I know it's not right to BUTT into other people's lives.
I can't understand why they do the things they do.
I don't know their situation.
I do know there must be a better way to deal with it.
Butt then again, they do too!
Everyone does nowadays.
I had my furnace cleaned and serviced yesterday.
As I ushered the nice young man to the basement
where the furnace is located, it was VERY evident.
He is a smoker.
As we chatted for a few minutes, it took almost all of
my willpower not to say something to him.
As I am waiting at a traffic light
and glance to the driver in the car next to me
and see a young girl with her window
cracked open so she can blow the smoke outside,
I want to get out of the car and shake her.
But I don't.
When I go to a doctor's appointment near the hospital
and I see nurses and doctors standing outside smoking,
I want to get out of the car and ask them why.
I feel angry inside, but I drive by.
I'm not angry at them.
I know they would rather not be smoking.
They are nice people.
They are smart people.
They are caring people.
I'm not judging them.
They can't stop.
It's just that the sight or smell of cigarettes immediately
bring me to places I don't like to be:
- Where I am a little girl riding in a car with my
turtleneck pulled over my nose, trying not to
gag on my parents' cigarette smoke.
- Where I tell my parents the only thing I want for
my birthday is for them to quit smoking.
- Where Mom repeatedly tries to quit smoking
but is never successful.
- Where I get a call from my father telling me
Mom went to the hospital last night because
she couldn't get her breath.
- When Mom in NOW able to quit smoking.
And so is my Dad. A little too late.
- When Mom can't go anywhere without her oxygen.
- When Mom dies from throat cancer at the young
age of 78.
- When Dad has a stroke and dies less than 2 years later.
- When I would really like to share something with my Mom
and Dad and I remember they're gone.
When I see these young, healthy people smoking,
I want to ask them:
If, in the next moment, you couldn't take another breath
without an oxygen tube attached to your face,
would you be able to quit?
If so, why not just do it now?
No ifs, ands, or butts.
Your kids and future grand-kids would thank you for it.
I can't understand why they do the things they do.
I don't know their situation.
I do know there must be a better way to deal with it.
Butt then again, they do too!
Everyone does nowadays.
I had my furnace cleaned and serviced yesterday.
As I ushered the nice young man to the basement
where the furnace is located, it was VERY evident.
He is a smoker.
As we chatted for a few minutes, it took almost all of
my willpower not to say something to him.
As I am waiting at a traffic light
and glance to the driver in the car next to me
and see a young girl with her window
cracked open so she can blow the smoke outside,
I want to get out of the car and shake her.
But I don't.
When I go to a doctor's appointment near the hospital
and I see nurses and doctors standing outside smoking,
I want to get out of the car and ask them why.
I feel angry inside, but I drive by.
I'm not angry at them.
I know they would rather not be smoking.
They are nice people.
They are smart people.
They are caring people.
I'm not judging them.
They can't stop.
It's just that the sight or smell of cigarettes immediately
bring me to places I don't like to be:
- Where I am a little girl riding in a car with my
turtleneck pulled over my nose, trying not to
gag on my parents' cigarette smoke.
- Where I tell my parents the only thing I want for
my birthday is for them to quit smoking.
- Where Mom repeatedly tries to quit smoking
but is never successful.
- Where I get a call from my father telling me
Mom went to the hospital last night because
she couldn't get her breath.
- When Mom in NOW able to quit smoking.
And so is my Dad. A little too late.
- When Mom can't go anywhere without her oxygen.
- When Mom dies from throat cancer at the young
age of 78.
- When Dad has a stroke and dies less than 2 years later.
- When I would really like to share something with my Mom
and Dad and I remember they're gone.
When I see these young, healthy people smoking,
I want to ask them:
If, in the next moment, you couldn't take another breath
without an oxygen tube attached to your face,
would you be able to quit?
If so, why not just do it now?
No ifs, ands, or butts.
Your kids and future grand-kids would thank you for it.
