Cigarette butts

Hi,
I work at an athletic center. I teach swimming to children and adults. I love my job. Could someone please explain to me where all the cigarette butts on the parking lot pavement come from?

The Newtown Athletic Center is huge. It offers everything from childrens' dance classes to mixed martial arts events. I like to think that all the members and staff are healthy and health conscience people. Obviously not according to the pile of nicotine stubs in the surrounding area of the property.

Today after teaching in the pool for 2 hours I headed to my car, and on the way, for no real reason, I started to count the cigarette butts on the pavement. I was parked in a far corner of the lot so I had to walk approximately 75 yards to my car. I counted 112 cigarette butts in that distance. They have been renovating and repaving the lot for the last 2 weeks so I know this is 'fresh garbage' on the ground. The work crew that I have seen smoking have been told to put their butts in the trash and I've seen them do that, so what is lying on the ground has to have come from members going in & out of the club. What makes a person spend a small fortune to workout at a health club and still smoke?

I have seen members light up the minute they leave the building. Hot & sweaty from their treadmill run or Zumba class, puffing away as if their life depended on it. It's almost comical. You just worked your body to the bone, trying to maintain an aura of  health and here you are sucking on a cancer stick. What's wrong with this picture? It certainly matches the one I used to see of all the health professionals at the hospital puffing away outside the building, then heading in to the oncology ward. These are people who should know better and set an example for others. It warps my mind that doctor, nurses and members of health clubs can still smoke with a straight face on.  I'd laugh but it really just makes me want to cry.

I have to look at my cancer scars everyday. I am lucky that I have only scars to remind me of what I went through. Maybe smokers need a few visible scars. Nothing else seems to keep them from dropping their trashy butts all over the parking lot.

xox
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