Reconciling Risk v Reward of Piping

[Bruyere_Royale]

I cannot imagine trying to live a life filled with worry about being in perfect health. Immortality is not an option.

I love me some country music! Lol

[Longshanks]

No such thing as too much sex . First time ive ever seen or heard it mentioned . Pipe smoking is good for you , is the general rule

I guess it depends on what our definitions of moderation and excessive are. Non-smokers would consider 12 cigars a day excessive. I think 12 cigars fall within the limits of moderation, as evidenced by our aged veteran. Now we can take that example and compare it to whatever else. I think sex 12 times a day is well within the limits of moderation. Any more and you're looking for trouble.

[slowroll]

When asked about his lack of exercise and incessant cigar smoking and the effect on his health, Winston Churchill replied, " I get sufficient exercise acting as pall bearer for my food faddist friends."

[CoreyR]

We all gotta die from something. Might as well die happy.

[avid]

As someone mentioned, George Burns had a line in his schtick, when asked what his doctors say about his cigar smoking, "I don't know, they're all dead."

[Arkansas Paul]

This brings to mind a couple of quotes I've heard on the topic.

I read that Mark Twain's doctor told him he would live 10 years longer if he would quit smoking. His response was something along the lines of "Do you know how miserable 10 years would be if I couldn't smoke?"
Also a friend at a local shop had someone ask him, "What if your doctor told you your next bowl of tobacco would kill you?" His reply, "I would feel very anxious as I tried to decide what my last bowl would be."

One thing I came to terms with very early in life is that one day, I'm going to die. Nothing I can do will stop this from happening. Sure there are things that could hasten the process, no doubt, but it's coming.
I'm no medical professional, but I would bet money that stress kills more people than smoking, especially when we're talking about pipes and cigars rather than cigarettes.
Heck, there was a study in the '60s that showed that pipe smokers lived longer than non-smokers on average.

It brings me joy, it relaxes me and it's a heck of a lot cheaper than therapy. It's worth whatever small increased risk it brings.

[houtenziel]

A quote I often remind myself of when I find myself "Worshiping at the temple of the body", as Fr_Tom so eloquently put it.

"Nothing is static. Even the Mona Lisa is falling apart."
- Chuck Palahniuk