Posted by Kris on 1/2/2009, 3:30 pm, in reply to "Interesting situation"
207.216.1.117
I would just like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who made a contribution to my thread here. It was nice to know that I am not alone, and it was nice to talk about the possible origins of my problem. It was also great to hear from people on such a respectful level. This is, and always has been, quite a struggle for me and I appreciate the fact that my respect for everyone has been rewarded. I just wish that everyone in this world is as understanding. You know one good thing about being a "closet smoker" is that I am very understanding about people and their shortcomings, and how some people are different. And I make sure that those who are different feel as comfortable as possible with themselves. You know smoker or not, in cosmic terms we are only here for a blip of time anyways... so isn't life really about being who you are... being respectful to others... and to enjoy our time while we are here.
Some reference was made for me to figure out what it is that I really want. I do not want to smoke more... or for that matter even more openly. What I do want is to get rid of that annoying sense of guilt I have, and to be accepted for who I am. The granola loving, tea drinking, in bed by 9pm every night, people should see life the way it is. Damn too short to worry about things that don't really matter.
--Previous Message--
: Well this is the first I have written about
: this... that is how much in the closet I am.
: Reading the other posts, I'm not sure what
: is real and what isn't. Anyhow I'll tell
: you my real story. I started smoking when I
: was 11. I'm 39 now. All of it in the
: closet. At first it was after my parents
: went to bed and I would quietly open the
: door and smoke beside the house looking to
: avoid open windows. Then it was
: occasionally in my car with I incessently
: clean. Always always always managed to
: change the subject if smoking came up. Now
: I live in an apartment that noone, even
: family, has been to in 4 years. This is my
: sanctuary where I can "be myself"
: - or is it "be someone else" (not
: sure!)- where at least I can relax. Outside
: of home though I never smoke. Unless I am
: travelling which I like to do by myself as I
: can BE a SMOKER as I don't know anyone. SO
: WORRIED, and always have been, about what
: people think of me. I'm a pretty smart
: guy... definate "thinker" type...
: and people think I am a good worker etc.
: But I have no friends. Anyone that does
: smoke... well I don't what them to out me...
: and I do not want people who don't smoke to
: think less of me. Ironically though... when
: alone... I get some kind of weird charge. I
: feel self-confident that I am doing what
: "I" want to do. And that leads to
: a bit of a fetish thing. Had a couple
: girlfriends who smoked (actually I lied
: there didn't I... one girlfriend lived with
: me for a year) and they thought it was
: "cute" that I smoked in private.
: I loved being with those girls as they were
: more publicly "wild" than me and
: people did not bat an eyelash if they
: smoked. However, sometimes I would get
: upset that they did smoke in public as I
: "couldn't". So now, no
: girlfriend, no friends to speak of, afraid
: of family, and feeling like life is passing
: me by. I get so amazed when I see people
: smoking. To me it is Mt Everest. Sure I
: could come out the closet to someone... but
: then there is someone else... and others...
: and yet more people... all telling them that
: I am "stupid". I never went
: through a rebellious stage... and that is
: probably my downfall. It is easy to be 15
: and have friends that smoke, oops you get
: into it... and then tell people you smoke
: because you were young and dumb, but that
: was a long time ago and you are just
: addicted now. But what about when you are
: 39?? Much too old to be a new smoker given
: the knowledge of an adult... and also too
: old to admit you have been lying to everyone
: for all these years.
: Best answer is quit right? Well that freaks
: me out. I do not "feel" like a
: smoker (about 10 a day) and therefore can
: smoke without guilt as it isn't
: "me" that is smoking. I have
: mentioned this to two
: "professional" people and they
: both kind of shrugged it off even though I
: must have been beat red and shaking like a
: leaf when I told them. It bothers me that
: they do not understand the gravity of my
: situation. Hmm. Just reaching out to you
: guys and girls here to maybe get some insite
: with what is going on for me. Sorry this is
: so long.
:
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