I used to smoke cigarettes. A lot.
I quit about 15 years ago. But prior to that, people used to say to me… “Smoking a cigarette will take seven minutes off your life.”
Back when I smoked, I didn’t like when people said things like this to me. My initial reaction was… “Well how do they know? Seven minutes.”
But now that I think about it… that’s about right. From the time I pulled a pack of cigarettes out of my bag, fished for a lighter, and fired one up… to the time I snuffed it out… was probably about seven minutes. Give or take a little.
And there you have it.
Eating a bowl of ice cream will take 9 minutes off your life. Depending on your speed-eating, and the size of the bowl.
Paying your bills with take 20 minutes off your life.
Playing a round of golf with take 4 hours off your life. FOUR hours!
Of watching a NASCAR race will whittle 3 hours from your life.
Everything we do is really a part of the countdown. Oh.. isn’t that a cheerful thought.
From the moment we are born… the clock starts ticking. We are on the downhill slide. The countdown has begun.
So I shall keep this short tonight… so as not to be responsible for taking any more time off your life. Or mine.
Photos: a Mourning Dove; an Iron Bridge; a Electricity Carrying Pole.
All of which are irrelevant tonight.