My best friend was a fag! (Smoking in general)

Member Name: pjs21

Product:	Smoking in general
Date:	10/10/01 (89 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Comforting, Consoling

Disadvantages: Back Stabbing

My best friend and me have shared many happy moments. They've always been there for me though the bad patches, comforting me and consoling me. They've met my friends and my family and have been to all of the big gatherings and celebrations for 13 years.

Then, almost two weeks ago and without any warning, I woke up knowing that I didn't want to see them any more. They took it very badly.

All I had now were memories.

The fun nights we had in the pubs and clubs. Those moments when they helped me whilst studying for my final exams at college, calming me down before performing to a panel of judges.

That was it, no more special times to be had.

And now I am in mourning for my best friends. I miss them dearly though they cost me dearly.

I was sixteen when I first started smoking. It was when I started college. I have no idea why I started now. I don?t think it was peer pressure, I think I was just curious. I like it. Not many people can say that, but I did. And I've enjoyed smoking for 13 years, and probably would continue to enjoy it for longer if I wanted to.

So why now, all of a sudden and out of the blue did I decide to stop?

You know what, I have no idea. I just didn't feel like it any more. Maybe we are heading in separate directions and deep down I knew that.

People who don't smoke, or have never smoked, will never understand what I'm talking about here. Smoking to me has been a major part of my adult life, and now that I have stopped I really do miss it.

I have had sleepless nights, which were very bad at the beginning, I've been emotional, and above all I feel lost. Smoking was part of me for so long and now it isn't, and I don't feel like the same person anymore. Isn't that ridiculous.

I had a drag on a cigarette this morning, not because I wanted it, not because I was desperate, I just wanted a bit of i
t back again. Guess what? It disgusted me. It tasted terrible and I didn't like it.

That's a good thing. Right?

Isn't it ridiculous how the body and mind work that something that costs so much, and may or may not kill you in the end, is longed for by you. Is craved. And when stopped, is missed.

I associate smoking with so much in my life and with so many good times that it feels strange right now to think that I won?t do it again. Part of me is ready to accept that, another part is scared to let go of it.

In the end it is the decision of the individual to decide whether or not they want to smoke, and if they do, whether or not they decide to stop. We have no right to tell others what to do. I have no intention of becoming a self-righteous ex-smoker. I will look at smokers and remember how it feels to take that first drag on a new cigarette, the pleasure of the smoke, and the satisfaction of stubbing it out. I will do all of this and remember the good times me and my ciggies had at all those parties, at all those dinner parties and all those nights out drinking at the local. And I shall remember the times it helped get over the death of a relative, comforted me through times of difficulty, saw me through my divorce.

And I shall say, thank god I'm not smoking that little white stick that troubled my asthma, gave me a hacking cough, gave me chest pains and stopped me from being able to run more that 10 yards without losing breath and collapsing. Some friend you turned out to be. Nice on the outside, but stabbing me in the back when I wasn't looking!

It was time for us to stop seeing each other, but for those whose relationship carries on and still runs strong, best wishes to you.


My ending thought on smoking is this:

For those who argue that the government should do more to encourage people to give up - why would they? For the same reason that Publi
c Transport will never be top notch. Fags and Petrol bring in a huge amount of money in taxes, if we all stopped smoking, or we all stopped using our cars and buying petrol, the amount od money they'd lose would be astronomical.

Summary: