These Onions…

That is a great anti-smoking message. I sincerely applaud the Thais for putting something honest like this out there. Unfortunately, it will be a long time before Asians give up this filthy habit (many others too, like Americans).

I dare someone in America with enough resource$ to put out a message just like this one [here]. But, probably the big tobacco companies would somehow get the message turned around and make it about “child abuse” (you know, for holding an unlit cigarette) or something stupid like that. And of course, it wouldn’t “play well” in the South where the tobacco growers live and work.

When I was in Thailand for a few months, I loved it there. They are probably the most caring and pleasant people I’ve ever met (as a society). Always smiling and doing whatever was necessary to make visitors welcome and happy. I have the utmost respect for all the Thais.

ขอขอบคุณมากที่คุณใหญ่เท่าที่ผมได้ในประเทศที่สวยงามของท่าน!

[I hope this translation worked out OK!]

As a long-time EX-smoker (at my ‘height,’ I was smoking at least a pack a day), I can offer this to HELP anyone quit “cold-turkey.” I suggest doing these IN THIS ORDER:

1. Whatever cigarettes you have (what’s left in a pack or a carton): finish smoking them. I know well enough that I would never suggest you to “toss out the money” you spent for this habit. So, finish what you have and THEN FOLLOW THIS LOGIC:

THIS TAKES WILL POWER AND YOUR FAMILY/CLOSEST FRIENDS TO HELP YOU ACCOMPLISH THIS — I KNOW THIS.

2. When you’re down to your last few cigarettes and you’re near a store, buy these IN QUANTITY: Tic-Tacs, Gum (breath and whitening types), Mints and breath fresheners such as Binaca (etc). You don’t want to run out of any of these (your choice) because I know you need something in your mouth during this time — just try to keep them as “healthy” as possible (but still keep your breath “fresh”).

3. After your LAST cigarette, STOP! And KNOW YOU WILL STOP. This is hard, I know, so do these last things to help you out as much as possible.

4. OPEN ALL THE WINDOWS (and doors when possible) TO FULLY AIR OUT YOUR LIVING SPACE. You may need to do this for a few or several days or even a week. YOU NEED TO GET THE SMELL OF SMOKING/TOBACCO OUT OF YOUR LIVING AREA as soon as possible and as COMPLETELY AS POSSIBLE.

5. CLEAN EVERY PIECE OF CLOTHING YOU HAVE — BOTH IN YOUR CLOSET(S) AND DRESSER DRAWERS. You’re less likely to break this filthy habit if you are still smelling it and everyone around is smelling it as you wear them.

6. (This may be one of the most difficult and time consuming at first): CLEAN AS MUCH OF YOUR LIVING SPACE AS YOU CAN AND AS SOON AS YOU CAN — INCLUDING THE WINDOWS, WALLS AND FURNITURE. Again, it will be more difficult for you to stop if you still “wallow” in the smell of your past smoking.

7. (This is another difficult one!!!!!) If anyone in your immediate family or even your close friends you hang out with are smoking, ASK THEM TO NOT SMOKE IN YOUR PRESENCE. This may or may not work — I know how this is (my family smoked). And you can look like a “douche-bag” to your close friends who do smoke and now you’re asking them to stop in your presence. Just do what you can to NOT BE IN THEIR PRESENCE while they smoke if that’s possible.

And, IN MY OPINION, one of the most important things: DO NOT TAKE/USE any of those commercial “assistants” — tobacco gum or “chewies,” tobacco patches or anything else that will just keep you lingering in this filthy habit. If you’re still ingesting anything related to tobacco & tar, I doubt you will TRULY QUIT. Look to your future of breathing better, not smelling like a tobacco farm to your family and friends and knowing your health will be better over time (I’ve been told by medical personnel that it can take as much as 15 YEARS of TOTAL NON-SMOKING LIVING to finally clear out your lungs and liver and other organs from the devastation from smoking).

I know the above may sound harsh, but if you have the will power and a great network of family and TRUE friends, it can be done in as little as 3-6 months if you adhere to it “RELIGIOUSLY” (the ONE TIME I’m in “favor of religious”).

I’ve done my part in helping you. Good luck and good breathing!