I am actually astonished when I look around and see young people -- women, but also men -- smoking today. The information about smoking has been around their entire lives and yet it clearly is still attractive to them to try -- and once they try, many are addicted. I will be very dedicated to helping with the Women Who Kick Butt! campaign.
For a while now, I have done something when I see a person who is alone and smoking: No matter who they are, I will walk up to them and say, "You are way too (pretty if they are female, handsome if they are male) to be smoking." And then I'll give them a genuine smile and walk away. In my imagination, having someone say something to them so positive might get them to think twice and to quit. Is it shallow? No, I don't think so. I think it works better than a frown or a lecture. If most people who smoke want to quit, I want to be a friendly nudge.
My dad was way too handsome to smoke, but he did. And he died. He was just 60. He missed seeing me, my sister and my brother get married, and he missed getting to meet his (now seven) grandchildren, including the one named for him. He couldn't watch his beloved Denver Broncos win the Super Bowl for the first time with his family, because he was gone. I miss his voice. I miss him. I know that if he had it to do over again, he would tell anyone who would listen that the cigarettes themselves weren't worth what they caused him to miss.
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Michelle, count me in.
I am actually astonished when I look around and see young people -- women, but also men -- smoking today. The information about smoking has been around their entire lives and yet it clearly is still attractive to them to try -- and once they try, many are addicted. I will be very dedicated to helping with the Women Who Kick Butt! campaign.
For a while now, I have done something when I see a person who is alone and smoking: No matter who they are, I will walk up to them and say, "You are way too (pretty if they are female, handsome if they are male) to be smoking." And then I'll give them a genuine smile and walk away. In my imagination, having someone say something to them so positive might get them to think twice and to quit. Is it shallow? No, I don't think so. I think it works better than a frown or a lecture. If most people who smoke want to quit, I want to be a friendly nudge.
My dad was way too handsome to smoke, but he did. And he died. He was just 60. He missed seeing me, my sister and my brother get married, and he missed getting to meet his (now seven) grandchildren, including the one named for him. He couldn't watch his beloved Denver Broncos win the Super Bowl for the first time with his family, because he was gone. I miss his voice. I miss him. I know that if he had it to do over again, he would tell anyone who would listen that the cigarettes themselves weren't worth what they caused him to miss.
So count me in, Michelle. And let's kick butt.
January 27, 2009 - 10:50amThis Comment
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