I smoke. I'm in between the occasional smokers (those who only smoke if it's free) and the heavy smokers (those who consume a pack or two a day). I used to consume a pack every two days, but recently it's becoming one pack every three days. (Non-smokers may find this a dismal improvement; I, smoking since the 90's, regard this as major, major).

Vaguely do I remember why I liked smoking. I think it's because my grandmother who used to smoke tobacco would always ask me to light her cigar. Or maybe because my father used to smoke too. I thus associated a whiff of tobacco to my childhood days.

Recently, I've been seeing news of public and private establishments banning cigarette smoking. One of them is Jeddah International Airport.

Our office in Kuwait also ban smoking. I had to walk a distance for a fag. Recently, the management required everyone to log their time when they leave the office (that includes going out for a smoke). It's a bit over the top, but it curbed my habit. While I used to once-every-two-hours, it's now only three times a day: at 9am, at 12noon, at 3pm.

A ban, in a way, helps.

But we have to admit that like what this Seed article said, media has a stronger influence on smoking. Media, specially on film and television, should stop projecting that smoking is a cool thing. Not anymore.

Observations: in the Philippines, more adverts are into healthy living and getting into a healthy lifestyle; lesser on smoking and drinking. So there must be an ongoing fad about green living.

I hence dream of being Hope-less soon. Because I'm not getting any younger. Because it's costlier here in Kuwait (in Saudi, a pack costs SAR4, around PHP50; in Kuwait, it's 400 fils, around PHP62).

I believe my smoking days are 1234-ed. Numbered.



This photo was taken from The Design Inspiration which featured other equally creative anti-smoking ad graphics.