"This I Believe"

Rachel Adams

English 11

12:30-1:45pm

8 February 2010

I believe in non-smoking, and the impact it has on families. Smoking is very bad for your health and your family’s well being. It has many harmful side effects, physical and emotional—especially for your family. It causes many different types of cancer, heart disease, and chronic lung disease. The sad thing is it is the single most preventable cause of early death in the world. It can cause death and diseases to whoever is exposed to smoke. This is often referred to as second hand smoke. The emotional toll this takes on your family is also ridiculous.

My grandfather started smoking when he was about 10 years old. He always had breathing problems up until his untimely death, at 58. This was approximately two years ago. Near his death, he could barely walk or breathe and he developed emphysema. I remember visiting them on the holidays, we would be having a great conversation, laughing and such and then he would reach for his inhaler. When it got really bad, he would end up in the hospital for long periods of time. It also affected my grandmother. She was often hospitalized with the same breathing problems, but was not as bad as his. She is still alive.

The emotional toll his death took on our family is still present today. We think about how it could be prevented. If he did not smoke, he would still be alive right now. We realize that the “what ifs” do not change anything, but we still wonder. I grew up in a smoke-free environment and I wonder what causes people to start smoking. Why would someone want to put a stick of death into his or her mouth? I think it’s absurd, and completely disgusting. I always told myself I would not associate with someone who smokes, now here I am about to marry a smoker. The future cannot be predicted I suppose.

Both of my parents used to smoke before I was born, and I am glad they did. If they did not quit, I wonder if I would view smoking in the same light I do now. Maybe I would think that it is okay to smoke, since my parents do. I wonder if I would justify it. There are so many bad things about smoking. Cigarettes are made of 4,000 deadly compounds and toxics. How could someone put that into their mouth and breathe that into their lungs? It is like having a death wish. It has a warning label on the cigarette carton! Come on people. I think that people are either Ignorant, or uncaring about their life.

Smoking has dreadful effects, physically and emotionally. It causes many diseases and it can affect your family, friends, and all of the people you surround yourself with. If you love your family you should not smoke, or quit while you still can.