I have an early childhood memory. I was probably about five years old or somewhere around that age.
A guest was at our house. She left a pack of cigarettes on our coffee table. I clearly remember looking at them and thinking they looked pretty neat. I thought to myself that I wanted to try them one day.
Is that what started it? Probably not really. It was just a fleeting thought. I think the real reason I started was to express my independence and to feel cool. I was 12 when I tried my first cigarette. Little did I know that my quest for independence would turn into dependance!
I hung around a few kids that occasionally smoked. It was my idea to try it, I won't blame anyone else. It did make me feel older and cool. Pathetic to admit but I think that is very common.
If by chance there is any young person reading this now, I urge you to not to smoke. It is not cool to poison your body. It does not make you your own person. All it does it make you weak and a tobacco puppet.
Can you remember why you started smoking???
