I'm a cigarette smoker. Its true.

Now, I'm well aware of all of the reasons I shouldn't be. In fact, the Surgeon General makes a point to ensure I know all of the reasons why by stamping it on the side of each pack I buy. And sure, I want to quit, eventually.

But as the saying goes, its easier said than done. Something though, I really wish non-smokers would come to understand, is that telling me I shouldn't smoke doesn't actually make me want to stop.

Now there are a few people who can get close to convincing me. My mother; after all she made me so she kind of has a right to tell me what to do. My boyfriend; by saying persuasive and romantic statements like "I just want to make sure you grow old with me." That one always gets me. But in the end my friends, the decision is mine and mine alone.

(Hey, even my boy Barack is a smoker.)

Like any vice (and we all have a vice), it tends to take the edge off. It's my five minutes to me, myself and nicotine, and forgive me but I relish that time. As a full-time student and part-time employee, it's nice for me. And frankly, the fact that I've felt the need to explain it to this degree seems unfair.

But what really makes me crazy, what really grinds my gears, is when a friend, acquaintance or sometimes even a total stranger, feels the need to say things to me along the lines of "Oh, you're too pretty to smoke" or "You know those kill you, right?" or my personal favorite "Smoking is bad." (Like, did they really think I didn't know?)

Now, I get it, you care. Or maybe smoking took someone you love, hell its happened to me. Or maybe you just live to be morally superior. Whatever the case, please just don't. Calling them 'cancer sticks' and making a joke about throwing my pack away because you see them sitting on a table doesn't make me laugh and it definitely doesn't make me want to stop.

My favorite was the time I was sitting with someone in a McDonalds and they began to lecture me about smoking. I looked around the eatery and its cloud of stagnant greasy air and did everything in my power not to let out a roar of laughter.

And I can't forget about the discomfort as a complete stranger approached me while I took a drag outside of my job to tell me how it will ruin my skin and rot my insides. For a smoker, thats almost as rude and uncalled for as a creepy dude telling a girl she should smile more.

Those are just two examples of the countless times this type of interaction has happened to me. I once had a boss, who whenever I would ask if I could go have a smoke, he would say "Yeah, have two." This always made me laugh. I knew he didn't like it, I knew he worried about me, but I also knew he knew better than to try and tell someone else how to feel about their own choices.

No one is perfect. As I write this I'm enjoying a cigarette. And that's my choice, my right and my decision. If you don't agree and think its bad, I respect that and am not encouraging you to start.

But I do urge you to consider every time someone has told you what decisions to make, how to live your life or what you should do versus what you actually do. Isn't it kind of annoying? Sometimes, doesn't it make you want to do it just to spite that person?

In some situations, with people extremely close to you, I get it and I think to a degree it is your right. But otherwise? Please, keep it to yourself.