Been wondering whether to contribute to this thread because it'll probably end up a bit personal. Oh what the h**l, Think I will.
Smoking and drinking and the impact on your life. I started smoking, literally behind the wood shed, at school when I was around 12/13 years old - All the "bad boys" did it and I wanted to be a "bad boy". Continued until I was 30 smoking about 40 a day towards the end. What stopped me? Constant "nagging" from that treasure in my life who is my wife, shortness of breath - no hope of running for a bus - and the birth of my daughter. I had told my wife I had stopped smoking - but hadn't - and, during the lengthy (she took the best part of a day's labour with all three of our kids) labour with our daughter - 2nd child - I accepted a cigarette from a chap whose child had just been born then went back into the labour room as she'd "started off" again. leant over to give her a kiss and she recoiled, came out from behind the gas and air mask, shocked, saying "Oh No! you've been smoking again! Waiting for her to complete giving birth and later walking down the long corridors to the hospital exit, feeling elated to have a Daughter now as well as my young Son, I thought. YOU PRAT! JUST GIVE UP THE FAGS! As I was leaving the hospital there was a rubbish bin on either side of the main doors and I chucked my half empty packet of Embassy into one and the book of matches into the other. Went through Hell for about two months - boy it was hard - Took about 18 months before I realise I was actually disliking the smell of tobacco smoke. I've never touched one since and feel so well on it.
Booze? The crowd I knocked about with in my mid teens and early twenties did "booze" big time. It featured big from Friday nights to start of work Monday mornings. Mostly beer and whisky for me but I'd "neck" a quite "eclectic" variety if it was free. Once married, in my early 20's, I quietened down a lot but still drank regularly and probably drank considerably too much on occasion. When I hit 50 I stopped earning my living from motor vehicle related activities and went to work for an organisation helping people with learning disabilities (was that a "mid life crisis" reaction or what?) Anyway I needed the driving licence to do it and I was in daily charge of 6 to 8 people, with no immediate physical back up, who were largely dependent on me. I decided to give up the booze. Shortly afterwards I had a serious tummy op which now means I have to watch what I eat too - so "falling off the wagon" is not an option any more. Now a days I only risk the most minute tipple, typically champagne so not "real booze", to welcome in the new year or toast a new bride or baby etc and I don't actually like it! Soft drinks for me all the way! Scotland has a reputation for hard drinking and all through my life I've been aware of people, within and close to, the family with alcohol addiction problems. The devastating effects on entirely innocent family members and the public at large is something we, on both a local and national level, have consistently failed to fully address. I feel so lucky to have personally avoided this and I also now just feel so healthy. At 72 years old I can still, with the aid of my "miracle" artificial knees, walk for hours and climb around and under my cars, motor bikes (at present in the singular, but chasing a Douglas Dragonfly I've heard of which is in boxes!) and other machinery. If I had continued with the smoking and drinking I think I would have been armchair or wheelchair bound, or pushing up the daisies by now. As it is, if the B****y prostate doesn't get me, I think I've got a few good years in me yet!
Now? I don't miss the Fags at all. I don't miss the Whisky at all (is that heresy for a Scot to admit?). I do miss a small tasty beer though and am, cautiously - because of the delicate tummy, exploring the expanding world of alcohol free beers. Most of all though is the freedom which my relative fitness allows me to roll about on the floor, go swimming, and generally engage with my grandchildren which are the greatest joy in my life now!