Thursday, 21 May 2009
Riding on the open range
Finally, ooh finally, modimo o na le mosa le one mohau. Ga go tlhokege gore ke tlhole ke tshabela diketso tsa me. Monongwaga ke itshepisitse gore popego ya me e tlile go nna e e farologaneng. Ke itumela go kwala jaana gore dilo tsotlhe di tsamaya ka tolamo le maikemisetso.
Ke tshedimosetso e e tlhabosang go re ke ts`habo e e tolameng le malatsi a a maleba gore ke bo ke le mo maemo a ke leng mo go ona.
Ke leboga go menagane...
Kitso le tshedimosetso ke di tlhabo tse di gagametseng e le ruri.
Ke tshedimosetso e e tlhabosang go re ke ts`habo e e tolameng le malatsi a a maleba gore ke bo ke le mo maemo a ke leng mo go ona.
Ke leboga go menagane...
Kitso le tshedimosetso ke di tlhabo tse di gagametseng e le ruri.
Friday, 1 May 2009
The impact of Smoking...
One of my colleagues asked me to accompany him last Thursday when he was going for a smoke break. When we were outside, I asked him for a puff, and he gave me the cigarette. I lit the cigarette and puffed away, and after that I felt relaxed and calm. Yes, I do smoke but I smoke casually, and the last time I smoked was last year December until last week.
So, there I was in December when I was spending festive season with my loved ones, then I got to realize that all my childhood friends do smoke. Most of all my home friend, Lebogang, he smokes like a chimney. Wow, the guy can finish over 25 cigarettes in a day. Then, me being silly, I decided to try the puff and pass. I bought myself a full packet. What a feeling! I was starting to enjoy it but me being afraid of my mom; the poor woman discovered a packet in my jean pocket. I had a lot of explaining to do. I am from a family where no one is smoking, so you can imagine the lecture I had to sit down to.
All of this got me thinking, as usual everything and anything gets me thinking. Then, I asked myself what is it that drives one to start smoking.
o Peer pressure?
o Stress?
o Boredom?
Those were the three main reasons I thought of that tends to draw people to smoke. Then I started projecting my life in two years time smoking. I did not like what I saw. Smoking is addictive and it is one of the most difficult addictions to break. I know because smoking got me to loose my uncle, he was a great man but he smoked his life away, and I don't want to end up like him. So, that is why I decided never ever to touch a cigarette again. Pity, someone out there who has been smoking for years can't easily say what I just said.
Smoking is a social activity as well. Many people who smoke do so as a way to start conversations and interact at parties or in crowded places. This is known as "social smoking," and it usually involves alcohol as a complement.
At first, smoking may seem like a cool thing to do, but we don't realize how much risk we are getting ourselves into. Here are few diseases that are caused by smoking:
• Heart disease
• Bronchitis
• Lung cancer, and many other forms of cancer
• Strokes
• Emphysema
Growing up, my brother and I used to argue with out uncle for smoking inside the house when we were around. We were exposed to second hand smoking, but we could not do anything about it since he was older. Most, people don't realize how much they are affecting those around them when they smoke; either you smoke inside the house or on the streets.
I am now more worried about my friend than ever. Lebogang is only 24 years old and his smoking is influenced by uncountable personal reasons, and smoking will definitely affect him as he progresses in life.
Now, suppose you smoke close to 10 cigarettes a day, everyday. How much do you think you can save up if you were not smoking? Hypothetically this is how much one spends in a week smoking.
• A smoker needs a mouth refresher, so one can spend in a week close to R 12.00 on minty gum.
• A lighter can cost up to R 5.00
• Now suppose one cigarette cost R 1.50
This is how much you can expect to pay only if you buy “loose” cigarettes.
On average you do smoke 12 cigarettes a day and you spend R 125.70 a week. In total, the amount you spend a week amounts to R 142.70.
• Monthly you spend R 570.80
• Yearly you spend up to R 6,849.60, and that is a lot of money.
If you continue to smoke for four year, you will end up spending R 27,398.40 and that’s a lot of money.
Now, what is it that you get in return?
• Blocked or damaged lungs.
• Bad breath
• Eye problems
• Discolored teeth (ugly stains on your teeth)
Most importantly, it has been proven that if you have been smoking for over 5 years you are drastically decreasing your breathing capacity e.g.
If you are 35 years old and you have been smoking for 12 years, then you can have a smoking capacity of a 50 year old individual. So in essence, you are shortening your lifespan.
Quitting is hard; so one has to think hard if they want to make smoking nicotine a part of their life. I realized that I have a tough job on my hands, which is, convincing my friend to stop smoking and showing him the benefits of doing so. The only thing I can do now is to support him, and encourage him. So, you out there, think twice before you think of entering this “cool” world of smoking. SMOKING kills.
So, there I was in December when I was spending festive season with my loved ones, then I got to realize that all my childhood friends do smoke. Most of all my home friend, Lebogang, he smokes like a chimney. Wow, the guy can finish over 25 cigarettes in a day. Then, me being silly, I decided to try the puff and pass. I bought myself a full packet. What a feeling! I was starting to enjoy it but me being afraid of my mom; the poor woman discovered a packet in my jean pocket. I had a lot of explaining to do. I am from a family where no one is smoking, so you can imagine the lecture I had to sit down to.
All of this got me thinking, as usual everything and anything gets me thinking. Then, I asked myself what is it that drives one to start smoking.
o Peer pressure?
o Stress?
o Boredom?
Those were the three main reasons I thought of that tends to draw people to smoke. Then I started projecting my life in two years time smoking. I did not like what I saw. Smoking is addictive and it is one of the most difficult addictions to break. I know because smoking got me to loose my uncle, he was a great man but he smoked his life away, and I don't want to end up like him. So, that is why I decided never ever to touch a cigarette again. Pity, someone out there who has been smoking for years can't easily say what I just said.
Smoking is a social activity as well. Many people who smoke do so as a way to start conversations and interact at parties or in crowded places. This is known as "social smoking," and it usually involves alcohol as a complement.
At first, smoking may seem like a cool thing to do, but we don't realize how much risk we are getting ourselves into. Here are few diseases that are caused by smoking:
• Heart disease
• Bronchitis
• Lung cancer, and many other forms of cancer
• Strokes
• Emphysema
Growing up, my brother and I used to argue with out uncle for smoking inside the house when we were around. We were exposed to second hand smoking, but we could not do anything about it since he was older. Most, people don't realize how much they are affecting those around them when they smoke; either you smoke inside the house or on the streets.
I am now more worried about my friend than ever. Lebogang is only 24 years old and his smoking is influenced by uncountable personal reasons, and smoking will definitely affect him as he progresses in life.
Now, suppose you smoke close to 10 cigarettes a day, everyday. How much do you think you can save up if you were not smoking? Hypothetically this is how much one spends in a week smoking.
• A smoker needs a mouth refresher, so one can spend in a week close to R 12.00 on minty gum.
• A lighter can cost up to R 5.00
• Now suppose one cigarette cost R 1.50
This is how much you can expect to pay only if you buy “loose” cigarettes.
On average you do smoke 12 cigarettes a day and you spend R 125.70 a week. In total, the amount you spend a week amounts to R 142.70.
• Monthly you spend R 570.80
• Yearly you spend up to R 6,849.60, and that is a lot of money.
If you continue to smoke for four year, you will end up spending R 27,398.40 and that’s a lot of money.
Now, what is it that you get in return?
• Blocked or damaged lungs.
• Bad breath
• Eye problems
• Discolored teeth (ugly stains on your teeth)
Most importantly, it has been proven that if you have been smoking for over 5 years you are drastically decreasing your breathing capacity e.g.
If you are 35 years old and you have been smoking for 12 years, then you can have a smoking capacity of a 50 year old individual. So in essence, you are shortening your lifespan.
Quitting is hard; so one has to think hard if they want to make smoking nicotine a part of their life. I realized that I have a tough job on my hands, which is, convincing my friend to stop smoking and showing him the benefits of doing so. The only thing I can do now is to support him, and encourage him. So, you out there, think twice before you think of entering this “cool” world of smoking. SMOKING kills.
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