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Air is a requirement for life, so you definitely want it if you're looking to stay alive, but is it possible to have someone in your life that you can love if they have the smoking habit? Should you just say "no" to a relationship or give it a try?

If you really like this person and believe you would like them in your life you definitely have to discuss up front the possibilities and the ground rules that are tolerable and workable for a relationship as they pertain to the smoking habit.

For example, if you are allergic to smoke, you don't want the smoke in your house. You can discuss with your potential partner your physical needs and see if this person is willing to structure boundaries for the habit. First, is this person willing to smoke outside the home 100 percent of the time, not just sometimes?

What will happen when the weather is ugly and it would be more convenient to light-up in the house?

You will know if that person will really consider you and do the right thing for your personal well-being if they're willing to smoke outside even if it's freezing cold.

Next, what will be the restrictions and problems if you take a drive in the car. Ask if you can agree that there will not be any smoking in your car because you will not be able to tolerate the cigarette smells if they stay in you car. They will stay in your car if you allow them. Cigarettes get in your house, your car, and for those of us sensitive to smoke and odors, it gets in your hair and you want to puke.

You can just smell it on your hair and it's awful.

What do you do when someone wants to kiss you and they smoke? They have to know that as much as you might find them attractive or sexy, you cannot handle the smell of the cigarettes on their breath. The cigarette smell is a real turn-off. Let your partner keep a small toothbrush and toothpaste available to keep the cigarette smoking from interfering with more part of your relationship.

Making each other special in a relationship is about both parties considering each other. This also means that the non-smoker should look for ways to consider the smoker when it comes to fresh breath, cleanliness, and other considerate acts.

As a relationship progresses and your love for this person grows you should explore the reasons why the person smokes and even work toward helping your partner reduce the number of cigarettes smoked or help with ideas on quitting.

In the last two weeks, my partner has been trying a medication called "Chantrix" to help him stop smoking. As the days progress, the medication lets his brain know that the cigarettes don't taste good and it's been helping him cut down and should help him quit. I'm extremely excited because I love him and want him to be around for a long time. He hasn't had any side effects and he's cut his smoking in half. I'll keep you posted.

Lori Wilk, MBA is the host of internet talk show "Successipes" at http://www.success-talk.com

The program offers recipes for success in business and living. Lori is a motivational speaker who makes daily presentations on the Las Vegas Strip. She's an author of self-help and business books, trainer, and business consultant.

Go to http://www.loriwilk.com