing tobacco forever which worries me 🙁
Thank you for a view from the other side, I never would think that someone wouldn’t realize–I hope it helps me to be more patient and understanding the next time I run into a smoker!
I didn’t know that either!
My husband smokes – I hate it. He keeps saying he’s quitting, but he never does (or tries) and I understand that it’s hard, but I truly hate it. He’s good about smoking outside, but he still smells like it; has made the truck smell like it; etc.. 🙁
{{{Leanne}}}
My mother and father both smoked but I never have. I can’t stand it; the smell, the smoke, what it does to people. But my husband smokes and I stand by his right -and yours if you still smoked- to do it.
It’s harmful, it’s addicting and it’s one of the nastiest things we can do to ourselves… but until it’s outlawed no one should make you feel like crap for doing it. JMO.
It’s very nice of you to say all of this Leanne. Just to add one more thing, it really, really sucks to open up a package of beautiful artwork to find that it reaks of cigarette smoke. I just got one today so it was on my mind. Everything smells of smoke, the papers, the artwork, the wrapping inside the box, all of it.
*hugs*
You are great. I love this post. I am extremely anti-cigarette-smoke. I’m lucky enough that it doesn’t make me physically sick, but just knowing that the smoker is doing damage to their own body and the bodies of their family and friends just, well, infuriates me. And your point that they probably do not know how gross/harmful it really is… I will have to try to keep that in mind the next time I can’t enjoy my meal for the stench.
Anyway… I’ve always wanted to walk over to a smoker in a restaurant and pick my nose and wipe it on their shirt. Just to see what they’d do. :raspberry:
Thank you for sharing your story with us.
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