Tobacco is a slow killer. Most of us are under no illusions. But so is alcohol, remaining sedentary, a poor diet, fast food, drugs, gaming, you name it. Most hobbies, by their very nature, are not good for our health, outside of someone that works out constantly — even that can be injurious. All those people that sit on the couch or lay in bed binging TV shows and movies, yeah, that’s not really good for you either.
But I’d argue it doesn’t really matter. You do need to strike a balance, more on that in a bit, but everyone should have a vice. Why? To help alleviate stress, wind down, relax, and enjoy life. Most of the good things in life are somewhat damaging to our health. It’s unfortunate, yes, but that’s the way of reality.
The trick is enjoying a vice or two sparingly and not allowing it to control your life. But when it comes to tobacco and cigars, how many are too many? Where do you draw the line?
The importance of having a vice, or two, or three, cannot be overstated. You need one. We all do, especially these days, where the world is going to shit. Our corporate overlords demand that we work longer hours, take no breaks, and accept fewer wages. The modern media continue to plaster and litter the airwaves with negativity, bad news, and doom and gloom. Admittedly, some of it is just the reality we live in, and that alone can be gloomy, but there’s still so much of it. We all need a break.
You need something that cuts through the noise, hence the importance of a vice.
Cigars are just one of my vices. I’m sure you have others, too. I also love to play video games, have an affinity for tech and gadgets, love movies and shows, reading, okay, I have a lot. But I don’t do all of those things, every hour of the day, I indulge sparingly. Don’t worry, I’m not advocating that you do the same. I’m not a doctor, and I’m not trying to impart medical advice or anything of the sort. You do you, in whatever form that takes.
What I am trying to say, or speak out loud, is that society has an obligation to acknowledge and accept this proven fact: Vices are necessary to thrive and enjoy life, no matter how damaging they may be.
They’re a coping mechanism, an outlet, provide temporary relief and a sense of enjoyment and relaxation, and they work especially well when they introduce social aspects, like cigars. You can sit around, enjoy some camaraderie, and hash out various discussions or ideals.
Again, not medical advice, and I’m not a doctor — I don’t even have a degree. But one cigar a day is a reasonable limit to adhere to. Following that limitation can help you keep your health on track. An FDA study did find that cancer risks are nearly nil for one to two cigars per day.
Medical reports claim that smoking more than two cigars per day significantly increases the associated health risks. I’m obligated to mention that, whether I agree or not. I’m also not going to comment on the high end of the spectrum — there are some times where I smoke quite a few cigars per day. I’ll leave that up to you to decide the [intentional] outcome of doing that in your own life.
Am I just flapping my gums here? Maybe. But I often see society looking down on people, collectively, for indulging in vices, whatever form they may take. I think that’s silly. We’re all adults. We all have the power and responsibility to make decisions for ourselves, and frankly, I don’t believe anyone else should make those decisions for us. For better or worse, we are in control, and that’s how it should remain. That includes retaining full control over the ability to decide what vices we indulge in and what vices we avoid.
All the Googaplexes, the governments, and the private and public Amazonian entities of the world can fuck right off and stop telling people what they can and can’t enjoy. You need a vice. Go find one and take a damn break. You’ve earned it.
Briley has over 16 years in the publishing and content marketing business. He's been writing about cigars for nearly half that in various forms. What makes him a tour de force is he also smokes them.
Source: Briley Kenney / The BS Lounge
Source: Houcine Ncib / Unsplash
