Just think of her like a bus-stop acquaintance. You know, someone who you say hi to each morning, shoot the shit with, then you both go off and have your own days. If it’s barely any effort for you, and it’is really enjoyable for her, I say go for it. But do it because you want to, not because you feel obligated to do it. She’s not a chore. She’s a fellow human being. (I need to take my own advice on that point, when it comes to visiting my husband’s older relatives.)
No, not really. If you were truly selfish, you wouldn’t have posted about what you should do.
The cigarettes are probably just an excuse to her-- a socially acceptable way to reach out to a stranger. If you said you didn’t have any, it probably wouldn’t matter one bit to her. It’s just the fact that you’re stopping by for a few moments of interraction.
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To the first question: I see your point, but I am a representative of the hospital. It would be embarassing at the least if I were seen by the wrong parties enabling bad health.
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I don’t quite follow. How does giving her a cigarette differ markedly from being seen smoking yourself? In both cases you are still a hospital representative and ostensibly enabling bad health.