There’s the rebel smoker; everyone knows these guys and gals who smoked at school, at uni and now outside at work (habit). That’s the point. Everyone knowing.

But how many people reach the age where they have actually got a their own car, a legal career, a mortgage even, but still hide their smoking?

Hiding it from your parents into your thirties is one thing; imagining you can hide it from your colleagues, your flatmate and everyone else? And yes, it’s just cigarettes we’re on about. Ageing stealth smokers, a whole new world of psychological issues. Bitter Lawyer: Yeah, I Smoke—So Shoot Me

I’ve been a closet smoker for the past seven years. “Smoker” might not even be the right term. Every night after work, I’ll have 1-2 cigarettes before my roommate gets home, hop in the shower, and discretely hide this silly addiction from everyone I know. I may have hundreds of Facebook friends and a large family that, despite my chosen profession, loves me very much, but despite all these wonderful people in my life, I can count on two hands the number of people that know I smoke.

…

I stood in my undershirt in a corner of the deserted parking garage.  No big deal.  Til a female senior associate pulled in to fetch a file she forgot—her face immediately aghast through her Volvo window as if she caught me committing sexual assault.

She got out and shrilled, “I didn’t know you smoked!”

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If ever there was a reason to stop and rethink, this is probably it.