It seems that many JW's take up smoking as soon as they leave the Watchtower. The reason is obvious -- they weren't allowed to! Lighting up is like giving the finger to the Watchtower. I was right there, and it felt good.
Your first smoke is disappointing. There's no serious rush. You think, "Why is everyone in such a hurry to do this?" But you bought a whole pack, so you smoke another one. And another. (There's a reason they're sold in packs of 20!)
Pretty soon, you find that they really DO feel good. (You probably just weren't inhaling at first!) It's not on the level of a nice alcohol buzz, but it's pleasant. So you buy another pack.
After awhile, you find that you aren't smoking because it feels good to do it, but rather because it feels bad NOT to do it. You start to feel irritable, jittery, light-headed. You know what's wrong, you nee-- then you catch yourself as you admit that you NEED a smoke. Oops -- you're hooked!
I'm hooked. I've tried to quit in the past and I've failed exactly that many times. I'll quit eventually, but when? Never "today", it seems.
So, you're free now. No "mother organization" ready to crack a judicial ruler across your knuckles. No judicial committees to answer to. It's just you, and you can do whatever you want. Smoke now, and join the ranks of those of us that wish we hadn't.
It just ain't worth it. Rebel some other way: Hire a hooker. Buy a lottery ticket. Go to church. Take the hooker to church, and scratch the lottery ticket with the corner of a Reasoning book. But I promise you you'll regret it if you take up smoking.
This has been a public service announcement brought to you the letters G and W, and the number 6.
Dave of the "Quitting's easy! I've done it lots of times!" class