Smoking

Here's a thought. I find smoking strange. Maybe that's because I was raised mostly in Utah and Idaho with a little in Indiana. But I was in Indiana from the ages of 10 to 14 years old so it was a significant portion of time to see the world outside my bubble. Maybe so either way maybe I just forgot what outside that bubble is like. Regardless, it has been proven many times that smoking is nothing but harmful. It is not attractive to the eyes or senses. Yet I see it regularly. I recently went to NYC for the first time in years. I was kind of astounded by the fact that as educated as we are in the sciences and such that there were still that many people choosing something so obviously potent.
Then as I walked into the National Archives building, I walked past a woman who I have walked by many times in the past. She looks nice but also like she belongs in how I categorize many of the career people in the archives. It is a breeding ground for the the most awkward in society people. There is the middle aged woman who wears mismatched blouses and elastic skirts that absolutely don't fit or the woman who is so scared to look up at you but has finally started looking and smiling when I smile at her as I walk by on my way to the lockers. I'm pretty sure people ignored her for much of her life which makes me really sad.
Regardless, the other woman first mentioned looked nice but as awkward as the others. Then I saw her outside lighting up a few days ago. As I walked past her, I saw deep dark circles that I swear weren't there before I saw the cigarette. She looked so sad in that moment.
I may be addicted to chocolate but other than harming my waistline, it isn't utterly destroying my health. I am sad for those people who have an addition they can't control and are influenced by other people and unable to quit. I don't think many of them really want to but many lack the conviction and ability to quit and for those I feel sadness. (But I feel unhappiness for those that smoke in my face they choose knowing they could do something about it. -- And there is my soapbox. :))