Saturday, August 07, 2010

Smoking – A message to my little sister.

1) It's not cool if everyone else is doing it. Cos it means you're just like everyone else?

2) It's even less cool if everyone else/your friends are not doing it, and you're the only dumb one to be inhaling smoke/CO2 into your lungs.


3) It takes 15 years for your lungs to get back to the condition it was before you start smoking. FIFTEEN years.


4) If you take up smoking, you WILL get addicted. That's just what nicotine does. Simple fact.


5) It is really pathetic when you're addicted, because then, you are controlled by a stick of dried leaves. That's basically what a cigarette is. A stick of dried leaves.


6) That said, did you realise that smokers always say, "Oh my god, I NEED a cigarette right now..." or "MUST smoke right now...!"? Erm... so you can't even stand not to smoke for a few hours? And a stick of dried leaves controls you? Sounds pathetic to me.


7) Ever noticed that after you smoke, your heart beats much faster? Another simple fact: smoking causes heart disease.


8) Yellow teeth. Can you imagine being embarrassed to smile sometime in the future?


9) You always have to be conscious of your breath, careful not to be talking too close to someone's face. Cos it stinks. And you know it.


10) Your fingers stink. And it's hard to wash off the smell, even when you try to use fragranced hand soaps. If you think about it, your fingers aren't even inhaling the smoke, merely holding the cigarette. Imagine what's in your lungs?


11) You might not realise it, but after a smoke when you walk into a room, EVERYONE else in the room smells your stink.


12) Bad skin. Skin looks dull and lifeless when you smoke.


13) Can't get more obvious when you ask a smoker to run for 10, no, even 5 minutes. Imagine if you need to run for 50 metres just to catch a bus and can't even catch your breath afterwards. Imagine not being able to enjoy the simple joy of exercising.


14) Smoking doesn't release stress. Your heart beats faster after smoking, how does that release stress?


15) Worst is when I see couples smoking. Cause I know they're thinking that just because they both smoke, it's an activity they can share in and thus, be more Acceptable to each other. But if you really love someone, don't you want to spend a longer life with him/her?



I could keep going. And I haven't even gone into the details of the various chemicals you inhale and the list of diseases linked to smoking. I don't have to because if you wanted to find out, you have the internet.


I just want you to know that I do not wish for my little sister to pick up a habit that changes who she really is. Because I believe that people shouldn't grow up to be someone else. But grow up to be better versions of themselves. And you are better than those who succumb to peer pressure/boyfriend pressure in order to fit in.


I have always believed that you are smart beyond your years, with the capacity to think for yourself much better than I did at your age. I still do. And I have absolute confidence in your ability to make the right choice for yourself.



Love
Ko