As I sat on the bus this afternoon, earbuds in ears, eyes focused on an article for one of my classes, highlighter in hand, I was smacked dead in the face by an invisible cloud of smoke. One of the two types of smoke that I absolutely HATE to smell: weed smoke. I couldn't believe it. Here I am, a person who doesn't smoke, but is force to have to inhale the aroma of the person who does. Then if that weren't bad enough, again, refocused on my article, here comes a passenger, who smells as if he just flicked his cigarette butt away just before boarding the bus, who decided to plop down in the row directly in front of me. This time, instead of smacking me in the face, the smoke rushed up my nose with each breath that I took.

I am always amazed by those who make the choice to shorten their lives by sucking on cancer sticks and even more amazed by those who make the choice to kill off their brain cells by running from what has gotten them so low to escape to a higher place. Addiction is truly a powerful thing. It angers me that while these individuals have the choice and free will to smoke, that I don't have the same level of choice and free will to breath clean air. How and why is this possible? Just because the cigarette or blunt isn't burning in your hand doesn't mean that the smoke and toxins are not still with you. My level of not understanding also prohibits me from wrapping my head around why cigarettes remain legal. If they have been proven to be harmful in the long run, and it is clear that certain people's rights are violated by traveling smoke then why is this legal?? Why not give them the same status as marijuana, heroine, crack and all of that other stuff??

I now find myself wanting to trade in the city for the country. A place where I can stand outside amongst the trees and breathe in fresh nature. A REAL place of comfort! I don't even think that I can truly say that I have smelled "real" fresh air in quite a while. Growing up in a city with a neighboring refinery that had frequent chemical leaks and spills, toxic smoke filling the air, highways and byways... what's a girl to do to live a full and cancer-free life around here??

If you are a smoker of ANYTHING and you happen to be reading this, in the words of Lil' Mama, these words "aren't hate, its love". Try showing a little love and just saying no... kick that nasty habit because there are a lot more people than just yourself who will greatly benefit from your lifestyle change.