How do I ask my dad to quit smoking?

When I want to talk to someone about something important, I think about what I want to get across. I sometimes find it helpful to write down what I want to say so I can get it just right. Then when you have that ready, find a time of day when he isn’t stressed or busy to talk to him. Or ask him if you could set up a time to talk to him. Ask him if you can talk to him about something that is important to you and that has been worrying you.

You love him and he knows that. He loves you, you said as much in your post. Tell him what you said in your post: that you think the world of him and you want him to live for a long time and you want him to be healthy. You worry about his smoking habit and what it does to his body.

Understand that quitting smoking is very hard to do. Nicotine is a very additive drug. It makes the addicted person miserable when he tries to get away from it and it rewards any slip-ups. That is one of the reasons that smoking is so dangerous.

I am quite sure your dad knows of the dangers of smoking, the information is all over the place. He already has reasons to quit. Perhaps you sharing your feelings will give him a strong enough reason to try and break the habit, but whatever else happens, whether he quits or not, he knows that you love him. It won’t hurt his feelings to tell him that. It is hard to be brave sometimes, but be brave. You can do this. If I were in your position I would also ask for a hug at the end of the discussion with your dad. It will help defuse the tension that the talk might have built up and hugs are good.

My thoughts go with you.