Mr SC has always been complaining of chest pains and breathing difficulties, and how he had always wanted to stop smoking.

It had always been his number one resolution at the start of every year.

But I am sad to say that he always goes back to smoking when  Ramadan ends.

This year,  I have not seen him smoking since  Ramadan started.

Not even at buka puasa gatherings.  However, I do not know whether he lights up or not, once he reaches home.

Anyway, he does not smoke throughout the day and that is already an achievement.  

Not only is that good for his  health, it also helps him to save him money as a pack of cigarette can cost from RM6 to RM10.

Also, his friends, family and other non-smokers  thank him for not lighting up.  

One of my colleagues actually got rid of the smoking habit during the last Ramadan and he has not smoked since.

If smokers can refrain from smoking during Ramadan, I do not see why they should not continue doing so after the fasting month.

During the national-level World No Tobacco Day celebrations in Johor Baru, on May 31, Johor Menteri Besar Datuk Abdul Ghani Othman  said there will be more no-smoking zones in Johor.  

This was in line with the state's efforts to create a healthier and smoke-free environment.

There are currently 21 smoke-free zones in Johor Baru which include hospitals, shopping complexes and varsity campuses.

Other non-smoking zones are at government buildings, the Mutiara Rini Hutan Bandar, Nusajaya, factories and hotels in the city centre.

Sometimes, people's actions are contradictory.  

I have seen friends who take health supplements and those who exercise regularly, and then smoke a cigarette after an aerobics session.

On the one hand, you exercise for good health.  Then you put yourself at risk of lung cancer.

An incident springs to mind as I am saying this.  

As I was driving home from a recreation park just the other day, a black Toyota Vios sped pass me at break-neck speed.  

There were not many cars on the road that evening but the driver should not be risking his life and limb like that.  

He was also putting others in danger with his reckless driving.

Then I remembered that I had seen the driver at the recreation park earlier.  

I believe the same driver had been jogging at the park earlier.  Come to think of it, it's rather amusing.

Obviously, he is someone who cares about his health or else he would not be jogging at the park.  

But after jogging, he turns into a speed demon.  

Sometimes we have this tendency to think that an accident will never happen to us.  

Either he is  someone who is over-confident of his  driving skills or he has this mindset that a car crash only happens to other people.

He jogs for good health and longevity, and then hopes to end it all at the blink of an eye.

For those who are driving home for Hari Raya celebrations, drive safely.