Many times I tried quitting smoking on will power. I simply could not wrap my mind around the notion why this alone wasn't enough to keep me off cigarettes. Raised to believe I could do anything, both my parents were very successful professionals who never smoked. They drove my brothers and me to compete with one another, as well as with peers academically and, even more so, athletically.
To them, and the rest of the family, smokers were losers endangering their health and lives for the sake of a moment's urge and instant gratification. It was never an issue of addiction to smoking, since they saw it all pretty much as black and white. On one hand, there were those with the will to live and accomplish, who didn't smoke, let alone put others at grave health risk by their lethal second hand smoke. And on the other, there were the ones who lived on impulse, squandering away their lives on one distraction after another, of which nicotine burning tobacco abuse merely numbered one among many other vices.
I smoked my first cigarette on the eve of returning victorious from my first game away from home. I inhaled deep on that first attempt. Burning smoke proved to be the worst, most disgusting taste I'd ever experienced; the smell of tobacco smoke turned my stomach. I coughed and hacked so violently face burning tomato red, I turned to my two teammates and cohorts, both almost hitting the ground laughing, "wow this ain't bad," my tears, mucous and saliva amply shooting in every direction. I was 12 years old.Mayoclinic.com: Teen Smoking: 10 Ways to Help Teens Stay Smoke-free
To them, and the rest of the family, smokers were losers endangering their health and lives for the sake of a moment's urge and instant gratification. It was never an issue of addiction to smoking, since they saw it all pretty much as black and white. On one hand, there were those with the will to live and accomplish, who didn't smoke, let alone put others at grave health risk by their lethal second hand smoke. And on the other, there were the ones who lived on impulse, squandering away their lives on one distraction after another, of which nicotine burning tobacco abuse merely numbered one among many other vices.
I smoked my first cigarette on the eve of returning victorious from my first game away from home. I inhaled deep on that first attempt. Burning smoke proved to be the worst, most disgusting taste I'd ever experienced; the smell of tobacco smoke turned my stomach. I coughed and hacked so violently face burning tomato red, I turned to my two teammates and cohorts, both almost hitting the ground laughing, "wow this ain't bad," my tears, mucous and saliva amply shooting in every direction. I was 12 years old.Mayoclinic.com: Teen Smoking: 10 Ways to Help Teens Stay Smoke-free
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