I first wore my "Kiss me, I don't smoke" pin several years ago. Usually, there are public service announcements in the week running up to the third Thursday in November. When I start hearing the publicity, I dig out that trusty pin.
What happened this year? Maybe it was the 50th anniversary of President Kennedy's assassination. Maybe it was the decision of so many retail outlets to open on Thanksgiving this year. Maybe I missed the publicity because I was simply distracted this year, as I spent 12 days in the hospital and underwent a major surgery. Maybe the American Cancer Society actually cut back on publicity this year.
Whatever the reason, I'm sorry that the event seemed to be under-emphasized this year. I have never smoked, but so many people in my parents' generation did, and they paid a price for it. Just last year, in November in fact, my husband and I sat by his mother's side as she died an agonizing death from COPD. It was heart-wrenching. I cried ugly, air-gulping sobs as much for my husband as for her. Would anyone willingly put their only child through that pain if they really understood what the end game would be? I surely don't think my mother in law would have, because she loved her son fiercely. She simply never believed that smoking was that destructive.
I'm hoping that the Great American Smokeout will not be over-shadowed in future years. Maybe the SECOND Thursday would be a better time, so it doesn't fall too close to Thanksgiving.
Here are some tips from ACS on quitting:
It's hard to quit tobacco
Research shows that smokers are most successful in kicking the habit when they have support, such as:
- Telephone smoking-cessation hotlines
- Stop-smoking groups
- Online quit groups
- Counseling
- Nicotine replacement products
- Prescription medicine to lessen cravings
- Guide books
- Encouragement and support from friends and family members
Using 2 or more of these measures to quit smoking works better than using any one of them alone. For example, some people use a prescription medicine along with nicotine replacement. Other people may use as many as 3 or 4 of the methods listed above.
On a real estate note, let me make it completely clear that if your house smells like tobacco, that will be a major turn-off to every non-smoker. Carpets, furniture and drapes all hold onto the tobacco smell. If you smoke, you may have to hire a professional cleaning service to rid the house of the tell-tale smell.
Comments(0)