Smoking Does Not Make You a Grown-Up

Are you a wimp?

Opinion page by Duane Alan Hahn.

It's the same old crap every year. A new batch of kids start smoking because they think it makes them look grown-up. Smoking doesn't make you look grown-up, it just makes you look like a stupid little kid who can't think for himself. Smoking doesn't make you look tough either because you won't be as strong or as fast. It will become hard for you to even climb a simple flight of stairs, so you will be labeled a weakling, not a tough guy.

You didn't invent rebelliousness. Everyone does it, but you don't have to damage your body while you are in rebellion mode. You can show your independence and rebel in ways that are good for you. You don't have to smoke, drink alcohol, take drugs, get tattoos, or pierce every body part to prove that you are an individual. Doing that stuff just shows that you are a sheep; a wimp who follows the crowd.

You want to be a man? Do the right thing. Be a good example and do what you know is best for you, your future, and others around you because that shows you have real strength. You can be more wise and mature than most adults if you have the guts to try.

You will probably live a lot longer than you ever thought you would, so being kind to your body now means that you might be active and able to take care of yourself until the day you die. You don't have to end up as a brittle, drooling, pathetic creature in an old folks home who is pushed around in a wheelchair.

Even if you think your life is unimportant now, things never stay the same and you may find yourself being very important in the eyes of others. You might become famous and respected in a city, a state, a country, or the whole world without even meaning to and you will wish you had made better choices when you were younger. The things you do when you are young matter to your health and your future reputation.

Always act as though you might be famous some day and do things that your future self will be proud of. You will also have "enemies" in the future, so don't give them ammunition. They may lie in an attempt to destroy you, but if all they can come up with is lies, you've had a great life that you can feel good about.