I have heard many reasons for quitting smoking, but this is an interesting reason: a smoker will not realise how much they miss in the sensory world.
Taste and smell connects us to the world and if we remove even a portion of those senses then it limits a person's experience of the world.
An ex smoker told me that one important thing he noticed was that he had forgotten what wood smells like.
He is a master craftsman who builds beautiful furniture out of timber.
After quitting for a while he attended timber expo and was delighted to be able to smell all the different species of timber used in the manufacture of fine furniture.
This was a revelation to him.
And it caused him to reflect on all the years of not being able to detect the subtle odors in his environment.
He lived in a rural area and could now also enjoy the smell of the spring flowers, something he had long forgotten, was a great joy to him to re-experience.
His third great sensory awakening was being able to taste all the wonderful flavors of food again.
As a smoker his previous enjoyment of food had diminished as his taste acuity had diminished.
He even found he had reduced the variety of foods in his diet and certainly his enjoyment of food was long gone.
But once again he became a lover of fine foods, and would seek out the most subtle flavors and savor every morsel.
In fact his life had expanded in ways he had not anticipated when he quit smoking.
As a consequence his social life has also expanded.
He no longer smells of smoke, he no longer has top go outside for a quick cigarette during an intimate dinner, only to return smelling like an ashtray.
He enjoys regular evenings with friends enjoying wine and fine foods and even appreciates a good hotdog with all the trimmings at the football or basketball.
He now realizes that smoking was like a big brake on his life.
He never realized how many ways his life had shrunk, how many social invitations weren't extended to him, how many human interactions he missed just because he chose to place cigarettes higher in his life than people and experiences.
You mightn't think you are doing this but you are.
Every smoker does.
But few are will to acknowledge and most don't even want to think about it, as it just stirs up too many feelings of frustration and anger with themselves about continuing to smoke.
Taste and smell connects us to the world and if we remove even a portion of those senses then it limits a person's experience of the world.
An ex smoker told me that one important thing he noticed was that he had forgotten what wood smells like.
He is a master craftsman who builds beautiful furniture out of timber.
After quitting for a while he attended timber expo and was delighted to be able to smell all the different species of timber used in the manufacture of fine furniture.
This was a revelation to him.
And it caused him to reflect on all the years of not being able to detect the subtle odors in his environment.
He lived in a rural area and could now also enjoy the smell of the spring flowers, something he had long forgotten, was a great joy to him to re-experience.
His third great sensory awakening was being able to taste all the wonderful flavors of food again.
As a smoker his previous enjoyment of food had diminished as his taste acuity had diminished.
He even found he had reduced the variety of foods in his diet and certainly his enjoyment of food was long gone.
But once again he became a lover of fine foods, and would seek out the most subtle flavors and savor every morsel.
In fact his life had expanded in ways he had not anticipated when he quit smoking.
As a consequence his social life has also expanded.
He no longer smells of smoke, he no longer has top go outside for a quick cigarette during an intimate dinner, only to return smelling like an ashtray.
He enjoys regular evenings with friends enjoying wine and fine foods and even appreciates a good hotdog with all the trimmings at the football or basketball.
He now realizes that smoking was like a big brake on his life.
He never realized how many ways his life had shrunk, how many social invitations weren't extended to him, how many human interactions he missed just because he chose to place cigarettes higher in his life than people and experiences.
You mightn't think you are doing this but you are.
Every smoker does.
But few are will to acknowledge and most don't even want to think about it, as it just stirs up too many feelings of frustration and anger with themselves about continuing to smoke.