Hello from Colorado

[Penguin]

Hello, all. I'm Penguin, 39, and currently living in Colorado Springs, Colorado. I was a smoker from my 21st birthday until 19 October 2023, for a grand total of 17 years. After trying to quit several times in those years, God saw fit to thump me with His velvet-coated two-by-four, and I learned what "spontaneous pulmonary pneumothorax" means. Somehow, air had gotten into the space around my right lung, and my lung collapsed. After four days in the hospital, I was able to go home, but I knew then I'd hit a decision point in my life. If I kept smoking, I would never quit again. It was time. After I got home from the hospital, the first thing I did was to put all of my smoking paraphernalia in a trash bag. I spent the better part of an hour crushing cigarettes, snapping pipes, mangling cigars, and breaking lighters.

 

I haven't had what I would consider cravings since I quit, but I have thought, "I could smoke a cigarette." At the same time, I've been in that situation before, and I know how slippery that slope is. In my case, I can't ever have another puff, nor can I be around it. Whenever I smell tobacco smoke or a vape, my brain goes into a kind of panic, where the only thing I can focus on is getting away from it. While I recognize the symptoms of post-traumatic stress, I'm not terribly interested in resolving this particular issue, because it has been quite useful.

 

I'm here because I'd like to encourage others where I can, but I'm also working on a little pet project: legislation to restrict smoking to specific areas in my city. I'm hoping there are those here who may be able to offer insights into that.

[jillar]

Welcome aboard @Penguin, congratulations on your awesome quit, and thanks for wanting to support others choosing to take their life back

I'm in California and our smoking laws are probably the strictest in America. There's no smoking literally everywhere including parks and open spaces, pretty much anywhere people congregate. I'd start with a petition. You can also write your representative, id start at the county level, and share your concerns. 

Good luck and keep us posted

[Penguin]

Thank you, @jillar. Out here in Colorado Springs, people can smoke on the sidewalks, and pretty much anywhere that isn't indoors or right in front of a business doorway. Even then, people smoke in prohibited zones outdoors and very rarely face any consequences. My idea is to present legislation that prohibits smoking on public thoroughfares. You can smoke, but you have to do it away from areas you share with non-smokers. That would mean no smoking in front of a bar next to the sidewalk; you have to go out back, on the side of the building farthest from the sidewalk. I still haven't figured out exactly how to word things, and I'm sure there's complications and implications I haven't considered. Normally I'm an advocate for "you do you," but in this case, people smoking doesn't just affect them. When your habit puts my health in danger, I take that personally.

 

I look forward to my time here, and to the continued success of those who choose to live.

Edited November 26 by Penguin
Typo: "I still have figured out..." to "I still haven't figured out..."

[Cbdave]

Gday

Chris  from Brisbane Australia. Goggle smoking laws for Brisbane. You basically can’t smoke in the city of Brisbane any more. The result for me is that I don’t see anyone smoking anymore. Cig butts stand out now cause I hardly see them anymore. Yes I see vapes now I never seen before but never anyone using one. Though I see the funny clouds of steam coming out of car windows. 
 

[QuittingGirl]

Hi @Penguin Welcome aboard the Quit Train!! So glad you found us and congratulations on your 13 month quit journey!  That is awesome!!  You came to the right place to look for and offer support to others.  We are a really great group and I hope you stick around!  Check out all the information Quit Train has to offer.  There are people on this forum who have been quit a decade or more and some newbies and everything in between.  So just take a seat, first class, of course, and enjoy the ride!! 

[garry mhudson]

Welcome aboard!  Your story is similar to mine. Took a 8-9 stay in the hospital to cure me. I remember getting home afterwards and taking 2 full packs of cigs and a partial pack and tearing them up and throwing them away, That`s over 8 years ago and I`m still NOPING! Good luck and best wishes with the quit. You seem to have this. Stick around.

 

[Doreensfree]

Welcome aboard 

Congratulations on your fabulous Quit 

and I’m sorry you have been through a tough illness . 
Thank your for taking your seat , to help others find their own quit .

Here in the UK , folks can still smoke outside away from others , 

I feel we still have a long way to go .

 

[Reciprocity]

Welcome to Quit Train @Penguin!

 

I've been quit for a few years now and early on in my quit the smell of someone smoking was aluring to me. Made me want to light one up but now ... I find the smell really offputting; disgusting actually so I suppose your reaction to people smoking may change as time goes on as well?

 

Where I live, smoking is very restricted. Basically you can't smoke anywhere other than outdoors as long as you're not on property owned by organizations that ban smoking on their property. No smoking at sports fields or outdoor playgrounds etc. All this legislated by municipalities & eventually by the Provincial Government. 

How you get there is the question I suppose. Government legislation usually comes from public pressure at both the local & State/Provincial levels. Petitions, using social medial and lobbying whatever politicians you can makes a difference. Encouraging others to join you is key!

 

Good wishes to you in continuing the fight!!

[intoxicated yoda]

@Penguin good luck with your endeavor.  i do understand where you are coming from and don't really disagree with you, however, the 2 things you cannot legislate without giving power to tyrants is intelligence and morality.  In this case, context is everything so be careful for what you wish.

[Penguin]

1 hour ago, intoxicated yoda said:

@Penguin good luck with your endeavor.  i do understand where you are coming from and don't really disagree with you, however, the 2 things you cannot legislate without giving power to tyrants is intelligence and morality.  In this case, context is everything so be careful for what you wish.

 

You're not wrong. I would much prefer to live in a world where people realized their behavior was negatively impacting those around them and adjusted accordingly, but that rarely happens. I think I may try an awareness campaign first, and see how that works. It might increase support if and when it comes down to actual legislation mandating where people can smoke. Normally I'm a big fan of the greatest amount of freedom for the greatest number of people, and in this case it's a matter of the proper boundary. Smokers have a right to do to themselves as they please, but they don't have the right to negatively impact the health of non-smokers.