I already had this post planned and to be honest with you, I was in two minds about pressing send. It might be a little controversial, however, after learning that 14th March is #NoSmokingDay I felt like this would be the perfect opportunity to put it out there and to give you an honest insight into the mind and feelings of a sometimes frustrated non-smoker.. with the hope that some of you may give up this unhealthy habit.
Whilst I could deliver lots of facts and statistics about the dangers of smoking and the terrible effects of passive smoking, these are already widely out there in the public domain, so I have chosen to approach this post from a personal perspective.
I think that passive smoking is an issue. In fact, I hate it.
If people want to smoke, that is entirely up to them, but to all the smokers out there; please don’t blow your smoke in people’s faces, especially in the faces of people who choose not to smoke.
Smoking is a choice, therefore if you are a smoker, you should respect non-smokers (of all ages, including children) and safeguard their health, by not smoking in public places, as the law requires. This should include when you are sat in traffic with your windows down or stood outside entrances to buildings – especially when there are signs which clearly say no smoking!
There isn’t a week or probably even a day, that goes by, without having the delightful experience of choking on somebody else’s clouds of smoke whilst walking down the street. Another dimension to this is public transport. When you are using public transport and somebody who has clearly just been smoking, sits next to you, it can cause anything from having to deal with an unpleasant scent to actually struggling to breathe.. and you generally can’t get away from it. Or, if you do take the plunge, people wrongly assume that you are being rude. It’s a matter of breathing people!
The worst thing though, is visiting people’s houses, especially houses of relatives or in-laws, and having to try and disguise the fact that you are slowly losing the ability to breathe whilst they chat along to you and drown you in their smoke. In this scenario, the choices available to you are A) choke quietly or B) speak up and become the most unpopular person in the household!
It’s safe to say that my house is and forever will be, a no smoking zone and something that all visitors will have to deal with – Sorry not sorry!
Another thing.. E-cigarettes.. Smoking e-cigarettes is still classed as smoking! You are no exception and you are not immune to the rules. I find it quite amusing that many people think that smoking e-cigarettes is acceptable in the public domain and that they can be used on trains, in shops and restaurants and in a long list of other public places. A cloud of smoke is a cloud of smoke and passive smoking is harmful, regardless of whether it smells of apples, oranges, candy floss or whatever else the latest flavour is!
Jokes aside, if you are a smoker, this post is not meant to offend you.. But please kindly consider non-smokers in the future and the issue of passive smoking, and keep your smoke to yourself. I just don’t think that it is fair that non-smokers have time, whether that is seconds, minutes or hours, potentially taken off their lives by other people who choose to smoke. Allow people to choose the type of air that they breathe. Even better, give up this unhealthy habit and improve your own life. It is never too late. Yay to #NoSmokingDay!
A view from Manchester Piccadilly Station that got me thinking..
Do you smoke? If so, are you respectful of non-smokers?
Are you a non-smoker who hates dealing with passive smoking?
L.
Glad I’m not the only one who thinks this. I work in an office in the reception area and nothing bothers me more than people who smoke right outside the door and then come inside straight afterwards. Bringing all their smoke with them. I don’t want to be rude, but I also don’t want to be breathing in second hand smoke. The minute they leave, the air fresher is everywhere.
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Thank you for your thoughts! I’m glad you like the post and that some people share my opinion! 😁😂 It is a tough one, but yes, I think we should have the right to fresh air! Thanks again for your thoughts.
L.
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Totally right! I can see both sides of the coin as I’m a former smoker. There’s absolutely no need to subject non smokers to smoke, no need at all xx
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Thanks for your thoughts! It’s really interesting to hear that you agree as a former smoker, so thanks for sharing 😁🧡 and well done for giving up!
L.
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Thank you! Yeah I think everyone really just needs to be a bit more considerate in their smoking choices x x
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Great post! I definitely share the same opinion as you as a non-smoker myself and I think choosing to write this post was a great way to get your point in a non-threatening way 🙂 xx
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Thank you for your thoughts! I’m glad you like the post and it’s nice to know that some people feel the same way 😁
L. X
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I totally agree with this! I’m cool with people who choose to smoke (I used to smoke myself) but they shouldn’t subject others to it. I think you expressed your point of view very well, thank you for sharing! 😘 xx
Bexa | http://www.hellobexa.com
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Thanks for your thoughts Bexa. It’s lovely to hear! 😁
L. X
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You did the right thing to press send because this is actually an important topic and I am sure a lot of people thinks the same but is afraid of sharing it. I completely agree with you. I am just so glad to come across your blog. It was worth it 🙂
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Thank you very much for your comment! It’s wonderful to know this and I’m glad you like the post 😁
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This whole posot. Yes. Please. I’m heavily asthmatic, I have three lung diseases so breathing on itself already is a challenge. But when people smoke it just gets so much harder! This is such an important topic! I am now inspired to write a post about this myself. Great post!
Once I asked somebody to step away from me for a bit (I was there first) but they denied saying I shouldn’t complain because we were outside at a busstation. I calmly said I was a lung patient and I had difficulty breathing thanks to their smoke. They just told me to stand somewhere else, because we were outside.
Like ok, you want to smoke. That’s fine. It’s your choice and you’re free to make it. But don’t let people second-hand smoke your cigarette and deal with it. Just No.
Great post!
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Thanks so much for your thoughts on this Angela! I’m really glad that you like the post and feel inspired to write your own – go for it! 😁 It is one of those topics and annoying things in life that all people are affected by, but no one really acknowledges.
Hope you feel better too.
L.
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I’m a non-smoker and hateeeeeeee smokers with passion. First of all, you’re smoking a cancer stick. Second of all, it stinks. I hate when someone who smokes walks past me either smoking or just smelling like smoke. It’s disgusting.
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I absolutey agree with this post! It’s really brave of you to share anything “controversial” – especially on the internet so props to you for being so willing to get your opinion out there! I definitely agree. I have never smoked anything so I can’t really make any points from the other side but I do know that I have had a coughing fit around a smoker, or a migraine was triggered because of pot (which is a whole new “controversial” topic in itself) I hate feeling like I have to remain uncomfortable because of a decision someone else made.
Like I said, I don’t have experience of smoking but I’m definitely not trying to offend smokers – I know more smokers than non-smokers. I just wish that I was able to know that I can go out (or even in my apartment) without struggling to breathe. Why did I make a choice to not smoke when I get it in my lungs anyways?
Anyways,
Thank you for sharing about this and standing up for us non-smokers.
CiCi | Navigation To Happiness
https://navigationtohappiness.wordpress.com/
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Thank you for reading my post CiCi and for taking the time to comment. I completely agree. I think that as non-smokers we are making a choice not to smoke, so it is quite unfair that we have to suffer as a result of other people’s choices.
Happy to stand up against smoking and fly the flag for good health!
Thanks again.
L.
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I couldn’t agree with you more darling! There needs to be more awareness about passive smoking. I don’t want to breath in others smoke and there are children everywhere it’s extremely toxic- might as well sneeze and cough in my face! 😩🙄
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Thank you for reading my post and taking the time to comment! Yes, I completely agree with you!
L. X
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Pleasure. Looking forward to more content!
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