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How I Became a Smoker
With abounding warnings about the dangers of cigarettes, why would anyone start smoking in the first place?
I remember that as a kid, I just couldn’t comprehend how there could still be new smokers.
I understand that for some generations older than myself, the dangers of cigarettes weren’t quite as well known. But these days, that excuse no longer works.
The dangers of cigarettes had already been well-documented by the time I was born. There was no question that smoking was directly linked with lung cancer, heart problems, and many other serious diseases.
In fact, I’ve even had several close family members die from smoking-related illnesses. The harms of smoking aren’t just some abstract idea to me; they’re real and personal.
Despite all of that, I still somehow managed to become a smoker myself. It’s one of the worst things that I’ve ever done for my health, and one of my few big regrets in life.
Starting last month, I’ve been trying to quit smoking. I’ve been doing well so far, but I’ve been down this path before, and so I’m cautious about my optimism. With that said, I’ve already come a long way since my first week:
