There is nothing like a good cigar. (A bad cigar, like one you'd get at a gas station, is tortuous to yourself and anyone else that has to be in the same area code as you until you next brush your teeth, gargle, shower, shave your head, and burn all the clothing you were wearing at the time.) Smoking a good cigar is a purely decadent activity that takes you away from all the other crap going on around you for anywhere from ½ to 1½ hours.
I'm not gonna' lie to you. Smoking cigars is bad for your health. Every now and then you'll hear some myths like "but you don't inhale," etc. Forget it - they're bad for you. They are, in my opinion, however, better for you than some of the other ways of coping with stress, such as illicit narcotics and beer. I'm sure there are better ways to cope with stress: meditation, eating a 55 gallon drum of raw fiber, and yoga. For me, however, engaging in those activities only creates more stress as well as anger toward the individuals who suggest them.
