The news here in New Jersey recently has been focusing a lot on
how this state is going to disallow smoking in bars and
restaurants, just as the neighboring state of New York and
others have. Naturally this has created quite an uproar amongst
people who want to still smoke in said locations, not to mention
many of the bar and restaurant owners who fear it will cut into
their bottom line if these smoking patrons decide to stay home
and puff away.
Some are concerned that the government is overstepping its
bounds in regulating personal behavior . This stance is
countered by arguments related to workplace safety. With my
admittedly limited understanding of legal matters, it seems to
come down to the fact you cannot have offer a job that has a
preventable environmental health hazard, which second hand smoke
is considered to be for bartenders and wait staff.
In my role as a Certified Hypnotist, naturally I am gladdened by
anything that will prevent people from starting smoking or
encourages those with that habit to quit. Although I must also
admit the fear of the ever-increasing intrusion of Big Brother
into daily life is a reasonable one, on this matter I am willing
to give Big Brother a pass and I will explain why.
Awhile back I had the opportunity to view the Bodies in Motion
exhibition of "plastinated" bodies and body parts at the
Franklin Institute in Philadelphia. The work of a mad scientist
type from Germany, these anatomical specimens are preserved by a
special method that makes them seem freshly dissected, although
they are hard and dry (and mercifully odor-free!).
Included in this cabinet of curiosities are a number of
"smoker's lungs" from donors ranging in age from young adults to
senior citizens. In the younger specimens, the whitish pink
tissue of the lungs was speckled with black pitting as if
someone had wiped a barbecue pit or fireplace clean with them.
The older smoker's lungs simply looked as if they had fallen
into the fire!
It struck me then that a major problem with smoking is that the
damage occurs unseen and usually undetected until significant
damage has occurred and people seem to respond more strongly to
visual images since they seem more real than standard health
warnings.
Although farcical, one can't help but wonder what would happen
if the tobacco companies were forced to put an additive in their
product that caused a disfigurement of the face identical to
what the lungs experienced. By your 20's or 30's you might look
like a chimney sweep who never seemed to bathe, by your later
years an unfortunate burn victim. It would be a safe bet that
few if any would be willing to even consider the smoking habit.
Want to learn more about how smoking can help you quit smoking?
Visit my Quit Smoking page, although I will warn you there is a
very graphic depiction of the differences between a smoker and a
non-smoker's lungs. Curious?
New">www.njhypno.com/generic32.html>New Jersey Hypnosis Stop
Smoking Page
About the author:
James Malone is a Certified Hypnotist from Point Pleasant, NJ.
He publishes the popular and FREE Creative Calm online
newsletter. If you are curious about hypnosis and mysteries of
the mind visit
