Smoking Interview I recently Just Did

I thought I would post this questionaire on smoking that I was recently asked to do.  They sent me the questions via email and I responded.  I actually like doing these because it sometimes shatters the mystique that smoking is taboo or some kind of curse. 

Smoking Questionaire

1.When did you start smoking?

I started smoking about 5 years ago.

2.  What was the main motivation for starting?

It's kinda hard to explain, except that I always felt "deep-down" for many years that I wanted to smoke.  It wasn't peer pressure or a "curiosity."  It was a desire to do it that I didn't want to avoid anymore.  I guess I just really wanted to have the "guilty pleasure" of smoking.  I think people are naturally addictive creatures and I think I wanted to be addicted to it.  It brought me pleasure to submit to smoking.

3. Do you feel addicted to it?

Oh Yes.  Physically, psychologically, and emotionally.  I actually love the addiction. 

4.  Have you tried to quit?

No and I likely never will. 

5.  Would it be hard for you to quit?

Yes.  The only way it wouldn't is if I, for some reason, didn't like it anymore. That's not likely to happen.  I love it too much and have no desire to quit.  It's the desire to smoke that makes you not want to quit mostly.  If you love it, you don't want to leave it.

6.  How does smoking make you feel?

Fantastic.  Very relaxed, and I love how it makes my body feel.

7. Do you regret starting?

No.  Not for a second.

8.  If you had to do it all over again, would you start?

Yes, without hesitation.  I have no regrets.

9.  Would you have started at a younger age?

Yes, that is actually one of my regrets.  I missed out on all the socializing, sneaking out, and fun of being a young or teenage smoker. 

10.  Does the health risks bother you?

No.  It was one of the things that kept me from smoking earlier in my life, but when you really look at the stats, odds, and positives vs. negatives of smoking, it's not really worth worrying about.  It's a trade off of good and bad and I find it to be more good than bad.

11.  How often do you smoke?

It varies.  I usually smoke a pack every few days.  I'm not a heavy smoker because I like building up cravings and satisfying them.  Chain-smoking kinda dulls that a bit although I do like to chain smoke in social settings once in a while. 

12.  Would you date a non-smoker?

No.  My S.O. would need to be as passionate about smoking as I am. 

13.  What if your teenage kids wanted to smoke?

I'm ok with it.  Like I said, I regret not smoking when I was young.  I would just want them to be open with me about it.

14. Do you think most smokers want to quit?

No.  I think the main motivation for smokers saying they want to quit is guilt and public pressure.  I think most smokers really want to smoke and really enjoy it.  Smokers are better off to shed the "guilt trip" and embrace their habit.  The stress of guilt is worse than anything smoking can do to you.

15.  What are some benefits you see to smoking?

There are physical, mental, and emotional benefits.  It's great for concentration, relaxation, social interaction, and satisfying a desire to have a guilty pleasure.  I think smokers that accept their love for smoking tend to find a happiness that is very rewarding.

16.  What would your advice be to someone thinking about starting smoking?

It depends on why.  Peer pressure and curiosity are not very good reasons.  I think if the person has an inner craving to smoke for whatever reason, I would tell them to do it.  Otherwise, they will be like me for years and have this nagging desire to smoke.  I think some people are just "wired" to smoke and I really believe the addiction starts prior to the first time smoking.  That's the way it was for me.  I knew before I smoked my first cig. I was going to be addicted and I really wanted that.  For some people, like me, we were born to smoke.  If someone were to tell me they really wanted to start smoking and they have an excitement on their face about it, I encourage it.  They are likely wired for it.  They need it.  It's meant to be. 

17.  Any final remarks?

Smoking is not for everyone, but it is for many.  For those people, they are better off smoking and doing what they love than to fight and stress over it.  To those people I say "just embrace it." 

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Embrace Smoking....for good reasons

With all the anti-smoking rhetoric out there it's not a wonder why many smokers develop a "guilt complex."  I didn't actually start smoking till I was 30 because of the "health risks" associated (some legitimate).  The problem was, I always wanted to smoke.  Even from a younger age, I always wanted to get into smoking.  5 years ago, I finally dropped all the "guilt" and "worry" and lit up.  I've been happy ever since.  It was like a huge weight had been lifted off my concience and I could finally do what I always wanted to do.  Smoking is actually a wonderful thing if you embrace it right.  And I certainly am glad I did so.

Despite some of the health risks associated with smoking, there are a lot of really good reasons to "light-up" anyway.  They are physical, mental, emotional, spiritual, and sexual.  I've been helped along all these lines since I decided to become a smoker.  I have no regrets.

What are these benefits, you ask?

1) It is found that smoking boosts your memory and concentration.  It makes you sharper and also a "deeper-thinker."  I can attest to this as I'm a writer and smoking has helped me to write much more effectively and with greater creativity.  It helps you to regain focus and reduce stress as well.  People have a tendancy to get stressed-out from work, family, and events in their lives.  Smoking helps to mellow-out the stress and regain the focus on the tasks at hand.  What makes this possible??

2) Smoking releases endorphins which help to soothe and relax you.  It also brings about a feeling of happiness.  Many talk about smokers getting stressed or edgy when they don't have a cig. but they don't talk about how they help to bring your body into a nice balance.  Like anything else, if it has a nice benefit it will bother you to give it up, especially if you really don't have to.

3)Smoking is great any time of the year, but it's especially nice during cold months.  It helps to warm you up and is a welcome feeling when it's cold outside.

4)One of the pure pleasures of smoking is the "after dinner" smoke.  It really is a nice after-meal addition and actually aids in digestion.  The deep inhales that you might not normally engage in when you don't smoke really help the digestion process.  Smoking also goes very well with dessert and it certainly makes coffee taste great.

5)Smoking also enhances alcohol and marijuana.  It really amplifies the effects and feelings and makes the experience much more pleasurable.

6)Smoking is great for social bonding.  It's a great way to start conversations, find common interests, and creates that friendly environment for fellow smokers to congregate and enjoy each other's company.  Nothing breaks the ice like lighting up next to another smoker.  It's almost always an immediate connection.  Great friendships are formed by smokers who enjoy each other's company and each other's smoking.

7)It creates intimacy and sexual desires.  Some have claimed it does the opposite sexually, but I've never found that to be true.  I think it's safe to say "smokers find smokers sexy."  I know I do.  Even when I was a non-smoker, I found girls that smoked to be very sexy and desireable.  Now, I really appreciate them and would never date a non-smoker.  I won't even date a smoker that always says "I really should quit."  It also makes sexual relations better with your significant other.  It creates a great bond and also great "after-sex" time to light up and really enjoy each other's company.  What do you think:

8)It's an aquired smell and taste.  That's a good thing especially with your significant other.  I always had a problem with someone with "bad breath."  It was a major turn-off.  The best thing about smokers.... it always smells like smoke and I'm cool with that.

9)It's a reward.  It's a nice way to re-inforce your work ethic.  Using smoking as a reward for a "job-well-done" is a great feeling. 

10) It's all about addiction and submission.  Humans are very "addictive" creatures by nature.  I believe deep down we all like to have some addictions.  Smoking is one that really satisfies.  I think the addiction adds to the pleasure of smoking.  The agony of quitting just helps to re-inforce the desire to keep smoking.  I actually believe it's a healthy thing for your emotional and spiritual side.  I think it's very sexual in nature and also very pleasurable to submit with the knowledge that you don't want to quit.  I also think the idea that it's "bad for you" acts as a healthy guilty pleasure.  It makes you want it more. 

In the end, It's well worth it to me.  It's a very welcome habit in my life and I really enjoy it.  I always encourage other smokers that feel guilty about it to stop feeling guilty and embrace your deep desire to smoke.  The benefits do outweigh the risks and it really can be great for you in so many ways. 

Most importantly, it's pure pleasure in many ways.  My only regret is that I didn't start sooner, but better late than never.  So my motto is: Light one up and take a nice drag.  It's a great "guilty pleasure."

And it IS Sexy!!

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